| Occurrence Briefs are concise reports that detail the facts surrounding a transport safety occurrence, as received in the initial notification and any follow-up enquiries. They provide an opportunity to share safety messages in the absence of an investigation. |
What happened
On 1 August 2018 at approximately 1200 Eastern Standard Time, the pilot of a Lancair 360 commenced his pre-flight inspection at Roma Airport, Queensland (Qld). The sequence of the pre-flight inspection was altered due to the need to refuel prior to departure. During the inspection, the pilot was also interrupted on multiple occasions where he was required to leave the aircraft. When he returned, he approached the aircraft from behind and inadvertently omitted to inspect the front.
The pilot completed pre-flight checks and believed that the aircraft was ready for flight. During the climb, the pilot noticed a slight vibration, which discontinued once in cruise configuration. The pilot also noted that the oil temperature was one to two degrees lower than normal during the flight. No further unusual events were observed throughout the flight and the aircraft landed safely at Gold Coast Airport, Qld.
Upon unloading the aircraft, the pilot noticed that he had not removed the tow bar from the aircraft prior to departure. He contacted Roma Airport ground staff and advised that the tow bar handle may have fallen off on the taxiway; they were unable to locate it. The next day the pilot received a phone call from Gold Coast Airport staff advising him that they had located and removed his tow bar handle from the runway. No damage was sustained to the aircraft. The tow bar handle was slightly bent and scratched.
Safety message
The incident highlights the importance of ensuring that all pre-flights checks are carried out systematically and with minimal interruption. If interrupted, it is best practice to start again from the beginning to ensure that nothing is missed.
About this report
Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.