PLT OF SMA SINGLE ENG LAND PVT ACFT FORGOT TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER DURING PREFLT.

Narrative

WHILE CONDUCTING A PREFLT INSPECTION OF MY SMA SINGLE ENG LAND; I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTRACTED BY A MINOR FUEL SPILL. WHEN I RESUMED THE ACFT INSPECTION; I APPARENTLY FORGOT TO CHK THE PITOT TUBE AREA ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE L WING (NOT VISIBLE FROM THE COCKPIT). I STARTED THE ACFT AND TAXIED OUT FOR DEP. WHILE WAITING TO TAKE OFF; I WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER ACFT THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE A COVER ON THE PITOT TUBE. I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT I HAD FAILED TO REMOVE THE COVER; AND THE TWR ALLOWED ME TO CORRECT THE PROB ON THE TXWY. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. WHEN I WAS DISTRACTED DURING MY ACFT INSPECTION I SHOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE CHKED EVERYTHING AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD NOT OMITTED ANYTHING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INCIDENT WAS THE FACT THAT MY ACFT SPENDS 99 PERCENT OF ITS TIME IN A HANGAR; AND I THEREFORE RARELY USE THE PITOT TUBE COVER. IN THIS CASE; WE WERE AWAY FROM HOME BASE AND MY WIFE HAD INSTALLED THE PITOT COVER WHILE I MADE OVERNIGHT PARKING ARRANGEMENTS. NEXT TIME WE TRAVEL; I WILL INSTALL THE COVER MYSELF SO THAT I WILL; HOPEFULLY; BE LESS LIKELY TO FORGET IT. AFTER 13 YRS AND 5000 HRS OF FLYING; THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I EVER OMITTED A CRITICAL PREFLT ITEM -- HOPEFULLY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.