Cessna 172 SP — Normal Operating Procedures NOT FOR FLIGHT — source fidelity: not_applicable | operational review: none | completeness: normal_only | 1 unresolved safety defect(s) Source: authored — no source document Rights: original_expression CC-BY-4.0 Checklist hash: 9ac57a754855ebc54c6625e52b57a9c246cffeb923ce343009a2d6957baa4491 Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use. ======================================================================== PREFLIGHT WALK-AROUND --------------------- [ ] Aircraft documents (ARROW) — airworthiness certificate, registration, radio license, operating handbook, weight-and-balance data ... ON BOARD AND CURRENT [ ] Fuel quantity — visually verify each tank; confirm quantity matches tabs or dipstick; sufficient for flight with required reserves ... VERIFIED, ADEQUATE [ ] Fuel grade and appearance ... CORRECT GRADE PER POH, COLOR CONSISTENT [ ] Fuel caps — both tanks ................... PROPERLY SEATED AND LOCKED [ ] Fuel sump — left tank drain ... SAMPLED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO WATER OR DEBRIS [ ] Fuel sump — right tank drain ... SAMPLED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO WATER OR DEBRIS [ ] Fuel sump — gascolator/main strainer drain ........ DRAINED AND CLEAR [ ] Fuel vent lines — both wing undersides ................. UNOBSTRUCTED [ ] Engine oil level — dipstick check ... WITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGE PER POH; CAP REINSTALLED AND SECURE [ ] Engine compartment — inspect for fuel or oil leaks, loose hoses, chafed wires, and foreign objects ... CLEAR AND SECURE [ ] Induction air inlet — fuel-injected engine; no carburetor heat system present ... INLET CLEAR, FILTER NOT BLOCKED [ ] Exhaust system — visible portions ... NO CRACKS, LOOSE CLAMPS, OR HEAT DISCOLORATION [ ] Cowling latches and fasteners ................................ SECURE [ ] Propeller and spinner — inspect for nicks, cracks, gouges, and security ... SERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE [ ] Nose gear strut and tire — extension, tread, and tow bar removal ... STRUT EXTENDED NORMALLY, TIRE SERVICEABLE, TOW BAR REMOVED [ ] Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clear of obstructions and insect debris ... COVER OFF, CLEAR [ ] Static ports — both sides of fuselage ........ CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED [ ] Left wing leading edge and fuel tank skin ... NO DEFORMATION OR FUEL STAINING [ ] Left aileron and flap — attachment, travel, and condition ... SECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE [ ] Left wingtip and navigation light ............ UNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT [ ] Stall warning port — clear; vane deflection activates audible warning ... CLEAR, FUNCTIONAL [ ] Left main gear — strut extension, tire condition, brake pad visibility ... STRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE [ ] Horizontal stabilizer and elevator — condition and hinge security ... UNDAMAGED, HINGES SECURE [ ] Elevator trim tab — attachment and play ... SECURE, NO EXCESSIVE PLAY [ ] Vertical stabilizer and rudder — condition, hinge hardware, and free movement ... UNDAMAGED, RUDDER FREE [ ] Tail tie-down .................................. RELEASED AND REMOVED [ ] Right main gear — strut, tire, and brake condition ... STRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE [ ] Right wing and fuel tank — leading edge, tip, fuel cap security ... UNDAMAGED, FUEL CAP SECURE [ ] Right aileron and flap — attachment, travel, and condition ... SECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE [ ] Antennas — all externally visible .............. SECURE AND UNDAMAGED [ ] Wing and nose tie-downs — all ground restraints ............. REMOVED COCKPIT PREPARATION / BEFORE START ---------------------------------- [ ] Control lock ..................................... REMOVED AND STOWED [ ] Seats — fore-aft adjustment and lock pin ........ ADJUSTED AND LOCKED [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants ... FASTENED AND ADJUSTED [ ] Passenger briefing — seatbelts, door latching, emergency exits, no smoking, sterile cockpit ... COMPLETED [ ] Flight controls — full travel check; aileron, elevator, and rudder in correct direction ... FULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Fuel selector .................................................. BOTH [ ] Fuel shutoff valve .......................................... ON (IN) [ ] Avionics master switch .......... OFF (protect avionics during start) [ ] All electrical switches (lights, strobes, pitot heat) ........... OFF [ ] Circuit breakers ............................................. ALL IN [ ] Flaps — position indicator check; set for takeoff per POH ... SET PER POH [ ] Elevator trim ............................... SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION [ ] Mixture ................ RICH (or leaned per field elevation per POH) [ ] Throttle .............................................. CLOSED / IDLE ENGINE START ------------ [ ] Area clear — visually confirm propeller arc free of persons and objects ... CLEAR; ANNOUNCE 'CLEAR PROP' [ ] Battery master switch ............................................ ON [ ] Alternator switch ................................................ ON [ ] Beacon / anti-collision light .................................... ON [ ] Throttle — set for start per POH guidance ... APPROXIMATELY OPEN PER POH [ ] Mixture — hot start (warm engine): use ICO with fuel flow per POH flooded-start technique ... PER POH HOT-START PROCEDURE [ ] Mixture — cold/normal start .................................... RICH [ ] Starter — engage; release promptly when engine fires ... ENGAGED THEN RELEASED [ ] Throttle — after start .................. REDUCE TO IDLE TO STABILIZE [ ] Oil pressure — verify rise within first 30 seconds; shut down if pressure does not rise ... RISING NORMALLY [ ] Avionics master switch ..................... ON (after engine stable) [ ] Engine instruments — oil temp rising, gauges in normal range, no warning lights ... NORMAL BEFORE TAXI / AFTER START ------------------------- [ ] Avionics power-on checks — GPS, COM/NAV, transponder, autopilot if equipped ... SELF-TESTS COMPLETE, OPERATIONAL [ ] Altimeter — set current altimeter setting; verify field elevation within tolerance ... SET AND CONFIRMED [ ] Heading indicator — align with magnetic compass while stationary ... ALIGNED [ ] ATIS / weather — obtain current conditions ....... OBTAINED AND NOTED [ ] Taxi clearance or CTAF advisory ............................ OBTAINED [ ] Transponder — set assigned squawk code ........... CODE SET, ALT MODE [ ] Taxi and landing lights ........................... ON AS APPROPRIATE [ ] Parking brake ............................ RELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI [ ] Brakes — test with brief application after first forward movement ... EFFECTIVE [ ] Gyroscopic instruments during taxi — attitude indicator erecting, turn coordinator responding ... FUNCTIONING NORMALLY RUN-UP / BEFORE TAKEOFF ----------------------- [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Position — headed into wind if possible; surface firm and clear of loose debris ... CONFIRMED [ ] Flight controls — re-verify full and free movement, correct response ... FULL AND FREE, CORRECT [ ] Fuel selector .................................................. BOTH [ ] Mixture .............. RICH (or adjusted per field elevation per POH) [ ] Engine warm-up — oil temperature in green arc before run-up power ... OIL TEMP IN GREEN [ ] Throttle — advance to run-up power setting per POH ...... SET PER POH [ ] Magnetos — check LEFT then RIGHT; note RPM drop on each; return to BOTH; drops and differential within POH limits ... BOTH CHECKED, WITHIN LIMITS [ ] Engine instruments at run-up power — oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel flow, EGT, and CHT ... ALL IN NORMAL RANGE [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle; engine runs smoothly without roughness or stumble ... SMOOTH AT IDLE [ ] Suction / vacuum gauge .......................... WITHIN NORMAL RANGE [ ] Ammeter / electrical system ......... INDICATING CHARGE, NO DISCHARGE [ ] Flaps — set for takeoff per POH; motion confirmed on indicator ... SET PER POH [ ] Elevator trim ............................... SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION [ ] Transponder ............................. ALT (or as directed by ATC) [ ] Strobes and landing light ........................................ ON [ ] Doors and windows ................................ CLOSED AND LATCHED [ ] Abort plan — departure-end landing area and abort criteria identified ... REVIEWED TAKEOFF ------- [ ] Traffic pattern and runway — final clear, runway clear in both directions ... CLEAR [ ] Throttle — advance smoothly to full power ... FULL POWER; RPM CONFIRMED [ ] Engine gauges at takeoff power — oil pressure, fuel flow; no abnormal indications ... NORMAL [ ] Directional control — apply right rudder as needed to track runway centerline ... TRACKING CENTERLINE [ ] Rotate — apply smooth back pressure at Vr per POH .... ROTATE PER POH [ ] Positive rate of climb — confirm on altimeter and VSI ..... CONFIRMED [ ] Flaps — retract incrementally after positive rate established and clear of obstacles per POH ... RETRACTING PER POH [ ] Airspeed — establish Vx or Vy per conditions and POH ... ESTABLISHED PER POH CLIMB ----- [ ] Airspeed — best-rate or best-angle climb speed per POH and conditions ... ESTABLISHED PER POH [ ] Throttle — full power maintained for climb or reduced per POH climb power ... SET PER POH [ ] Mixture — rich below density altitude requiring lean; lean progressively at higher elevations per POH ... SET PER POH [ ] Engine instruments — CHT, oil temperature, fuel flow; all in normal range ... NORMAL [ ] Fuel quantity — periodic check; cross-check against planned burn ... CHECKED [ ] Heading indicator — cross-check with magnetic compass ... CHECKED AND CONSISTENT [ ] Traffic scan ............................................. CONTINUOUS CRUISE ------ [ ] Throttle — cruise