Diamond DA40 180 — Normal Operating Procedures

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Aircraft documents (ARROW) — airworthiness certificate, registration, radio station license, operating handbook/AFM, weight-and-balance dataON BOARD AND CURRENT
Tie-downs and wheel chocks — all aircraft restraintsREMOVED
Canopy — condition, seals, latch mechanism, and hinge hardwareUNDAMAGED, SEALS INTACT, LATCH FUNCTIONAL
Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clear of debris and obstructionCOVER REMOVED, CLEAR
Static ports — both sides of fuselageCLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED
Fuel — left tank visual quantity check; verify cap seated and lockedQUANTITY NOTED, CAP SECURE
Fuel — left tank sump drain; sample for water, sediment, and correct colorCLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION
Left wing leading edge, skin, and composite surfacesNO DELAMINATION, CRACKS, OR IMPACT DAMAGE
Left aileron — attachment at hinge points, surface condition, and full range of motionSECURE, UNDAMAGED, FREE MOVEMENT
Left flap — hinge attachment and surface conditionSECURE AND UNDAMAGED
Left wingtip and navigation lightUNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT
Left main landing gear — strut extension, tire condition and inflation, brake disc and pad visible wearSTRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE
Nose section — composite skin for impact damage or cracksUNDAMAGED
Engine cowling — all latches and fastenersSECURE
Engine oil level — dipstick; within acceptable operating range per POHWITHIN RANGE; CAP REINSTALLED AND SECURE
Engine compartment — fuel and oil lines for leaks, wiring for chafing, no foreign objectsCLEAR, NO LEAKS, SECURE
Induction air inlet — unobstructed; IO-360 is fuel-injected, no carburetor heat systemINLET CLEAR
Exhaust stacks and visible exhaust systemNO CRACKS, CORROSION, OR LOOSE CLAMPS
Propeller blades — each blade for nicks, gouges, cracks, and delamination; spinner condition and securityBLADES SERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE
Nose gear strut — extension, shimmy damper, and tow bar removalSTRUT EXTENDED NORMALLY, TOW BAR REMOVED
Nose gear tire — condition, inflation, and treadSERVICEABLE
T-tail — horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and elevator trim tab; inspect composite surfaces and hinge hardwareUNDAMAGED, HINGES SECURE, NO DELAMINATION
Vertical stabilizer and rudder — composite skin condition, hinge security, and free movementUNDAMAGED, RUDDER FREE
Right main landing gear — strut, tire, and brake conditionSTRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE
Right wing and fuel tank — leading edge, skin for delamination, fuel cap securityUNDAMAGED, FUEL CAP SECURE
Fuel — right tank sump drain; sample for water and contaminationCLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION
Right aileron and right flap — hinge attachment, surface conditionSECURE, FREE, UNDAMAGED
Right wingtip and navigation lightUNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT
Antennas — all externally visible antennasSECURE AND UNDAMAGED
Overall fuel quantity — both tanks combined; adequate for planned flight with required reservesVERIFIED ADEQUATE PER POH

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

Canopy — open for entry; inspect seal and latch before closingINSPECTED
Seats — fore-aft position and lock; ensure seat is secure before flightADJUSTED AND LOCKED
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — pilot and all occupantsFASTENED AND SNUG
Canopy — close and verify latched; check both latch pointsCLOSED AND LATCHED
Passenger briefing — canopy latch operation, seatbelts, sterile cockpit, no smoking, emergency proceduresCOMPLETED
Sidestick and rudder pedals — full range of motion; correct response directionFULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE
Parking brakeSET
Fuel selector — confirm positionBOTH (or selected tank per POH)
All electrical switches — lights, avionics master, pitot heatOFF
Circuit breakersALL IN
Flaps — set to takeoff position per POHSET PER POH
Elevator trim — set to takeoff positionSET TO TAKEOFF
MixtureRICH (or per altitude per POH)
Propeller control — confirm lever positionFULL FORWARD (HIGH RPM)
ThrottleCLOSED / IDLE

Engine Start engine_start

Propeller arc — visually confirm area clear of personnel and objects; announce intentCLEAR; 'CLEAR PROP' ANNOUNCED
Battery master switchON
Alternator switchON
Beacon / anti-collision lightON
Avionics masterOFF (protect during cranking)
Fuel boost pump — prime per POH procedure for cold or hot start conditionPRIMED PER POH
Throttle — position for start per POHSET PER POH
Ignition switch — START; release when engine firesENGAGED, RELEASED ON START
Throttle — reduce to idle after start and allow engine to stabilizeIDLE, STABILIZING
Oil pressure — verify positive rise within first 30 seconds; shut down if pressure does not riseRISING NORMALLY
Avionics master — on after engine is running and stableON
Engine instruments — oil temperature rising, all gauges scanning into normal rangeNORMAL

