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Bill, Et Al:

You are not alone.

Although only a 1200 hour pilot at the time, like you I was distracted and, like you, went flying with the tow bar attached.  Unlike you, I was informed of the tow bar whilst in the pattern.  Who, ME......?  Also, unlike you, the tow bar and the prop met shortly after touchdown adding a 2 inch long and half inch wide curly-que to the end of one blade (screw tip?) and sending the bar off to the right side of the airplane.  The right side?  Yes.  At take off the spinning front wheel disengaged the locking mechanism on the "Lancair option" tow bar, leaving it attached only by the hole that slips over the pin at the fork.  The prop knocked the bar to the left and it sprung back and off to the right, only damaging the bar, the blade and my pride.

I saved the the blade with the curly-que tip and intended it to be the bone-head of the week traveling award, but so many people have confessed aviation sins to me that there would not be enough room to record their names on it.  So, for now, it just lists you and me.

A prophylactic for this event is to put your ignition key on the ring attached to the pin that holds the bar halves together.  That way, when you go to start the engine, you should darn well know where the other two pieces are located.

Scott Krueger

PS - The only bar that can get me into trouble is the one that serves drinks.

LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html
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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.