Small aircraft took off with tow bar still attached to nose gear.

Attributes
ACN	87611
Time
Date	198805
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 550 msl bound upper : 550
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sjc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	87611
Person 2
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Situation was brought to my attention by tower on downwind that a towbar appeared to be attached to nosewheel. I landed the airplane normally, parked, inspected both airplane and towbar and found no damage. Prior to flight, a full and complete aircraft preflight was performed. A towbar was then attached by student to pull the airplane by hand about 60 yds through gravel and a locked gate. The gate malfunctioned and needed attention. After closing the gate, attention was further diverted by a request for minor assistance by a neighbor pilot. After a quick visual check of the aircraft, we then entered the aircraft for the lesson. The movement and handling of aircraft after preflight may involve some change, so a full walkaround has been instituted immediately prior to entering the aircraft, even though a thorough preflight was performed immediately prior to movement.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TOOK OFF WITH TOW BAR STILL ATTACHED TO NOSE GEAR.

Narrative: SITUATION WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN BY TWR ON DOWNWIND THAT A TOWBAR APPEARED TO BE ATTACHED TO NOSEWHEEL. I LANDED THE AIRPLANE NORMALLY, PARKED, INSPECTED BOTH AIRPLANE AND TOWBAR AND FOUND NO DAMAGE. PRIOR TO FLT, A FULL AND COMPLETE ACFT PREFLT WAS PERFORMED. A TOWBAR WAS THEN ATTACHED BY STUDENT TO PULL THE AIRPLANE BY HAND ABOUT 60 YDS THROUGH GRAVEL AND A LOCKED GATE. THE GATE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED ATTN. AFTER CLOSING THE GATE, ATTN WAS FURTHER DIVERTED BY A REQUEST FOR MINOR ASSISTANCE BY A NEIGHBOR PLT. AFTER A QUICK VISUAL CHK OF THE ACFT, WE THEN ENTERED THE ACFT FOR THE LESSON. THE MOVEMENT AND HANDLING OF ACFT AFTER PREFLT MAY INVOLVE SOME CHANGE, SO A FULL WALKAROUND HAS BEEN INSTITUTED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ACFT, EVEN THOUGH A THOROUGH PREFLT WAS PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO MOVEMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.