Before Taxi / After Start after_start

G1000 / avionics — complete self-tests, verify database currency, GPS acquiringSELF-TESTS PASSED, DATABASES CURRENT
Altimeter — set current ATIS/ASOS altimeter setting; verify field elevation indication within toleranceSET, ELEVATION CONFIRMED
Heading indicator / HSI — verify alignment with magnetic compassALIGNED
ATIS or AWOS — obtain current weather, active runway, and altimeterOBTAINED AND NOTED
Transponder — set assigned squawk code; select ALT modeCODE SET, ALT
Taxi clearance or CTAF self-announceRECEIVED / ANNOUNCED
Taxi and landing light — as required for taxi operationsON AS APPROPRIATE
Parking brakeRELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI

Run-Up / Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Parking brakeSET
Engine warm-up — verify oil temperature and pressure within normal range before run-upTEMPS AND PRESSURES NORMAL
Throttle — advance to run-up power setting per POHRUN-UP POWER SET
Magnetos — test LEFT then RIGHT; note RPM drop on each; verify drop within limits and differential within limits per POHDROP WITHIN LIMITS, DIFFERENTIAL WITHIN LIMITS
Propeller cycle — advance prop control to full forward; smoothly reduce RPM; note governor responding and RPM drop; advance back to high RPM. Repeat as directed by POH to circulate warm oil through governor.GOVERNOR RESPONSE CONFIRMED
Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure, fuel flow, EGT/CHT within normal operating rangeALL NORMAL
Throttle — reduce to idle; verify smooth idle; advance back to run-upSMOOTH IDLE CONFIRMED
Throttle — return to idle for final checksIDLE
Fuel selectorBOTH (or as directed by POH)
MixtureRICH (or as required for field elevation per POH)
Propeller controlFULL FORWARD
Flaps — confirm takeoff settingSET PER POH
Trim — elevator at takeoff positionSET
Flight controls — final check of sidestick full travel and correct responseFREE AND CORRECT
Canopy — fully latched at both latch points; no canopy unlock indicationLATCHED AND VERIFIED
Seat belts and shoulder harnessesFASTENED ALL OCCUPANTS
Approach and departure briefing — abort criteria, emergency return, traffic patternBRIEFED

Takeoff takeoff

Runway — confirm clear of traffic; obtain clearance or announce on CTAFCLEAR, CLEARED OR ANNOUNCED
Strobes / landing lightON
TransponderALT MODE CONFIRMED
Throttle — smoothly advance to full powerFULL POWER
Engine instruments — scan at full power; abort if any indication abnormalNORMAL
Directional control on roll — use rudder pedals; nose-wheel steering lightly; sidestick neutralTRACKING CENTERLINE
Rotation — at Vr per POH; smooth back pressure on sidestickROTATE AT Vr PER POH
Initial climb attitude — establish per POH; verify positive rate of climb on altimeter and VSIPOSITIVE CLIMB

Climb climb

Airspeed — establish climb speed per POH (Vy for best rate, or Vx for obstacle clearance)CLIMB SPEED PER POH
Flaps — retract per POH when clear of obstacles and at safe speedRETRACTED PER POH
Propeller — reduce to climb power setting per POH if appropriatePER POH
Throttle — set climb power per POHCLIMB POWER SET
Mixture — lean as required for altitude per POHPER POH
Engine instruments — CHT, oil temperature, oil pressure, fuel flow; verify all within limitsWITHIN LIMITS
Fuel selector — verify BOTH or per POH fuel management procedurePER POH
Altimeter — confirm set to current altimeter setting; change to 29.92 when assigned by ATC or above transition altitudeSET CORRECTLY

Cruise cruise

Cruise altitude reached — level off; allow airspeed to build before reducing powerLEVEL AT CRUISE ALTITUDE
Propeller — set cruise RPM per POH power setting chartCRUISE RPM SET PER POH
Throttle — set cruise manifold pressure or power per POH chartCRUISE POWER SET
Mixture — lean to peak EGT then enrichen as directed by POH for power setting and altitudeLEANED PER POH
Fuel selector — confirm BOTH or manage tanks per POHPER POH
Engine instruments — CHT, EGT, oil temperature and pressure, fuel flow; scan and verify in normal rangeALL NORMAL
Fuel quantity — monitor both tanks; compare against fuel flow and elapsed time for reasonablenessMONITORED, CONSISTENT WITH PLAN
Altimeter setting — update as new reports availableCURRENT SETTING
Autopilot (if equipped) — engage and monitor; do not become complacent; continue scanning engine instrumentsAS DESIRED; MONITORING ACTIVE

