Cessna 172 SP — Normal Operating Procedures

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Aircraft documents (ARROW) — airworthiness certificate, registration, radio license, operating handbook, weight-and-balance dataON BOARD AND CURRENT
Fuel quantity — visually verify each tank; confirm quantity matches tabs or dipstick; sufficient for flight with required reservesVERIFIED, ADEQUATE
Fuel grade and appearanceCORRECT GRADE PER POH, COLOR CONSISTENT
Fuel caps — both tanksPROPERLY SEATED AND LOCKED
Fuel sump — left tank drainSAMPLED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO WATER OR DEBRIS
Fuel sump — right tank drainSAMPLED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO WATER OR DEBRIS
Fuel sump — gascolator/main strainer drainDRAINED AND CLEAR
Fuel vent lines — both wing undersidesUNOBSTRUCTED
Engine oil level — dipstick checkWITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGE PER POH; CAP REINSTALLED AND SECURE
Engine compartment — inspect for fuel or oil leaks, loose hoses, chafed wires, and foreign objectsCLEAR AND SECURE
Induction air inlet — fuel-injected engine; no carburetor heat system presentINLET CLEAR, FILTER NOT BLOCKED
Exhaust system — visible portionsNO CRACKS, LOOSE CLAMPS, OR HEAT DISCOLORATION
Cowling latches and fastenersSECURE
Propeller and spinner — inspect for nicks, cracks, gouges, and securitySERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE
Nose gear strut and tire — extension, tread, and tow bar removalSTRUT EXTENDED NORMALLY, TIRE SERVICEABLE, TOW BAR REMOVED
Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clear of obstructions and insect debrisCOVER OFF, CLEAR
Static ports — both sides of fuselageCLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED
Left wing leading edge and fuel tank skinNO DEFORMATION OR FUEL STAINING
Left aileron and flap — attachment, travel, and conditionSECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE
Left wingtip and navigation lightUNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT
Stall warning port — clear; vane deflection activates audible warningCLEAR, FUNCTIONAL
Left main gear — strut extension, tire condition, brake pad visibilitySTRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE
Horizontal stabilizer and elevator — condition and hinge securityUNDAMAGED, HINGES SECURE
Elevator trim tab — attachment and playSECURE, NO EXCESSIVE PLAY
Vertical stabilizer and rudder — condition, hinge hardware, and free movementUNDAMAGED, RUDDER FREE
Tail tie-downRELEASED AND REMOVED
Right main gear — strut, tire, and brake conditionSTRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE
Right wing and fuel tank — leading edge, tip, fuel cap securityUNDAMAGED, FUEL CAP SECURE
Right aileron and flap — attachment, travel, and conditionSECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE
Antennas — all externally visibleSECURE AND UNDAMAGED
Wing and nose tie-downs — all ground restraintsREMOVED

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

Control lockREMOVED AND STOWED
Seats — fore-aft adjustment and lock pinADJUSTED AND LOCKED
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupantsFASTENED AND ADJUSTED
Passenger briefing — seatbelts, door latching, emergency exits, no smoking, sterile cockpitCOMPLETED
Flight controls — full travel check; aileron, elevator, and rudder in correct directionFULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE
Parking brakeSET
Fuel selectorBOTH
Fuel shutoff valveON (IN)
Avionics master switchOFF (protect avionics during start)
All electrical switches (lights, strobes, pitot heat)OFF
Circuit breakersALL IN
Flaps — position indicator check; set for takeoff per POHSET PER POH
Elevator trimSET TO TAKEOFF POSITION
MixtureRICH (or leaned per field elevation per POH)
ThrottleCLOSED / IDLE

Engine Start engine_start

Area clear — visually confirm propeller arc free of persons and objectsCLEAR; ANNOUNCE 'CLEAR PROP'
Battery master switchON
Alternator switchON
Beacon / anti-collision lightON
Throttle — set for start per POH guidanceAPPROXIMATELY OPEN PER POH
Mixture — hot start (warm engine): use ICO with fuel flow per POH flooded-start techniquePER POH HOT-START PROCEDURE
Mixture — cold/normal startRICH
Starter — engage; release promptly when engine firesENGAGED THEN RELEASED
Throttle — after startREDUCE TO IDLE TO STABILIZE
Oil pressure — verify rise within first 30 seconds; shut down if pressure does not riseRISING NORMALLY
Avionics master switchON (after engine stable)
Engine instruments — oil temp rising, gauges in normal range, no warning lightsNORMAL

