PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 110; Flight Crew Total 4435; Flight Crew Type 749
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
I pulled out my PA46T Piper Meridian with a loader tug and tow bar onto the icy apron. My passenger arrived and I changed my pullout procedure and finished check procedure. With changing the preflight procedure; the tow bar was left connected to the aircraft. Due to the darkness it was not noticed or felt on takeoff. A right sway and jerk was felt. At this point I knew exactly what happened. I advised the tower the tow bar might be on the runway. I retracted the gear and the light indicated the gear was not locked. At this time I requested a low flyby of the tower to see if it was under the belly of the plane. At that point; knowing how the tow bar was connected; and the position of the nose wheel; the bar was not going anywhere or be dislodged if the gear was not moved. At this time; with darkness still around; I decided to go to ZZZ. The field is much more open; less homes and highways near the runway and it would be light by then so the tower can observe. I decided to do a low flyby on the runway; calm winds. I dropped the gear. At that time the nose wheel lowered and the tow bar came off and landed alongside the runway. All three lights on the landing gear showed the gear was locked down. I proceeded to the active runway at ZZZ and landed. I went to [a maintenance shop] and had the airplane checked for damage. The plane was lifted; landing gear was checked and cycled many times. No damages to gear; nose wheel doors. There was one small dent 1/8' deep; ½' diameter in the belly of the plane. That was the only damage. The tow bar was picked up. Very lucky.
PA46 pilot reported a nose landing gear issue after takeoff was the result of a distracted preflight that led to departing with the tow bar attached.