Cessna 152 — Normal Operating Procedures (independently worded)

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Aircraft documents (airworthiness certificate, registration, POH, weight and balance)ON BOARD AND CURRENT
Required placards and markingsIN PLACE AND LEGIBLE
Fuel quantity — visually verify each tank with dipstick or sight gaugeCONFIRMED, ADEQUATE FOR PLANNED FLIGHT
Fuel caps — both tanksSECURED
Fuel sumps (both tank drains and gascolator) — drain and check for water and correct gradeCLEAR, CORRECT GRADE
Engine oil levelWITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGE PER POH
Oil filler capREPLACED AND SECURED
Engine compartment — inspect for fluid leaks, loose hoses, bird nests, and foreign objectsCLEAR AND SECURE
Cowling fastenersSECURE
Propeller and spinner — inspect for nicks, cracks, corrosion, and securitySERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE
Nose gear strut and tire — check inflation, shimmy damper, and conditionADEQUATE AND UNDAMAGED
Left main gear — strut, tire, and brakeINFLATED, BRAKE PADS ADEQUATE, NO LEAKS
Left wing leading edge, skin, and fuel tank sump drain areaNO DAMAGE OR DEFORMATION
Left aileron, hinges, and control rod — check for security and freedom of movementFREE AND SECURE
Left wingtip and navigation lightUNDAMAGED, LIGHT LENS INTACT
Flaps — inspect hinges, actuator arm, and skin; check for correct retracted positionUNDAMAGED, RETRACTED
The 152 uses electrically operated flaps. Inspect the actuator linkage on each side for security.
Stall warning opening (left leading edge) — verify clear and vane moves freelyCLEAR AND FUNCTIONAL
Tail — horizontal stabilizer, elevator, trim tab, and rudderSECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE
AntennasSECURE AND UNDAMAGED
Right wing — mirror of left side checks (wingtip, aileron, leading edge, fuel sump, gear)NO DAMAGE, ALL SECURE
Right main gear — strut, tire, and brakeINFLATED, BRAKE PADS ADEQUATE, NO LEAKS
Pitot tube — cover removed, opening clear of obstructionsCOVER REMOVED, UNOBSTRUCTED
Static ports — check both sides clearUNOBSTRUCTED
Tie-down ropes and chocksREMOVED

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

Pilot and passenger briefing — seatbelts, door latching, no smoking, emergency exitsCOMPLETE
Seats — position adjusted for full rudder and brake pedal travel, seat track lockedADJUSTED AND LOCKED
Seat belts and shoulder harnessFASTENED AND SNUG
Control lockREMOVED AND STOWED
Flight controls — check for full and unobstructed travel in all axesFREE AND CORRECT
All electrical switchesOFF
Avionics master switchOFF (leave off during start)
Fuel selector valveBOTH ON
Flap switch — confirm flaps upUP, INDICATOR CONFIRMED
Elevator trimSET TO TAKEOFF POSITION
Mixture controlRICH (full forward for sea-level operations)
Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF)
Circuit breakersALL IN
Brakes — test for firm pressure while stationaryFIRM AND HOLDING
Parking brakeSET

Engine Start engine_start

Master switch (battery)ON
Beacon / anti-collision lightON
ThrottleOPEN APPROXIMATELY ONE-QUARTER INCH
Primer — use as required for conditions; lock securely after useAS REQUIRED, LOCKED IN
Cold starts generally require more priming strokes than warm restarts. Confirm primer is fully in and locked to prevent uncontrolled fuel delivery during start.
Visually verify the propeller arc is clear of personnel and obstructions, then call 'CLEAR PROP'
Ignition switchSTART — RELEASE AS SOON AS ENGINE FIRES
Throttle — after startREDUCE TO IDLE WARM-UP RPM
Oil pressureRISING WITHIN 30 SECONDS — IF NOT, SHUT DOWN
AmmeterPOSITIVE CHARGE INDICATION
Avionics masterON
Engine instruments — oil temp, oil pressureCHECKED, WARMING