Before Taxi / After Start after_start

Avionics power-on checks — GPS, COM/NAV, transponder, autopilot if equippedSELF-TESTS COMPLETE, OPERATIONAL
Altimeter — set current altimeter setting; verify field elevation within toleranceSET AND CONFIRMED
Heading indicator — align with magnetic compass while stationaryALIGNED
ATIS / weather — obtain current conditionsOBTAINED AND NOTED
Taxi clearance or CTAF advisoryOBTAINED
Transponder — set assigned squawk codeCODE SET, ALT MODE
Taxi and landing lightsON AS APPROPRIATE
Parking brakeRELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI
Brakes — test with brief application after first forward movementEFFECTIVE
Gyroscopic instruments during taxi — attitude indicator erecting, turn coordinator respondingFUNCTIONING NORMALLY

Run-Up / Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Parking brakeSET
Position — headed into wind if possible; surface firm and clear of loose debrisCONFIRMED
Flight controls — re-verify full and free movement, correct responseFULL AND FREE, CORRECT
Fuel selectorBOTH
MixtureRICH (or adjusted per field elevation per POH)
Engine warm-up — oil temperature in green arc before run-up powerOIL TEMP IN GREEN
Throttle — advance to run-up power setting per POHSET PER POH
Magnetos — check LEFT then RIGHT; note RPM drop on each; return to BOTH; drops and differential within POH limitsBOTH CHECKED, WITHIN LIMITS
Engine instruments at run-up power — oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel flow, EGT, and CHTALL IN NORMAL RANGE
Throttle — reduce to idle; engine runs smoothly without roughness or stumbleSMOOTH AT IDLE
Suction / vacuum gaugeWITHIN NORMAL RANGE
Ammeter / electrical systemINDICATING CHARGE, NO DISCHARGE
Flaps — set for takeoff per POH; motion confirmed on indicatorSET PER POH
Elevator trimSET TO TAKEOFF POSITION
TransponderALT (or as directed by ATC)
Strobes and landing lightON
Doors and windowsCLOSED AND LATCHED
Abort plan — departure-end landing area and abort criteria identifiedREVIEWED

Takeoff takeoff

Traffic pattern and runway — final clear, runway clear in both directionsCLEAR
Throttle — advance smoothly to full powerFULL POWER; RPM CONFIRMED
Engine gauges at takeoff power — oil pressure, fuel flow; no abnormal indicationsNORMAL
Directional control — apply right rudder as needed to track runway centerlineTRACKING CENTERLINE
Rotate — apply smooth back pressure at Vr per POHROTATE PER POH
Positive rate of climb — confirm on altimeter and VSICONFIRMED
Flaps — retract incrementally after positive rate established and clear of obstacles per POHRETRACTING PER POH
Airspeed — establish Vx or Vy per conditions and POHESTABLISHED PER POH

Climb climb

Airspeed — best-rate or best-angle climb speed per POH and conditionsESTABLISHED PER POH
Throttle — full power maintained for climb or reduced per POH climb powerSET PER POH
Mixture — rich below density altitude requiring lean; lean progressively at higher elevations per POHSET PER POH
Engine instruments — CHT, oil temperature, fuel flow; all in normal rangeNORMAL
Fuel quantity — periodic check; cross-check against planned burnCHECKED
Heading indicator — cross-check with magnetic compassCHECKED AND CONSISTENT
Traffic scanCONTINUOUS

Cruise cruise

Throttle — cruise power setting per POH cruise performance tableSET PER POH
Mixture — lean to peak EGT then enrichen per POH recommendation for selected power and altitudeLEANED PER POH
Elevator trim — adjust for hands-free level flightTRIMMED
Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, EGT within normal limitsALL NORMAL
Fuel gauges — both tanks; remaining quantity consistent with planned consumptionCHECKED AND CONSISTENT
Fuel selector — switch tanks per POH interval guidance to maintain balanceSWITCHED PER POH
Altimeter setting — update as needed; altitude maintained with VFR disciplineCURRENT
Navigation — position and track confirmed; ETE and fuel endurance verifiedON TRACK
Ammeter / electrical system — no discharge indicationNORMAL

