Which sequence correctly describes attaching the tow bar to the C-17's nose landing gear and securing it for tow?

• A. Install and secure the safety pin, attach the safety chain/retaining devices, ensure the tow bar lock engages, align tow bar to the nose gear pintle, mate the tow bar to the pintle, and perform a controlled test pull.
• B. Align the tow bar to the nose gear pintle, mate the tow bar to the pintle, install and secure the safety pin, attach the safety chain/retaining devices, ensure the tow bar lock engages, and perform a controlled test pull.
• C. Mate the tow bar to the pintle, align the tow bar to the nose gear pintle, perform a controlled test pull, install the safety pin, attach the safety chain/retaining devices.
• D. Attach the safety chain/retaining devices, align the tow bar to the nose gear pintle, install the safety pin, mate the tow bar to the pintle, and perform a controlled test pull.

Answer: (B)

Getting the tow bar properly mated to the nose landing gear pintle first ensures the connection is fully seated and the latch mechanism can engage without obstruction. Once the tow bar is seated, installing and securing the safety pin locks the connection in place, preventing it from backing out. Attaching the safety chain or retaining devices then provides a secondary retention path in case the primary lock were to fail, adding a crucial redundancy. After those safety measures are in place, you verify that the tow bar lock engages, confirming the locking mechanism is fully engaged and ready for tow. Finally, a controlled test pull checks the entire assembly under load to confirm there’s no binding or misalignment and that everything remains secure. Starting with the pin or chain before seating, or testing the pull before securing the pin/chain, can hide seating issues or allow unsecured connections, so the sequence above best ensures a safe, reliable tow setup.