Well yes I finally can join the ranks of those who forgot to take the toebar off the nose before flight. Somehow though God was looking out for me and my family. We flew all the way from Indiana to West Virginia (2hr flight) and landed without incident in our C 206. The tower upon landing ask if I knew the toebar was on the nosewheel. I could have had a heart attack. If I was quick whitted I would have responded with "Isnt that were you are suppossed to store it?". I was just sick that I could have placed my family in such danger. Oh yes I have taken off with the door ajar, but nothing like this. Anyone else out there that has flown around without removing the toebar and ended up with nothing, not even a scratch on the pants? I once read a person put a clothspin on the yoke plate to remind him of the toebar. Thinking of doing this myself.
Thanks for being brave enough to stand up and share the details of your mistake. The hair stood up on my neck just reading your posting.
I never heard of the clothespin approach as an additional check (obviously the preflight checklist is first). It seems like a good idea.
This makes me curious as to how many other tips and tricks might be out there that others have run across in their flying careers. I still remember a CFI over 20 years ago suggesting that I put my watch on the opposite wrist when flying on a VFR flight plan, as a method to remind to close my flight plan. I've done it ever since and it works.
Dwight- I'm glad things worked out OK for you. I NEVER leave my towbar attached, even for a short time. I always lay it next to the nosewheel. I never had a Flight Instructor fail to comment if I didn't take it off. I've pulled my share of Bonehead stunts, but that's for another posting someday. :)
Safe flying!
i havent done anything like that, yet..
but i work at a flight school and i always hear stories of students leaving the chains on the tail and wondering why at 2000 RPMs the plane is still standing still..
either way, pre flight check is important..
We had a fly in about 9 years ago and a pilot left his tow bar attached. he was radio'd and told it was still attached. He landed safely, however he didnt taxi back to the ramp area. he also didn't have wheel pants on. I am surprised it didnt hit your prop since the wheel pant keeps the tow bar almost straight out. I have seen several start ups over the years with the tow bar attached. they usually dont stay on long and they get flung across the ramp when the prop hits it.
wheel chocks are also comical watching the students excellerate and nothing happens. I had a baggage door fly open on a mooney. lost most of the charts and misc papers as they were sucked out.
One day during my flight instruction I noticed that the tow bar attached to the 172 I was about to fly had friction tape on it holding part of it together. When I asked my CFI about what had happen he came clean and admitted that he had left the tow bar on during a recent flight. Not only that but he completed 3 or 4 T&G's with it attached. The aircraft did not have wheel pants on, but still I can't believe he pulled that one off- I would never be so lucky-! BTW he moved on as many CFI's do and now works for Mesa Airlines!
