Preflight checklist8/3/2023 ![]() ![]() If a nyloc nut (sometimes called an elastic stop nut) is used, make sure you can see three full threads of the bolt showing. If you see a castellated nut, ensure it has a cotter pin (like on the elevator trim tab). That means knowing which ones you can visually check and what they look like. Make sure those nuts and bolts are there! They are held together with nuts and bolts. Make sure there is no water present, and if there is, drain it out completely.ĭespite their complicated designs and space-age looks, planes aren’t that complicated or magical. Check the fuel is indeed 100LL by color and scent. Quality is checked by taking sump samples from each of the 13 fuel sumps on the 172. And never trust the plane’s fuel gauges for this purpose–they can be inaccurate. Never take off if you can’t visually confirm precisely how many gallons are on board. If it’s below the filler neck, the only way to know is to use a straw-style calibrated fuel gauge. You know how many gallons are in the tank at those two points. Quantity is checked visually by seeing it at the top or bottom of the filler neck. Therefore, it only makes sense to be as careful as possible when checking your fuel’s quantity and quality. Nearly all engine failure incidents are tied to fuel starvation or fuel contamination. Your engine needs a constant supply of pure, clean fuel to run. Plus, less frequent replacements mean your school can keep the rental costs down! Triple-Check the Fuel Visually Take care of your plane, and it will take care of you. Yes, it will probably be fine, and yes, it is a rental.īut it’s also your airplane for the day, and there’s no need to beat it up. Another example is when you slam the doors instead of activating the latches with care. This is very rough on the linkages and cables, plus it can actually warp the skin of the plane. Too many students grab the flight controls and mash them to their stops. Look your plane up and down from the moment you walk up to it on the ramp. To that end, get out of the mindset that a preflight is limited to a few items on the checklist. You can’t spot other planes in the air without a clean windscreen!ĭetails like this are seldom on the checklist but are nonetheless very important. ![]() The preflight encompasses much more than the 172 checklist says it does.įor example, if the last pilot left the windscreen smeared with bug guts, you must clean it. ![]() So what has changed since the last time you flew, and why? When you start, you’ll focus on the individual tasks that your instructor teaches you from the checklist.īut the idea of a Cessna 172 preflight checklist is much more than that–it’s the act of looking at the plane closely and observing differences. Preflights are all about inspecting things and being observant. A Preflight Begins the Moment You See the Plane For a close look at the walk-around process, check out our Cessna 172 preflight video above. Here’s a list of tips to keep in mind when preflighting your plane. ![]() The smallest things can make a big difference when you are 3,000 feet in the air and 20 miles from the nearest airport.Īll of this adds up to the fact that a careful and thorough preflight is one of the biggest things you can do to mitigate risk during a flight.Ī preflight assures you that the plane is in good shape, which goes far beyond the legal definition of “airworthy.” Vibrations loosen screws, corrosion takes its toll on metal parts, mechanics accidentally rig the flight controls backward, fuel caps don’t get closed and let rain in, line personnel put in Jet A fuel in a moment of distraction–the list goes on and on. And those countless hours in the air, with its engine running at more than 80 percent power.Īirplanes are complex, to begin with, and they are roughly used. Think of all those student pilot landings your trainer has survived. To meet FAA regulations, a mechanic must thoroughly inspect the plane at least once a year.īut the planes you train in or rent will likely be inspected more often, every 100 hours. This guide will help you master it quickly. Final walk-around before departure (more on this one in the tips section)Īs you become a pilot, the preflight checklist is one of the first things you’ll learn.Detailed walk-around inspection (master switch off).Initial cockpit check and quick walk-around to check the lights (master switch on).Most pilots conduct the walk-around in three separate phases. It’s a vital safety check to ensure that that plane is airworthy–that is, it has everything it legally needs to fly and is in good condition to do so. Sometimes called the walk-around, the Cessna 172 preflight checklist is the initial inspection a pilot makes of the aircraft right before they take it flying. ![]()
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