Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 240; Flight Crew Type 240
Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors
We were late picking up this aircraft to be flown back to its operating base. The aircraft was pulled from the hanger with a tow bar out to the taxi aisle in front of the hanger and the tow bar was removed and stowed. While performing the pre-flight inspection; another aircraft taxied into our area and waited. We checked with the other aircraft pilot if they needed to get into the same hanger area that we were occupying. Indeed the other aircraft needed to taxi into the same hanger area that we were blocking. We were not ready to start the engine yet; so we reattached the tow bar to the aircraft and manually towed the aircraft about 200 ft. to unblock the hanger area for the other aircraft. Even with three people helping; the movement of our aircraft was physically exhausting. Once the aircraft was secured in the new location distractions caused us to miss the fact that the tow bar had not been removed and stowed after the movement of the aircraft. The external portion of the checklist had already been completed before the aircraft had to be relocated. The pre-flight checklist was resumed where it had been interrupted by the aircraft relocation. The engine was started per the checklist; taxi instructions were received; and the taxi commenced. About half-way through the taxi route; the Ground Controller contacted me stating that a ground operations crew had notified them that what looked like a tow bar was still attached to the front gear. The Controller instructed me to a pull-off area next to the taxiway. I shut down the engine; exited the aircraft; and found that the tow bar was still attached as reported. The tow bar was removed and stowed. Once back in the aircraft; the engine was restarted; and contact with the Ground Controller was reestablished to complete taxi to the active runway. With exception of the damage to the tow bar from dragging on the taxiway; no other damage was incurred; and the flight was completed normally. Lesson learned: if the pre-flight checklist is interrupted and distractions introduced; it is best to restart the checklist from the top so that all steps can be verified.
Pilot reported that distraction during preflight checks resulted in the aircraft taxiing with the tow bar still attached.