History of the Flight
On 22 August 2023, a TECNAM P2006T aircraft, registration EI-WST, was preparing for a training flight at Weston Airport (EIWT), Co. Dublin. The flight crew comprised an instructor and a student, the latter being the handling pilot. The student had completed a simulator session earlier and was undertaking a multi-engine piston rating.
During the pre-flight walkaround, the student noticed the towbar attached to the aircraft but was interrupted by a pressing phone call. The instructor, who had arrived, offered to cancel the flight, but the student declined and stated he had only partially completed the inspection. The instructor then continued the walkaround. While doing so, he moved the aircraft twice using the towbar to avoid helicopter downwash and later to reposition. After the helicopter departed, the instructor completed the walkaround and took shelter under the left wing due to light drizzle. The student, after concluding his phone call, approached from the rear and was told the walkaround was complete. The instructor entered the cockpit first through the left-side door and sat in the front right seat; the student sat in the front left seat.
At 11:37 UTC, the crew requested start-up for circuits and were cleared to taxi via taxiway A to hold short of runway 25 at D. During taxi, which involved two left and two right turns, neither crew member reported anything unusual. After completing power checks, the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The student stated lift-off was normal, but as he selected the landing gear lever up, air traffic control (ATC) advised that the towbar was hanging from the nose landing gear. Both crew members immediately moved the landing gear selector to the down position.
The instructor took control and requested landing clearance, choosing runway 25. During a left-hand circuit, ATC confirmed the towbar was still attached. The student noted that the instructor held the nose wheel off the ground longer than normal during landing, and unusual noises were heard only in the latter stage of the ground roll. The aircraft stopped abeam taxiway J, where the airport fire and rescue service met them. The crew exited and pushed the aircraft onto taxiway J to clear the active runway. They had difficulty removing the towbar because a knurled locking knob was missing. An aircraft maintenance engineer arrived, removed the towbar, and after inspection deemed the aircraft safe to taxi back to the apron for further inspection. The maximum groundspeed during the flight was 108 knots on the downwind leg.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries were reported. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the fuselage.
Flight Crew Interviews
Instructor
The instructor described the sequence as a 'culmination of many little events.' He believed the student was distracted prior to departure but anxious to proceed. He noted that the aircraft has a single cockpit door on the left, requiring the instructor to board first, unlike other types where he is always the last. The towbar, when attached, is not visible from the cockpit, and no unusual noises were heard during taxi because the towbar had its own wheel for ground manoeuvring.
Student
The student held a Private Pilot Licence with about three hours on type. He had taken a day off work for the training. Earlier that day, he received a pressing personal phone call requiring action. During the pre-flight walkaround, another call from the same person demanded further action. The instructor offered to cancel, but he declined. With hindsight, he felt he should have cancelled. He assessed the cause as distraction precipitated by personal issues.
Air Traffic Controller Interview
The controller on duty stated that before issuing taxi clearance, he scanned the area for conflicting traffic. He only became aware of the issue shortly after takeoff when the aircraft became silhouetted against the horizon. After advising the crew, he contacted the airport fire and rescue service.