Diamond DA40 180 — 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: afcb0011eaf3c4c25392162b9bc173d227471698b3aed63f4e3f0f82636e7e3b Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use. ======================================================================== PREFLIGHT WALK-AROUND --------------------- [ ] Aircraft documents (ARROW) — airworthiness certificate, registration, radio station license, operating handbook/AFM, weight-and-balance data ... ON BOARD AND CURRENT [ ] Tie-downs and wheel chocks — all aircraft restraints ........ REMOVED [ ] Canopy — condition, seals, latch mechanism, and hinge hardware ... UNDAMAGED, SEALS INTACT, LATCH FUNCTIONAL [ ] Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clear of debris and obstruction ... COVER REMOVED, CLEAR [ ] Static ports — both sides of fuselage ........ CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED [ ] Fuel — left tank visual quantity check; verify cap seated and locked ... QUANTITY NOTED, CAP SECURE [ ] Fuel — left tank sump drain; sample for water, sediment, and correct color ... CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION [ ] Left wing leading edge, skin, and composite surfaces ... NO DELAMINATION, CRACKS, OR IMPACT DAMAGE [ ] Left aileron — attachment at hinge points, surface condition, and full range of motion ... SECURE, UNDAMAGED, FREE MOVEMENT [ ] Left flap — hinge attachment and surface condition ... SECURE AND UNDAMAGED [ ] Left wingtip and navigation light ............ UNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT [ ] Left main landing gear — strut extension, tire condition and inflation, brake disc and pad visible wear ... STRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE [ ] Nose section — composite skin for impact damage or cracks ... UNDAMAGED [ ] Engine cowling — all latches and fasteners ................... SECURE [ ] Engine oil level — dipstick; within acceptable operating range per POH ... WITHIN RANGE; CAP REINSTALLED AND SECURE [ ] Engine compartment — fuel and oil lines for leaks, wiring for chafing, no foreign objects ... CLEAR, NO LEAKS, SECURE [ ] Induction air inlet — unobstructed; IO-360 is fuel-injected, no carburetor heat system ... INLET CLEAR [ ] Exhaust stacks and visible exhaust system ... NO CRACKS, CORROSION, OR LOOSE CLAMPS [ ] Propeller blades — each blade for nicks, gouges, cracks, and delamination; spinner condition and security ... BLADES SERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE [ ] Nose gear strut — extension, shimmy damper, and tow bar removal ... STRUT EXTENDED NORMALLY, TOW BAR REMOVED [ ] Nose gear tire — condition, inflation, and tread ........ SERVICEABLE [ ] T-tail — horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and elevator trim tab; inspect composite surfaces and hinge hardware ... UNDAMAGED, HINGES SECURE, NO DELAMINATION [ ] Vertical stabilizer and rudder — composite skin condition, hinge security, and free movement ... UNDAMAGED, RUDDER FREE [ ] Right main landing gear — strut, tire, and brake condition ... STRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE [ ] Right wing and fuel tank — leading edge, skin for delamination, fuel cap security ... UNDAMAGED, FUEL CAP SECURE [ ] Fuel — right tank sump drain; sample for water and contamination ... CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION [ ] Right aileron and right flap — hinge attachment, surface condition ... SECURE, FREE, UNDAMAGED [ ] Right wingtip and navigation light ........... UNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT [ ] Antennas — all externally visible antennas ..... SECURE AND UNDAMAGED [ ] Overall fuel quantity — both tanks combined; adequate for planned flight with required reserves ... VERIFIED ADEQUATE PER POH COCKPIT PREPARATION / BEFORE START ---------------------------------- [ ] Canopy — open for entry; inspect seal and latch before closing ... INSPECTED [ ] Seats — fore-aft position and lock; ensure seat is secure before flight ... ADJUSTED AND LOCKED [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — pilot and all occupants ... FASTENED AND SNUG [ ] Canopy — close and verify latched; check both latch points ... CLOSED AND LATCHED [ ] Passenger briefing — canopy latch operation, seatbelts, sterile cockpit, no smoking, emergency procedures ... COMPLETED [ ] Sidestick and rudder pedals — full range of motion; correct response direction ... FULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Fuel selector — confirm position .... BOTH (or selected tank per POH) [ ] All electrical switches — lights, avionics master, pitot heat ... OFF [ ] Circuit breakers ............................................. ALL IN [ ] Flaps — set to takeoff position per POH ................. SET PER POH [ ] Elevator trim — set to takeoff position .............. SET TO TAKEOFF [ ] Mixture .............................. RICH (or per altitude per POH) [ ] Propeller control — confirm lever position ... FULL FORWARD (HIGH RPM) [ ] Throttle .............................................. CLOSED / IDLE ENGINE START ------------ [ ] Propeller arc — visually confirm area clear of personnel and objects; announce intent ... CLEAR; 'CLEAR PROP' ANNOUNCED [ ] Battery master switch ............................................ ON [ ] Alternator switch ................................................ ON [ ] Beacon / anti-collision light .................................... ON [ ] Avionics master ....................... OFF (protect during cranking) [ ] Fuel boost pump — prime per POH procedure for cold or hot start condition ... PRIMED PER POH [ ] Throttle — position for start per POH ................... SET PER POH [ ] Ignition switch — START; release when engine fires ... ENGAGED, RELEASED ON START [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle after start and allow engine to stabilize ... IDLE, STABILIZING [ ] Oil pressure — verify positive rise within first 30 seconds; shut down if pressure does not rise ... RISING NORMALLY [ ] Avionics master — on after engine is running and stable .......... ON [ ] Engine instruments — oil temperature rising, all gauges scanning into normal range ... NORMAL BEFORE TAXI / AFTER START ------------------------- [ ] G1000 / avionics — complete self-tests, verify database currency, GPS acquiring ... SELF-TESTS PASSED, DATABASES CURRENT [ ] Altimeter — set current ATIS/ASOS altimeter setting; verify field elevation indication within tolerance ... SET, ELEVATION CONFIRMED [ ] Heading indicator / HSI — verify alignment with magnetic compass ... ALIGNED [ ] ATIS or AWOS — obtain current weather, active runway, and altimeter ... OBTAINED AND NOTED [ ] Transponder — set assigned squawk code; select ALT mode ... CODE SET, ALT [ ] Taxi clearance or CTAF self-announce ........... RECEIVED / ANNOUNCED [ ] Taxi and landing light — as required for taxi operations ... ON AS APPROPRIATE [ ] Parking brake ............................ RELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI RUN-UP / BEFORE TAKEOFF ----------------------- [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Engine warm-up — verify oil temperature and pressure within normal range before run-up ... TEMPS AND PRESSURES NORMAL [ ] Throttle — advance to run-up power setting per POH ... RUN-UP POWER SET [ ] Magnetos — test LEFT then RIGHT; note RPM drop on each; verify drop within limits and differential within limits per POH ... DROP 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 range ... ALL NORMAL [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle; verify smooth idle; advance back to run-up ... SMOOTH IDLE CONFIRMED [ ] Throttle — return to idle for final checks ..................... IDLE [ ] Fuel selector .......................... BOTH (or as directed by POH) [ ] Mixture ........... RICH (or as required for field elevation per POH) [ ] Propeller control ...................................... FULL FORWARD [ ] Flaps — confirm takeoff setting ......................... SET PER POH [ ] Trim — elevator at takeoff position ............................. SET [ ] Flight controls — final check of sidestick full travel and correct response ... FREE AND CORRECT [ ] Canopy — fully latched at both latch points; no canopy unlock indication ... LATCHED AND VERIFIED [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses ............ FASTENED ALL OCCUPANTS [ ] Approach and departure briefing — abort criteria, emergency return, traffic pattern ... BRIEFED TAKEOFF ------- [ ] Runway — confirm clear of traffic; obtain clearance or announce on CTAF ... CLEAR, CLEARED OR ANNOUNCED [ ] Strobes / landing light .......................................... ON [ ] Transponder ...................................... ALT MODE CONFIRMED [ ] Throttle — smoothly advance to full power ................ FULL POWER [ ] Engine instruments — scan at full power; abort if any indication abnormal ... NORMAL [ ] Directional control on roll — use rudder pedals; nose-wheel steering lightly; sidestick neutral ... TRACKING CENTERLINE [ ] Rotation — at Vr per POH; smooth back pressure on sidestick ... ROTATE AT Vr PER POH [ ] Initial climb attitude — establish per POH; verify positive rate of climb on altimeter and VSI ... POSITIVE 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 speed ... RETRACTED PER POH [ ] Propeller — reduce to climb power setting per POH if appropriate ... PER POH [ ] Throttle — set climb power per POH .................. CLIMB POWER SET [ ] Mixture — lean as required for altitude per POH ............. PER POH [ ] Engine instruments — CHT, oil temperature, oil pressure, fuel flow; verify all within limits ... WITHIN LIMITS [ ] Fuel selector — verify BOTH or per POH fuel management procedure ... PER POH [ ] Altimeter — confirm set to current altimeter setting; change to 29.92 when assigned by ATC or above transition altitude ... SET CORRECTLY CRUISE ------ [ ] Cruise altitude reached — level off; allow airspeed to build before reducing power ... LEVEL AT CRUISE ALTITUDE [ ] Propeller — set cruise RPM per POH power setting chart ... CRUISE RPM SET PER POH [ ] Throttle — set cruise manifold pressure or power per POH chart ... CRUISE POWER SET [ ] Mixture — lean to peak EGT then enrichen as directed by POH for power setting and altitude ... LEANED PER POH [ ] Fuel selector — confirm BOTH or manage tanks per POH ........ PER POH [ ] Engine instruments — CHT, EGT, oil temperature and pressure, fuel flow; scan and verify in normal range ... ALL NORMAL [ ] Fuel quantity — monitor both tanks; compare against fuel flow and elapsed time for reasonableness ... MONITORED, CONSISTENT WITH PLAN [ ] Altimeter setting — update as new reports available ... CURRENT SETTING [ ] Autopilot (if equipped) — engage and monitor; do not become complacent; continue scanning engine instruments ... AS DESIRED; MONITORING ACTIVE DESCENT ------- [ ] ATIS / AWOS / ASOS — obtain destination weather and current altimeter setting ... OBTAINED [ ] Altimeter — set destination altimeter setting ................... SET [ ] Throttle — reduce to descent power; avoid rapid large throttle reductions that can shock-cool cylinders ... REDUCED GRADUALLY PER POH [ ] Propeller — adjust per POH for descent configuration ........ PER POH [ ] Mixture — enrichen as altitude decreases; monitor CHT during descent ... ENRICHENED AS REQUIRED [ ] Fuel selector — confirm BOTH ................................... BOTH [ ] Engine instruments — continue monitoring; CHT should not drop rapidly; manage with power as needed ... WITHIN LIMITS, MONITORING [ ] G1000 / avionics — program arrival, STAR, and approach as applicable ... PROGRAMMED AND BRIEFED BEFORE LANDING -------------- [ ] Fuel selector .................................................. BOTH [ ] Mixture ........................................................ RICH [ ] Propeller control — advance to full forward (high RPM) to prepare for go-around ... FULL FORWARD [ ] Canopy — confirm latched; no unlock warning ................. LATCHED [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants ... FASTENED AND SNUG [ ] Landing light .................................................... ON [ ] Flaps — extend to approach/landing position per POH when at or below flap extension speed ... SET PER POH [ ] Airspeed — establish approach speed per POH for conditions and flap setting ... APPROACH SPEED PER POH [ ] Go-around capability — mentally confirm power-in go-around is available; note any obstacles ... CONFIRMED LANDING ------- [ ] Final approach — maintain stable approach speed and glidepath; do not let airspeed decay below approach speed ... STABLE, ON SPEED [ ] Threshold — aim for touchdown zone; T-tail requires nose-high attitude; guard against over-rotation and tail strike ... ON CENTERLINE, NOSE HIGH [ ] Flare — smooth progressive back pressure on sidestick; allow aircraft to settle ... SMOOTH FLARE [ ] Touchdown — main gear first; hold nose off as long as practical, then lower nose gently ... MAIN GEAR FIRST, NOSE LOWERED GENTLY [ ] Braking — apply smooth, progressive braking after nose is on ground; avoid hard braking that stresses nose gear ... SMOOTH PROGRESSIVE BRAKING [ ] Directional control — use rudder pedals on rollout; keep tracking centerline ... ON CENTERLINE GO-AROUND --------- [ ] Throttle — smoothly advance to full power without hesitation ... FULL POWER [ ] Establish climb attitude — pitch for positive rate; sidestick back to climb attitude; control T-tail pitch sensitivity ... CLIMB ATTITUDE [ ] Flaps — retract incrementally per POH as airspeed increases and climb is confirmed ... RETRACTING PER POH [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or Vx as required; do not allow airspeed to decrease below safe value ... CLIMB SPEED PER POH [ ] Announce go-around intentions on frequency ................ ANNOUNCED [ ] Propeller control ....................... FULL FORWARD IF NOT ALREADY [ ] Obstacle clearance — track runway centerline extended until clear of obstacles, then turn as required ... OBSTACLES CLEAR AFTER LANDING / SHUTDOWN AND SECURING ------------------------------------- [ ] Flaps — retract after clearing runway ..................... RETRACTED [ ] Landing and strobe lights — as appropriate after clearing active runway ... AS APPROPRIATE [ ] Transponder — set to standby or ground mode per local procedure ... STANDBY OR GROUND [ ] Taxi to parking — taxi at safe speed; use differential braking as required for DA40's ground handling ... TAXIING SAFELY [ ] Parking brake — set upon reaching parking position .............. SET [ ] Avionics master — off before shutdown ........................... OFF [ ] Throttle — idle for brief engine cooling period per POH ... IDLE, COOLING [ ] Mixture — pull to idle cut-off; allow engine to stop on fuel starvation ... IDLE CUT-OFF; ENGINE STOPS [ ] Ignition — off after engine stops ............................... OFF [ ] All electrical switches and lighting ............................ OFF [ ] Battery master and alternator switch ............................ OFF [ ] Fuel selector ... LEFT or RIGHT (off BOTH) per POH recommendation to prevent fuel siphoning [ ] Canopy — open; canopy gas strut check for proper hold-open position ... OPEN AND SECURED [ ] Control lock — install on sidestick to prevent wind damage ... INSTALLED [ ] Tie-downs and chocks — secure aircraft per local procedures ... AIRCRAFT SECURED [ ] Pitot cover — install to prevent insect ingestion and moisture ... INSTALLED [ ] Fuel caps — verify both tanks properly capped ............... SECURED [ ] Post-flight inspection — walk around to check for fluid leaks, damage, or anomalies noted during flight ... COMPLETED, NO DISCREPANCIES (OR NOTED)