After Start / Before Taxi after_start

ATIS or local weatherOBTAINED AND NOTED
Taxi clearance from ground controlOBTAINED, OR FIELD CLEAR
TransponderCODE SET, ALTITUDE MODE
AltimeterSET TO CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING; FIELD ELEVATION CONFIRMED
Directional gyro / heading indicatorALIGNED WITH MAGNETIC COMPASS
Flight instruments — airspeed, attitude indicator, turn coordinatorCHECKED (AIRSPEED ZERO, GYROS ERECT)
Radios and avionicsSET FOR DEPARTURE
Lights — as required for conditions and trafficSET

Run-Up / Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Parking brakeSET
Engine oil temperature and pressureIN GREEN ARCS
Fuel selector valveBOTH ON
MixtureRICH (ADJUST FOR DENSITY ALTITUDE PER POH)
Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF) BEFORE ADVANCING TO RUN-UP POWER
Throttle — advance to run-up power per POHRUN-UP RPM SET
Magnetos — check LEFT, then RIGHT, then BOTH; note RPM drop on eachDROPS WITHIN POH LIMITS; RETURNS TO BOTH
Maximum allowable RPM drop on a single magneto and the maximum spread between magnetos are specified in the POH. Excessive drop or rough running requires investigation before flight.
Carburetor heat — apply FULL HOT; note RPM response; return to COLDRPM DROP CONFIRMS HEAT FUNCTIONING; RETURNED TO COLD
A slight RPM drop on HOT is normal. A rough-running engine followed by a recovery indicates ice was present. Return carb heat to COLD for takeoff. This check is especially important on the 152 — the O-235 is susceptible to carb ice.
Throttle — reduce to idle; verify smooth idleIDLE SMOOTH AND STABLE
Suction / vacuum gaugeIN GREEN ARC
Ammeter and electricalAMMETER POSITIVE, NO CIRCUIT BREAKERS TRIPPED
Flight controls — final check for full and correct deflectionFREE AND CORRECT
Flaps — set for departure per POH and conditionsSET AS REQUIRED, POSITION CONFIRMED
Elevator trimTAKEOFF POSITION
Takeoff briefing — abort point, engine-failure action, departure routingBRIEFED
Doors and windowsCLOSED AND LATCHED
Carburetor heat — confirm COLD before applying takeoff powerCOLD

Takeoff takeoff

Runway — confirm correct runway and that it is clearCONFIRMED CLEAR
TransponderALTITUDE (ALT) MODE
Throttle — advance smoothly to full powerFULL POWER
Engine instruments at full powerRPM AND INDICATIONS IN RANGE
Maintain directional control with rudder — correct for left-turning tendency with right rudder
Rotate at speed per POH and establish climb attitudeCLIMB ATTITUDE ESTABLISHED

Climb climb

Airspeed — establish normal climb speed per POH (Vy or Vx as required)CLIMB SPEED PER POH
ThrottleFULL POWER (OR CRUISE CLIMB PER POH)
Carburetor heatCOLD UNLESS ICING CONDITIONS SUSPECTED
Apply carb heat if operating in visible moisture or in the temperature range susceptible to carb ice. Check for a response (RPM change) to confirm effectiveness.
MixtureRICH OR LEANED FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE FIELDS PER POH
Flaps — retract at safe altitude with positive rate of climb if used for takeoffUP
Engine instruments — oil temperature and pressureIN GREEN ARCS
TrimADJUSTED FOR HANDS-OFF CLIMB
Scan for traffic; make frequency changes and position reports as required

Cruise cruise

Throttle — set desired cruise power per POH performance tablesCRUISE POWER SET
Mixture — lean per POH for altitude and power settingLEANED PER POH
Carburetor heat — apply if icing conditions are likely; otherwise COLDCOLD OR ON AS CONDITIONS WARRANT
Carb ice can form across a wide temperature range in moist air. Periodic carb heat checks during cruise are good practice on this type.
Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure, ammeterIN NORMAL RANGE
Fuel quantity — compare gauge readings against elapsed time and planned fuel burnADEQUATE FOR DESTINATION PLUS LEGAL RESERVE
Altimeter and directional gyroCHECK AND RESET AS REQUIRED EN ROUTE
TrimADJUSTED FOR LEVEL FLIGHT
Maintain altitude, track, and traffic scan; cross-check position against chart or GPS

