PA32 PLT DID NOT NOTICE AN ELECTRICAL PWR HEATER CORD WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE ACFT ON THE ACFT WALKAROUND INSPECTION.

Narrative

PRIOR TO MY SCHEDULED FLT; I DID MY PREFLT AND REPOSITIONED THE ACFT BY HAND FOR FUELING AND LOADING. I REMOVED THE WING COVERS AND THOUGHT I HAD UNPLUGGED THE CORD FROM THE ENG HEAT PLUG-IN. AFTER LOADING; I REMOVED AND STORED THE ENG COVER. I THEN TAXIED OUT WITH GND CTL; DID MY RUN-UP AND GOT TKOF CLRNC FROM THE TWR. AS I LIFTED OFF; THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE A 'ROPE' TRAILING FROM MY ACFT. I REQUESTED AND WAS GIVEN LNDG CLRNC. AFTER LNDG AND TAXIING BACK TO COMPANY; I SHUT DOWN AND GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE. I SAW THAT THE ENG HEATER EXTENSION CORD WAS STILL PLUGGED IN AND HAD TRAILED BEHIND ME THROUGHOUT TAXI; TKOF AND LNDG. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AFTER MAINT INSPECTED IT. I TALKED TO OUR DIRECTOR OF OPS AND WE ARE WORKING ON SOME WAY OF INSURING THIS CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE PROPOSED FLAGGING THE CORD IN SOME WAY SO IT WILL ALWAYS BE VISIBLE FROM THE COCKPIT UNTIL REMOVED. AS FAR AS I KNOW; I DID THE SAME ROUTINE I HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF TIMES TO PREPARE THE ACFT FOR A FLT. WHETHER SOMEONE PLUGGED THE CORD BACK IN AFTER I REMOVED IT; OR I SIMPLY MISSED UNPLUGGING IT IS UNSURE. HOWEVER; I AM ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLT; SO THE BLAME LIES WITH ME. OUR GOAL IS TO COME UP WITH A SYS AND PROC TO INSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.