# Cessna 182T Skylane — Normal Operating Procedures

> **NOT FOR FLIGHT** — source fidelity: not_applicable | operational review: none | completeness: normal_only | 1 unresolved safety defect(s)

Normal operating procedures for the Cessna 182T Skylane with Lycoming IO-540 fuel-injected engine and constant-speed propeller. Covers preflight through shutdown and securing. All airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities, and performance figures must be obtained from the specific aircraft POH. Not a substitute for qualified instruction or type-specific training.

> **safety_defect**: Contains no airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities or other limitations — must come from aircraft POH.
> **content_gap**: Equipment variations exist across this model/variant. Verify items against the specific aircraft before use.

## Preflight Walk-Around

- [ ] Aircraft documents (ARROW) — **ON BOARD AND CURRENT**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — visually check both tanks; confirm adequate for flight with reserves — **VERIFIED, ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Fuel grade and appearance — **CORRECT GRADE PER POH; COLOR CONSISTENT, NO CONTAMINATION**
- [ ] Fuel caps — both tanks — **PROPERLY SEATED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Fuel sump drains — both wing tanks and main strainer — **SAMPLED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO WATER**
- [ ] Fuel vent lines — **UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Engine oil level — **WITHIN OPERATING RANGE PER POH; CAP SECURE**
- [ ] Engine compartment — fuel and oil lines, hoses, wiring — **NO LEAKS; SECURE**
- [ ] Induction air inlet and filter — **CLEAR, FILTER NOT CLOGGED**
  <sub>IO-540 is fuel-injected; no carburetor heat system. Alternate air control bypasses the induction filter.</sub>
- [ ] Exhaust stacks and baffling — visible portions — **NO CRACKS OR LOOSE HARDWARE**
- [ ] Cowling latches — **CLOSED AND SECURE**
- [ ] Propeller blades — nicks, cracks, erosion, leading edges — **SERVICEABLE**
- [ ] Spinner and prop hub — **SECURE, NO CRACKS**
- [ ] Nose gear strut, tire, and steering linkage — **STRUT EXTENDED NORMALLY; TIRE INFLATED AND SERVICEABLE**
- [ ] Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clear — **COVER OFF, UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Static ports — **CLEAR**
- [ ] Left wing leading edge and fuel tank skin — **NO DEFORMATION OR FUEL STAINING**
- [ ] Left aileron and flap — hinge attachment, travel, and condition — **SECURE; FULL FREE MOVEMENT; NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Left wingtip and navigation/strobe light — **UNDAMAGED; LENS INTACT**
- [ ] Left main gear — strut, tire, and brake — **STRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; BRAKES ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and trim tab — **UNDAMAGED; HINGES SECURE; NO EXCESSIVE PLAY**
- [ ] Vertical stabilizer and rudder — **UNDAMAGED; FREE MOVEMENT**
- [ ] ELT — armed switch and antenna connection — **ARMED; ANTENNA CONNECTED**
- [ ] Right main gear — strut, tire, and brake — **STRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; BRAKES ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Right aileron and flap — condition and travel — **SECURE; FULL FREE MOVEMENT; NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Right wingtip and navigation/strobe light — **UNDAMAGED; LENS INTACT**
- [ ] All tiedowns, chocks, and control locks — **REMOVED**

## Cockpit Preparation / Before Start

- [ ] POH and weight-and-balance data — **ON BOARD**
- [ ] Seats — adjusted and locked; seat belts and shoulder harnesses — **ADJUSTED AND FASTENED**
- [ ] Control lock — **REMOVED; FULL FREE MOVEMENT OF CONTROLS VERIFIED**
- [ ] Avionics master — **OFF (before applying battery)**
- [ ] Master switch (battery) — **ON**
- [ ] Fuel quantity gauges — **CHECK — agree with visual inspection**
- [ ] Annunciator / warning lights — test and clear — **ALL ILLUMINATE ON TEST; NONE ILLUMINATED AFTER**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Elevator trim — **SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION**
- [ ] Flap position indicator — **INDICATES UP**
- [ ] Mixture control — **RICH (or adjusted for field elevation per POH)**
- [ ] Propeller control — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Throttle — **CLOSED; THEN CRACKED SLIGHTLY OPEN**
- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**

