PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 28; Flight Crew Total 1335
Distraction; Time Pressure; Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Flight Crew Returned To Gate
Human Factors
The purpose of this flight was for my instrument-rated commercial student to fly 3 practice approaches for currency purposes; and I was acting as safety-pilot and instructor. My student asked me to take a look at the aircraft surfaces to check that all of the winter contamination had been removed satisfactorily; so I performed a careful check of all surfaces and found one wing required a little more additional cleaning. After I was satisfied that all contamination had been removed; we started up and taxied out. Before we reached the runup area; the Tower informed us that the FBO we departed from was recalling us back to the ramp. When enquiring the FBO on their UNICOM frequency for the reason of the recall; we were informed that there was a 'rope or pitot cover still on the wing'. As it turned out; the right-side wing tie-down rope was still attached. I was a bit embarrassed by this; and in retrospection I believe my preoccupation with the wing contamination led me to skip my usual final walk-around before flight. Since this aircraft was owned by my student; I also became complacent about not doing my own final walk-around. In the future; I will always perform a final walk-around of any aircraft that I'm getting in to (and that I'm rated to fly).
PA28 pilot reported that an incomplete preflight resulted in the aircraft taxiing with a tie down rope attached.