BE35 ACFT PROP HIT ACFT NOSEWHEEL TOWBAR.

Narrative

ON JUL/FRI/98; AT ABOUT XX00; 3 FRIENDS AND MYSELF WERE PLANNING ON FLYING MY BONANZA TO CGX FOR THE AFTERNOON. I HAD DONE THE WALKAROUND WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE HANGAR. THEN WHEN MY FRIENDS GOT THERE I HAD TWO OF THEM HELP PUSH THE AIRPLANE BACK ONTO THE TXWY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE. JUST AS WE GOT THE AIRPLANE INTO POS; ONE OF THE PAX; WHO HAD ASKED TO USE A TELEPHONE; YELLED FROM THE BLDG THAT SHE COULDN'T GET IN. I DROPPED THE TOWBAR AND RAN TO LET HER IN. AFTER SHE FINISHED HER PHONE CALL WE ALL WENT AND GOT IN THE AIRPLANE. WHILE TAXIING FOR TKOF; AN ARPT RESIDENT WHO I KNEW WAVED AT US IN SUCH A WAY THAT MADE ME THINK SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG. I STOPPED THE AIRPLANE; SHUT DOWN THE ENG AND GOT OUT. TO MY DISMAY I HAD LEFT THE TOWBAR CONNECTED AND THE PROP HAD BARELY GRAZED IT. I REMOVED THE TOWBAR AND PUT IT IN BACK. AFTER EXPLAINING TO MY PAX THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO FLY IN THIS CONDITION UNTIL I TALKED WITH A MECH; WE TAXIED THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE HANGAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 23 YRS OF FLYING THAT I HAVE DAMAGED AN AIRPLANE. THIS ITEM HAS NOW BEEN ADDED TO MY CHKLIST. IN ADDITION I AM PLANNING ON PUTTING A ROPE WITH A PROP SLEEVE ON THAT I WILL HOOK TO THE PROP WHEN THE TOWBAR IS ATTACHED. IT WILL BE EASY TO USE AND DIFFICULT TO USE THE TOWBAR WITHOUT PUTTING IT ON THE PROP (SO I'LL USE IT). THIS IS A CASE OF LETTING A SIMPLE DISTR GET THE BEST OF ME. WHEN I GET DISTRACTED DURING A ROUTINE ACTIVITY I WILL RAISE A RED FLAG AND BREAK THE CHAIN.