The Incident
On 22 April 2024, at approximately 1150 UTC, a Piper PA-28-140 (registration G-AWBG, serial number 28-24286, engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A) was involved in a serious incident at Perth Airport, Perthshire. The aircraft was being prepared for a private flight with only the pilot on board. The pilot, aged 62, held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had 328 hours total flying experience, with 206 hours on type. He had flown 2 hours in the last 90 days and none in the last 28 days.
During preparation, the pilot removed the aircraft from the hangar with assistance from another individual. A towbar was attached to the nosewheel for this purpose. After the aircraft was clear of the hangar, the pilot engaged in conversation with the assistant and forgot to remove the towbar. He then taxied to the runway and took off with the towbar still attached.
Aftermath
During the takeoff roll, the tower controller informed the pilot via radio that the towbar was still attached. The towbar detached from the aircraft during the takeoff and was later recovered by tower personnel. The aircraft landed without further incident. A subsequent inspection revealed a propeller strike, which constituted the nature of the damage. No injuries occurred to the pilot.
Pilot's Account
The pilot attributed the oversight to distraction during the preparation process. He stated that his normal practice was to place the towbar on the wing near the door after use. He planned to add a reminder on his checklist to remove the towbar, aiming to prevent a recurrence of such an error.