PLT OF AN ATX PIPER PA31 FAILED TO MAINTAIN 2-WAY COM WITH THE TWR PRIOR TO TKOF DUE TO STOPPING TO RECONNECT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING TORQUE LINKAGE. IT WAS NOT RECONNECTED AFTER DISCONNECT FOR TUG TOW OUT OF HANGAR.
Synopsis
PLT OF AN ATX PIPER PA31 FAILED TO MAINTAIN 2-WAY COM WITH THE TWR PRIOR TO TKOF DUE TO STOPPING TO RECONNECT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING TORQUE LINKAGE. IT WAS NOT RECONNECTED AFTER DISCONNECT FOR TUG TOW OUT OF HANGAR.
Narrative
COMS WERE DISRUPTED WHILE TAXIING FOR TKOF WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TORQUE LINK SEPARATED. THE EVENT OCCURRED WHEN A FAR PART 135 DEP WAS REQUIRED 'ASAP.' THE PA31 WAS PULLED FROM THE HANGAR BY 2 COMPANY PERSONNEL. THE TORQUE LINK WAS DISCONNECTED TO MAKE TURNING THE ACFT EASIER. THE TUG OPERATOR PULLED THE ACFT TO THE RAMP THEN LEFT TO DO OTHER DUTIES. HE LEFT THE TUG CONNECTED AND DID NOT RECONNECT THE TORQUE LINK. THE OTHER COMPANY PERSONNEL REMOVED THE TUG. THE SECOND OPERATOR WAS NEW TO THE COMPANY. THE TAXI WENT FINE UNTIL THE NOSEWHEEL BEGAN TO SHUDDER. AT THIS POINT THE COM RADIO WAS SET TO TWR FREQ AND WE WERE ABOUT TO KEY THE MIKE WHEN THE SHUDDER OCCURRED. SUSPECTING A FLAT TIRE; I SENT THE COPLT TO INVESTIGATE. HE INFORMED ME THE PROB WAS THE TORQUE LINK AND RECONNECTED IT. DURING THIS PERIOD ATC COMS WERE DISRUPTED. THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LEADING TO THIS SIT BEGAN WITH THE OBVIOUS RUSH THAT CAN CAUSE THINGS TO TAKE LONGER. A COCKPIT LEFT DISORGANIZED BY THE PLT THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE ACFT; CAUSING ME TO SPEND TIME INSIDE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT OUTSIDE. THE PRESSURE TO COMPLETE THE MISSION OVERRODE GOOD JUDGEMENT AND PROPER PROC.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.