power setting per POH cruise performance table ... SET PER POH [ ] Mixture — lean to peak EGT then enrichen per POH recommendation for selected power and altitude ... LEANED PER POH [ ] Elevator trim — adjust for hands-free level flight .......... TRIMMED [ ] Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, EGT within normal limits ... ALL NORMAL [ ] Fuel gauges — both tanks; remaining quantity consistent with planned consumption ... CHECKED AND CONSISTENT [ ] Fuel selector — switch tanks per POH interval guidance to maintain balance ... SWITCHED PER POH [ ] Altimeter setting — update as needed; altitude maintained with VFR discipline ... CURRENT [ ] Navigation — position and track confirmed; ETE and fuel endurance verified ... ON TRACK [ ] Ammeter / electrical system — no discharge indication ........ NORMAL DESCENT ------- [ ] ATIS / destination weather — obtain; note runway in use, wind, and relevant NOTAMs ... OBTAINED AND NOTED [ ] Altimeter — update to destination or nearest reporting station ... UPDATED [ ] Mixture — enrichen progressively as altitude decreases per POH ... ENRICHENED PER POH [ ] Throttle — reduce smoothly; avoid prolonged idle descent that may cause engine shock-cooling ... REDUCED SMOOTHLY [ ] Fuel selector .................................................. BOTH [ ] Engine instruments — verify CHT does not drop excessively; all indications normal ... NORMAL [ ] Traffic scan — heightened vigilance; terrain and traffic awareness increased near destination ... CONTINUOUS BEFORE LANDING -------------- [ ] Fuel selector .................................................. BOTH [ ] Mixture ........................................................ RICH [ ] Landing light .................................................... ON [ ] Flaps — set to approach or full extension per POH and conditions ... SET PER POH [ ] Airspeed — stabilize at Vref per flap setting and weight per POH ... ESTABLISHED PER POH [ ] Seat belts and harnesses — all occupants secure .............. SECURE [ ] Traffic pattern — position report made or ATC contact; pattern sequence established ... CLEAR TO LAND LANDING ------- [ ] Final approach — stabilized; airspeed on target, descent rate controlled, centerline aligned ... STABILIZED [ ] Wind correction — crosswind crab or wing-low technique applied as needed ... APPLIED AS NEEDED [ ] Runway — confirm clear of conflicting traffic and foreign objects before threshold ... CLEAR [ ] Flare — initiated at appropriate height; throttle closed smoothly ... SMOOTH FLARE [ ] Touchdown — main wheels contact first; nose held off as speed decays ... MAINS FIRST [ ] Rollout directional control — rudder used to track centerline; nose lowered gently ... TRACKING CENTERLINE [ ] Brakes — progressive application as needed; avoid locked-wheel skidding ... APPLIED AS NEEDED [ ] Runway exit — clear at first available taxiway; stop only after fully clear of runway ... CLEAR OF RUNWAY GO-AROUND [ABNORMAL] --------------------- [ ] Throttle — full power, smoothly and without hesitation ... FULL POWER [ ] Pitch attitude — establish positive climb attitude ... CLIMB ATTITUDE [ ] Flaps — retract to first notch to reduce drag while maintaining lift ... PARTIAL RETRACT [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to climb speed before further flap retraction ... ACCELERATING [ ] Flaps — retract fully as airspeed permits and obstacles are cleared ... RETRACTED [ ] Positive rate of climb — confirmed on VSI and altimeter ... CONFIRMED [ ] ATC or CTAF — announce go-around; re-enter pattern as instructed ... ADVISED AFTER LANDING ------------- [ ] Flaps — retract after clearing active runway .............. RETRACTED [ ] Transponder — remain in ALT until clear; verify with tower ... ALT OR AS DIRECTED [ ] Landing light — reduce or extinguish per local practice after clearing runway ... AS APPROPRIATE [ ] Mixture — enrichened for taxi; lean for prolonged ground operation if applicable ... SET AS APPROPRIATE SHUTDOWN AND SECURING --------------------- [ ] Avionics master — OFF before engine shutdown to protect avionics ... OFF [ ] All electrical equipment — lights, pitot heat, non-essential loads ... OFF [ ] Mixture — pull to ICO (idle cut-off) to shut down engine ... ICO — ENGINE STOPPED [ ] Throttle — after engine stops ......................... CLOSED (IDLE) [ ] Magnetos ................................................. OFF (BOTH) [ ] Master switch ................................................... OFF [ ] Control lock ........................... INSTALLED ON YOKE AND RUDDER [ ] Parking brake ...................... SET; CHOCKS PLACED IF UNATTENDED [ ] Flaps ........................................ RETRACTED FOR TIE-DOWN [ ] Fuel selector .......................... BOTH (or per local practice) [ ] Hobbs and tach time — record for log; note any squawks ..... RECORDED [ ] Post-flight walk-around — check for fuel or oil leaks, flight damage, or foreign-object ingestion ... COMPLETED, NO DISCREPANCIES [ ] Tie-downs and covers — wing and tail tie-downs secure; pitot cover installed ... SECURED