## Engine Start

- [ ] Propeller arc and surrounding area — **CLEAR — announce CLEAR PROP**
- [ ] Beacon / anti-collision light — **ON**
> **NOTE:** IO-540 cold start: mixture rich, prime per POH fuel injection procedure, then engage starter. Hot start: refer to POH hot-start technique — typically involves unloading fuel lines before engaging starter.
- [ ] Fuel-injected start technique (cold or hot) — **FOLLOW POH PROCEDURE FOR CONDITIONS**
- [ ] Starter — **ENGAGE; RELEASE PROMPTLY WHEN ENGINE FIRES**
- [ ] Oil pressure — **RISING WITHIN 30 SECONDS**
- [ ] Throttle — set idle — **STABILIZE AT LOW RPM**
- [ ] Ammeter / charging indication — **POSITIVE CHARGE INDICATED**
- [ ] Avionics master — **ON**
- [ ] Radios and avionics — **ON; FREQUENCIES AND TRANSPONDER CODE SET**

## After Start / Before Taxi

- [ ] ATIS / destination weather — **OBTAINED AND NOTED**
- [ ] Altimeter — **SET TO CURRENT SETTING; FIELD ELEVATION CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Heading indicator / DI — **ALIGNED WITH MAGNETIC COMPASS**
- [ ] Attitude indicator — **ERECT AND STABLE**
- [ ] Transponder — **ALT; SQUAWK CODE SET**
- [ ] Taxi clearance / radio call — **OBTAINED**
- [ ] Parking brake — **RELEASE**

## Run-Up / Before Takeoff

- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Flight controls — full deflection in all axes — **FULL AND FREE; CORRECT SENSE**
- [ ] Elevator trim — **TAKEOFF POSITION**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Fuel quantity gauges — **CONFIRMED ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH OR SET PER POH FOR FIELD ELEVATION**
- [ ] Propeller control — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Throttle — advance to run-up power — **SET TO RUN-UP RPM PER POH**
- [ ] Magneto check — LEFT magneto — **NOTE RPM DROP; WITHIN LIMITS PER POH**
- [ ] Magneto check — RIGHT magneto — **NOTE RPM DROP; WITHIN LIMITS PER POH**
- [ ] Magneto check — return to BOTH — **RPM RESTORES**
- [ ] Propeller governor cycle — reduce RPM with prop control — **OBSERVE EXPECTED RPM DROP PER POH**
  <sub>Pull prop control aft to reduce RPM, confirming governor response. Oil must be at operating temperature before cycling. Perform at least one full cycle.</sub>
- [ ] Propeller governor cycle — advance prop control to full forward — **RPM RETURNS TO RUN-UP VALUE; PROP FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Engine instruments at run-up power — **OIL TEMP AND PRESSURE IN GREEN ARC**
- [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle — **ENGINE IDLES SMOOTHLY**
- [ ] Alternate air induction — **OFF (NORMAL POSITION)**
- [ ] Flaps — **SET PER POH FOR DEPARTURE TYPE**
- [ ] Doors and windows — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants — **FASTENED AND SNUG**
- [ ] Runway environment and traffic — **CLEAR; TAKEOFF CLEARANCE OR RIGHT-OF-WAY CONFIRMED**

## Takeoff

- [ ] Transponder — **ALT**
- [ ] Landing light and strobes — **ON**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH OR PER POH**
- [ ] Propeller — **FULL FORWARD — CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Throttle — advance smoothly to full power — **FULL POWER; ENGINE INSTRUMENTS IN GREEN**
- [ ] Directional control during takeoff roll — **MAINTAIN CENTERLINE WITH RUDDER**
- [ ] Rotate at Vr — per POH — **LIFT OFF AT CORRECT SPEED**
- [ ] Establish positive climb — Vx or Vy per departure requirements — **CLIMBING AT APPROPRIATE SPEED PER POH**
- [ ] Flaps — retract after positive rate and obstacle clearance confirmed — **RETRACTED PER POH SCHEDULE**

## Climb

- [ ] Airspeed — establish normal climb speed — **PER POH**
- [ ] Power — set climb power — **PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — lean for altitude as required — **PER POH**
- [ ] Engine instruments — oil temp, oil pressure, CHT — **WITHIN LIMITS; IN GREEN ARC**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Heading and altitude — confirm routing and clearance — **AS ASSIGNED OR PLANNED**