Descent descent

ATIS / destination weather — obtain; note runway in use, wind, and relevant NOTAMsOBTAINED AND NOTED
Altimeter — update to destination or nearest reporting stationUPDATED
Mixture — enrichen progressively as altitude decreases per POHENRICHENED PER POH
Throttle — reduce smoothly; avoid prolonged idle descent that may cause engine shock-coolingREDUCED SMOOTHLY
Fuel selectorBOTH
Engine instruments — verify CHT does not drop excessively; all indications normalNORMAL
Traffic scan — heightened vigilance; terrain and traffic awareness increased near destinationCONTINUOUS

Before Landing before_landing

Fuel selectorBOTH
MixtureRICH
Landing lightON
Flaps — set to approach or full extension per POH and conditionsSET PER POH
Airspeed — stabilize at Vref per flap setting and weight per POHESTABLISHED PER POH
Seat belts and harnesses — all occupants secureSECURE
Traffic pattern — position report made or ATC contact; pattern sequence establishedCLEAR TO LAND

Landing landing

Final approach — stabilized; airspeed on target, descent rate controlled, centerline alignedSTABILIZED
Wind correction — crosswind crab or wing-low technique applied as neededAPPLIED AS NEEDED
Runway — confirm clear of conflicting traffic and foreign objects before thresholdCLEAR
Flare — initiated at appropriate height; throttle closed smoothlySMOOTH FLARE
Touchdown — main wheels contact first; nose held off as speed decaysMAINS FIRST
Rollout directional control — rudder used to track centerline; nose lowered gentlyTRACKING CENTERLINE
Brakes — progressive application as needed; avoid locked-wheel skiddingAPPLIED AS NEEDED
Runway exit — clear at first available taxiway; stop only after fully clear of runwayCLEAR OF RUNWAY

Go-Around go_around

Throttle — full power, smoothly and without hesitationFULL POWER
Pitch attitude — establish positive climb attitudeCLIMB ATTITUDE
Flaps — retract to first notch to reduce drag while maintaining liftPARTIAL RETRACT
Airspeed — accelerate to climb speed before further flap retractionACCELERATING
Flaps — retract fully as airspeed permits and obstacles are clearedRETRACTED
Positive rate of climb — confirmed on VSI and altimeterCONFIRMED
ATC or CTAF — announce go-around; re-enter pattern as instructedADVISED

After Landing after_landing

Flaps — retract after clearing active runwayRETRACTED
Transponder — remain in ALT until clear; verify with towerALT OR AS DIRECTED
Landing light — reduce or extinguish per local practice after clearing runwayAS APPROPRIATE
Mixture — enrichened for taxi; lean for prolonged ground operation if applicableSET AS APPROPRIATE

Shutdown and Securing shutdown

Avionics master — OFF before engine shutdown to protect avionicsOFF
All electrical equipment — lights, pitot heat, non-essential loadsOFF
Mixture — pull to ICO (idle cut-off) to shut down engineICO — ENGINE STOPPED
Throttle — after engine stopsCLOSED (IDLE)
MagnetosOFF (BOTH)
Master switchOFF
Control lockINSTALLED ON YOKE AND RUDDER
Parking brakeSET; CHOCKS PLACED IF UNATTENDED
FlapsRETRACTED FOR TIE-DOWN
Fuel selectorBOTH (or per local practice)
Hobbs and tach time — record for log; note any squawksRECORDED
Post-flight walk-around — check for fuel or oil leaks, flight damage, or foreign-object ingestionCOMPLETED, NO DISCREPANCIES
Tie-downs and covers — wing and tail tie-downs secure; pitot cover installedSECURED

Cessna 172 SP — Normal Operating Procedures

Ratings & reviews

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

Engine Start engine_start

Before Taxi / After Start 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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