Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 350; Flight Crew Total 12500; Flight Crew Type 2200
Human-Machine Interface; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Weather; Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
I taxied the Helio Courier from the east ramp at Fairbanks International Airport for take off with two passengers and gear on board. Prior to take off; a complete warm up of the engine was preformed along with an engine run up according to the checklist. Full movement of the controls was performed and remaining items on the checklist complete prior to calling for takeoff as I held short of the runway. The Control Tower advised me that I was cleared for takeoff. As I taxied forward across the hold short line; the Control Tower quickly canceled my take off clearance and informed me that the aircraft had the nylon horizontal stabilator frost covers on. Glancing back at the stabilator I noticed that indeed the covers were on and upon instruction from tower I made a 180 degree turn to exit the runway. I then taxied clear of the active taxiway and shut the aircraft down. I exited the aircraft and removed the stabilator frost covers and properly stowed them inside the aircraft cabin. I did a complete walk around and visual inspection of the aircraft. I then climbed back in the aircraft; restarted and proceeded to taxi back out to the active runway. After making a radio call for take off; I departed off of Runway 2R and proceeded with the chartered flight. Being a cool morning with the temperature just below freezing; I had decided to leave the frost covers on the wing and tail surfaces until just after the airplane was loaded and prior to boarding passengers. Just before passengers boarded the aircraft; the wing covers were removed. I then boarded the rear seat passenger; gave a briefing and closed the right rear exit door. The second passenger and myself walked around the right front of the aircraft to the left side and boarded through the pilot side door. Note that checking the controls for freedom of movement; even though completed per the checklist; the nylon covers offered no resistance to the one piece stabilator control.
A Helio Courier pilot; who had inadvertently left the frost covers on the horizontal surface for protection during passenger boarding on a cold morning; was distracted and failed to remove the covers on the horizontal tail prior to departure from the gate area. Fortunately; the Tower noted them right after issuing a takeoff clearance; canceled the clearance and the pilot removed them prior to takeoff.