What happened
On 28 August 2021, a Reims Cessna F172N, registration G-BGIY, was prepared for a private introductory flight at Glasgow Airport. During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot noted that a towbar used for apron manoeuvres was still attached to the nosewheel. Although the pilot intended to remove the equipment as the final step of the walk-around, he became distracted while answering a question from a passenger. Consequently, the aircraft departed Runway 23 with the towbar still in place.
The flight proceeded through the local area without the pilot noticing any abnormalities. However, during the return to the airport, Air Traffic Control relayed a message from an airport operations vehicle notifying the pilot that an object was attached to the aircraft's nosewheel. Upon realising the error, the pilot performed a slow landing and vacated the runway to remove the equipment. There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft or the towbar.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the oversight, focusing on threat and error management. The investigation looked into the pilot's awareness of the equipment and the impact of passenger interaction on the pre-flight sequence. The inquiry also reviewed the visibility of ground equipment, noting a previous incident in 2019 involving a different aircraft where a towbar was also left attached during departure.
Findings
- The pilot identified the presence of the towbar during the walk-around but failed to remove it due to distraction by a passenger.
- The pilot's situational awareness reached the level of noticing and understanding the threat, but failed to implement a plan to ensure removal.
- The pilot had discussed the importance of ground checks with the passengers, yet the interaction interrupted the completion of the safety inspection.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator implemented several measures to enhance ground safety:
- A new requirement was introduced stating that anyone using a towbar must keep their hand on it continuously until it has been completely cleared from the aircraft.
- To improve visibility, reflective tape was added to the existing bright red towbars.
- The operator organised an internal safety seminar for its members to review the incident and discuss passenger management.