Descent descent

ATIS / AWOS / ASOS — obtain destination weather and current altimeter settingOBTAINED
Altimeter — set destination altimeter settingSET
Throttle — reduce to descent power; avoid rapid large throttle reductions that can shock-cool cylindersREDUCED GRADUALLY PER POH
Propeller — adjust per POH for descent configurationPER POH
Mixture — enrichen as altitude decreases; monitor CHT during descentENRICHENED AS REQUIRED
Fuel selector — confirm BOTHBOTH
Engine instruments — continue monitoring; CHT should not drop rapidly; manage with power as neededWITHIN LIMITS, MONITORING
G1000 / avionics — program arrival, STAR, and approach as applicablePROGRAMMED AND BRIEFED

Before Landing before_landing

Fuel selectorBOTH
MixtureRICH
Propeller control — advance to full forward (high RPM) to prepare for go-aroundFULL FORWARD
Canopy — confirm latched; no unlock warningLATCHED
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupantsFASTENED AND SNUG
Landing lightON
Flaps — extend to approach/landing position per POH when at or below flap extension speedSET PER POH
Airspeed — establish approach speed per POH for conditions and flap settingAPPROACH SPEED PER POH
Go-around capability — mentally confirm power-in go-around is available; note any obstaclesCONFIRMED

Landing landing

Final approach — maintain stable approach speed and glidepath; do not let airspeed decay below approach speedSTABLE, ON SPEED
Threshold — aim for touchdown zone; T-tail requires nose-high attitude; guard against over-rotation and tail strikeON CENTERLINE, NOSE HIGH
Flare — smooth progressive back pressure on sidestick; allow aircraft to settleSMOOTH FLARE
Touchdown — main gear first; hold nose off as long as practical, then lower nose gentlyMAIN GEAR FIRST, NOSE LOWERED GENTLY
Braking — apply smooth, progressive braking after nose is on ground; avoid hard braking that stresses nose gearSMOOTH PROGRESSIVE BRAKING
Directional control — use rudder pedals on rollout; keep tracking centerlineON CENTERLINE

Go-Around go_around

Throttle — smoothly advance to full power without hesitationFULL POWER
Establish climb attitude — pitch for positive rate; sidestick back to climb attitude; control T-tail pitch sensitivityCLIMB ATTITUDE
Flaps — retract incrementally per POH as airspeed increases and climb is confirmedRETRACTING PER POH
Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or Vx as required; do not allow airspeed to decrease below safe valueCLIMB SPEED PER POH
Announce go-around intentions on frequencyANNOUNCED
Propeller controlFULL FORWARD IF NOT ALREADY
Obstacle clearance — track runway centerline extended until clear of obstacles, then turn as requiredOBSTACLES CLEAR

After Landing / Shutdown and Securing after_landing

Flaps — retract after clearing runwayRETRACTED
Landing and strobe lights — as appropriate after clearing active runwayAS APPROPRIATE
Transponder — set to standby or ground mode per local procedureSTANDBY OR GROUND
Taxi to parking — taxi at safe speed; use differential braking as required for DA40's ground handlingTAXIING SAFELY
Parking brake — set upon reaching parking positionSET
Avionics master — off before shutdownOFF
Throttle — idle for brief engine cooling period per POHIDLE, COOLING
Mixture — pull to idle cut-off; allow engine to stop on fuel starvationIDLE CUT-OFF; ENGINE STOPS
Ignition — off after engine stopsOFF
All electrical switches and lightingOFF
Battery master and alternator switchOFF
Fuel selectorLEFT or RIGHT (off BOTH) per POH recommendation to prevent fuel siphoning
Canopy — open; canopy gas strut check for proper hold-open positionOPEN AND SECURED
Control lock — install on sidestick to prevent wind damageINSTALLED
Tie-downs and chocks — secure aircraft per local proceduresAIRCRAFT SECURED
Pitot cover — install to prevent insect ingestion and moistureINSTALLED
Fuel caps — verify both tanks properly cappedSECURED
Post-flight inspection — walk around to check for fluid leaks, damage, or anomalies noted during flightCOMPLETED, NO DISCREPANCIES (OR NOTED)

Diamond DA40 180 — 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 / Shutdown and Securing after_landing

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