## Cruise

- [ ] Power — set cruise RPM and manifold pressure — **PER POH FOR DESIRED CRUISE SETTING**
- [ ] Mixture — lean for best power or best economy using EGT — **PER POH**
- [ ] Altimeter — set to current setting — **SET; ALTITUDE VERIFIED**
- [ ] Engine instruments — monitor throughout cruise — **ALL IN GREEN ARC**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — check both tanks against time en route — **ADEQUATE REMAINING WITH RESERVE**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Trim — adjust for hands-off level flight — **TRIMMED**
- [ ] Navigation — confirm position and update plan if needed — **ON TRACK**

## Descent

- [ ] Power — reduce gradually to avoid shock cooling — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — enrich progressively as altitude decreases — **PER POH**
- [ ] ATIS / destination weather — **OBTAINED**
- [ ] Altimeter — update to destination current setting — **SET**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Engine instruments — **WITHIN LIMITS**
- [ ] Airspeed — remain within Vno; observe turbulence penetration limit if bumpy — **PER POH**

## Before Landing

- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH (FULL RICH NEAR SEA LEVEL; ADJUST PER POH AT ALTITUDE)**
- [ ] Propeller — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants — **FASTENED AND SNUG**
- [ ] Landing light — **ON**
- [ ] Flaps — extend to initial setting on downwind — **SET PER POH FOR CONDITIONS**
- [ ] Approach airspeed — **ESTABLISHED PER POH FOR FLAP SETTING AND WEIGHT**
- [ ] Runway environment — in sight, clear of traffic, wind noted — **CONFIRMED**

## Landing

- [ ] Final approach — stable approach by 500 ft AGL — **AIRSPEED AND SINK RATE STABLE PER POH**
- [ ] Flaps — full or as selected for conditions — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Runway alignment — **ON CENTERLINE THROUGHOUT APPROACH**
- [ ] Threshold crossing and flare — reduce power smoothly — **FLARE TO NORMAL LANDING ATTITUDE**
- [ ] Touchdown — main gear first in normal attitude — **DIRECTIONAL CONTROL MAINTAINED**
- [ ] Braking — apply as needed — **SMOOTH; AVOID WHEEL LOCKUP**
- [ ] Clear the active runway — **TAXI CLEAR BEFORE STOPPING**

## Go-Around

- [ ] Throttle — **FULL POWER — ADVANCE SMOOTHLY WITHOUT HESITATION**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH**
- [ ] Propeller — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Pitch attitude — establish climb attitude — **ARREST SINK; HOLD BACK PRESSURE**
- [ ] Flaps — retract to first increment (go-around setting) immediately — **FLAPS TO INITIAL RETRACT POSITION**
- [ ] Positive climb rate confirmed — **AIRSPEED AND VSI INDICATE CLIMB**
- [ ] Flaps — retract fully once clear of obstacles and positive rate assured — **UP PER POH SCHEDULE**
- [ ] Climb airspeed — Vy or Vx if obstacle clearance required — **PER POH**
- [ ] Radio — advise tower or announce intentions on CTAF — **CALL MADE**

## After Landing / Shutdown and Securing

- [ ] Transponder — after clearing runway — **STBY**
- [ ] Landing light — after vacating runway — **OFF**
- [ ] Flaps — **UP**
- [ ] Avionics master — before shutdown — **OFF**
- [ ] Engine — allow to cool at low power before shutdown — **IDLE FOR COOLING PERIOD PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — shut down engine — **PULL TO IDLE CUTOFF**
- [ ] Throttle — after engine stops — **CLOSED**
- [ ] Magnetos — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switch (battery) — **OFF**
- [ ] Beacon / anti-collision light — **OFF**
- [ ] Control lock — **INSTALL**
- [ ] Fuel caps — both tanks — **SECURE**
- [ ] Tiedowns — all three points (nose and both mains) — **SECURED**
- [ ] Pitot cover — **INSTALLED**
- [ ] Hobbs / tach time — **RECORDED IN AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK**

---

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: ed9511b99e8068e07902670b8b7100cd74b675c0a41c1efaf049ae640af2a126  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.