Descent descent

Carburetor heat — apply FULL HOT before reducing power for descentON BEFORE POWER REDUCTION
Carb ice is most likely to form during power reductions in moist air. Apply heat before throttling back, not after.
Throttle — reduce to desired descent power; avoid prolonged idleDESCENT POWER SET
Mixture — enrichen progressively as descendingENRICHING WITH DESCENT
AltimeterSET TO DESTINATION OR CURRENT AREA SETTING
ATIS or destination weatherOBTAINED — ACTIVE RUNWAY AND WINDS NOTED
Fuel selectorBOTH ON (CONFIRMED)
Engine instrumentsALL WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS

Before Landing before_landing

Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupantsSECURE
Fuel selectorBOTH ON
MixtureRICH
Carburetor heat — apply FULL HOT before reducing power on approachON
Apply carb heat before the power reduction for approach. Return to COLD in the event of a go-around.
Landing lightON
Flaps — extend to desired setting per POH for approach typeSET AS REQUIRED, POSITION CONFIRMED
Approach airspeedESTABLISHED PER POH FOR FLAP CONFIGURATION
Runway — confirm clear and cleared to land or traffic clearCONFIRMED CLEAR

Landing landing

Final approach — maintain stabilized airspeed per POH to the thresholdAPPROACH SPEED PER POH
Begin flare smoothly over the threshold; arrest the rate of descent and allow airspeed to bleed
Touch down on main wheels in level or slightly nose-high attitude; keep nosewheel off as long as practical
After touchdown, maintain centerline with rudder and allow speed to reduce before heavy braking
Brakes — apply smoothly and progressively as required to stop in available runwayAPPLIED AS REQUIRED
Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF) AFTER CONFIRMED ON GROUND

Go-Around go_around

ThrottleMEMORYFULL POWER — SMOOTH AND IMMEDIATE
Carburetor heatMEMORYCOLD (OFF)
Carb heat reduces available power. Set COLD simultaneously with or just after applying full throttle.
Pitch attitude — establish positive climb; arrest any sinkMEMORYCLIMB ATTITUDE ESTABLISHED
Flaps — retract incrementally to takeoff position first; never retract all at once from full flapsMEMORYRETRACTED INCREMENTALLY PER POH
Airspeed — maintain at or above best rate-of-climb speed; retract remaining flaps as speed and altitude allowVY OR PER POH
TrimADJUST FOR CLIMB
Advise ATC and maintain awareness of other traffic in the pattern

After Landing after_landing

Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF)
FlapsRETRACTED (UP)
Landing lightOFF (OR PER PREFERENCE)
TransponderSTANDBY OR AS DIRECTED
Taxi clear of the active runway before running the shutdown checklist

Shutdown and Securing shutdown

Parking brakeSET
Avionics master and all electrical accessoriesOFF
ThrottleIDLE
Allow engine to run at idle briefly to cool cylinder heads before shutting down
MixtureIDLE CUT-OFF (PULL FULL AFT)
Ignition switch — after propeller stopsOFF
Master switch (battery)OFF
Control lockINSTALLED
Fuel selectorBOTH ON OR OFF PER LOCAL PRACTICE
Tie-downs, chocks, and pitot coverINSTALLED
Complete post-flight walk-around — note any leaks, damage, or discrepancies in the aircraft log

Cessna 152 — Normal Operating Procedures (independently worded)

Ratings & reviews

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

Engine Start engine_start

After Start / Before Taxi after_start

Run-Up / Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Takeoff takeoff

Climb climb

Cruise cruise

Descent descent

Before Landing before_landing

Landing landing

Go-Around go_around

After Landing after_landing

Shutdown and Securing shutdown

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