Grumman AA-5B Tiger — Normal Operating Procedures

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Aircraft documents (ARROW) — airworthiness certificate, registration, radio station license, operating handbook, weight-and-balance dataON BOARD AND CURRENT
Canopy — inspect sliding canopy rails, latch mechanism, and seal; confirm canopy opens, closes, and locks properlyRAILS CLEAN, LATCH FUNCTIONAL, SEAL INTACT
Cockpit — check for loose objects; confirm flight controls, seats, and interior are secureCLEAN AND SECURE
Fuel quantity — remove caps and visually verify level in each tank; compare to quantity indicators; confirm adequate for flight with required reservesVERIFIED, ADEQUATE
Fuel caps — both wingsREINSTALLED AND SECURE
Fuel sumps — drain each sump; inspect sample for water, sediment, and correct color and smellCLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION
Left wing leading edge, skin, and fuel tank area — inspect for deformation, fuel staining, or impact damageNO DAMAGE OR STAINING
Left aileron — condition, hinge hardware, and range of travelSECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE
Left wingtip and navigation lightUNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT
Left main gear — tire condition and inflation, wheel fairing secure if installedSERVICEABLE
Engine cowling — latches and fasteners secure; no oil or fuel staining on exteriorSECURE, NO LEAKS
Engine oil level — dipstick check; cap reinstalledWITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGE PER POH, CAP SECURE
Engine compartment — hoses, wiring, exhaust, and induction system for leaks, chafing, or damageCLEAR AND SECURE
Carburetor air intake — inlet clear of debris or obstructionUNOBSTRUCTED
Propeller and spinner — inspect blades for nicks, cracks, and gouges; spinner secureBLADES SERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE
Nose gear — strut extension, tire condition, and tow bar removedSTRUT EXTENDED NORMALLY, TIRE SERVICEABLE, TOW BAR OFF
Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clearCOVER REMOVED, CLEAR
Static port(s) — clear and unobstructedCLEAR
Right wing — leading edge, skin, fuel tank area, aileron, wingtip, and navigation lightUNDAMAGED, ALL SECURE
Right main gear — tire condition and inflation, wheel fairing secure if installedSERVICEABLE
Stabilator — inspect entire surface for damage; confirm anti-servo tab and hinge hardware secure; verify free and correct movementUNDAMAGED, HINGES SECURE, FREE MOVEMENT
Vertical stabilizer and rudder — condition, hinge hardware, and free movementUNDAMAGED, FREE MOVEMENT
Tie-downs and wheel chocks — all removedREMOVED
Antennas — all externally visibleSECURE AND UNDAMAGED

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

Canopy — open for entry; inspect rail and latch as occupants boardINSPECTED
Seats — fore-aft position adjusted and locked for all occupantsADJUSTED AND LOCKED
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupantsFASTENED AND SNUG
Passenger briefing — seatbelts, canopy latching and emergency opening, emergency egress, no smoking, sterile cockpit during critical phasesCOMPLETED
Canopy — close, slide fully aft, and engage latch; confirm lockedCLOSED AND LATCHED
Flight controls — full travel; confirm ailerons, stabilator, and rudder move freely and in correct directionFULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE
Parking brakeSET
Fuel selectorBOTH
Avionics master switchOFF (protect avionics during start)
All electrical switches — lights, strobes, pitot heatOFF
Circuit breakersALL IN
Elevator trim (stabilator trim)SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION
MixtureRICH
ThrottleCLOSED / IDLE
Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF)

Engine Start engine_start

Area clear — visually confirm propeller arc free of persons and objectsCLEAR; ANNOUNCE ‘CLEAR PROP’
Battery master switchON
Beacon / anti-collision lightON
Fuel selectorBOTH
Throttle — set approximately open per POH cold-start guidanceSET PER POH
MixtureRICH
Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF) FOR START
Primer — pump per POH for ambient conditions; lock after primingPRIMED PER POH, LOCKED
Ignition switchBOTH
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 rise promptlyRISING NORMALLY
Avionics master switchON (after engine stable)
Engine instruments — verify oil pressure in green, no warning indicationsNORMAL

Before Taxi / After Start after_start

Avionics — COM, NAV, transponder, GPS power-on and self-testSELF-TESTS COMPLETE, OPERATIONAL
Altimeter — set current altimeter setting; verify indication near field elevationSET AND CONFIRMED
Heading indicator — align with magnetic compass while stationaryALIGNED
ATIS or weather — obtain current informationOBTAINED AND NOTED
Transponder — set squawk codeCODE SET, ALT MODE
Taxi clearance or CTAF callOBTAINED / ANNOUNCED
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 responding to turnsFUNCTIONING NORMALLY

Run-Up / Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Parking brakeSET
Run-up position — headed into wind if possible; surface firm and clear of loose gravel or debrisCONFIRMED
Flight controls — re-confirm full and free movement, correct responseFULL AND FREE, CORRECT
Fuel selectorBOTH
MixtureRICH (or leaned for field elevation per POH)
Engine warm-up — oil temperature in green arc before advancing to run-up powerOIL TEMP IN GREEN
Throttle — advance to run-up power 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
Carburetor heat — apply hot air; note slight RPM drop indicating carburetor is receiving hot air; confirm RPM returns when heat is removedCONFIRMED, HEAT OFF FOR TAKEOFF
Engine instruments at run-up power — oil pressure and temperatureBOTH IN GREEN
Throttle — reduce to idle; smooth response, no roughness or stumbleSMOOTH AT IDLE
Suction / vacuum gaugeIN NORMAL RANGE
Ammeter and electrical systemINDICATING CHARGE
Stabilator trimSET TO TAKEOFF POSITION
TransponderALT (or per ATC instruction)
Strobes and landing lightON
Canopy — fully closed and latchedCLOSED AND LATCHED
Abort plan — available runway remaining, abort decision speed, and intended action identifiedREVIEWED

Takeoff takeoff

Traffic and runway — final approach clear, runway clear in both directionsCLEAR
Throttle — advance smoothly to full powerFULL POWER CONFIRMED
Engine instruments — verify oil pressure and RPM normal at takeoff powerNORMAL
Directional control — apply rudder as needed to track runway centerline; stabilator becomes effective early due to low-wing designTRACKING CENTERLINE
Rotate — apply smooth aft pressure on the control yoke at Vr per POHROTATE PER POH
Positive rate of climb — confirm on VSI and altimeterCONFIRMED
Airspeed — establish Vx or Vy per conditions and POHESTABLISHED PER POH

Climb climb

Airspeed — best-rate or best-angle climb per conditions and POHESTABLISHED PER POH
Throttle — full power or reduced per POH climb power scheduleSET PER POH
Carburetor heat — apply if conditions favor icing; monitor for RPM changeAS REQUIRED
Mixture — rich or leaned progressively at higher density altitudes per POHSET PER POH
Engine instruments — oil temperature and pressure in normal rangeNORMAL
Fuel selector — confirm BOTHBOTH
Fuel quantity — periodic cross-check against planned fuel burnCHECKED
Traffic scan — low-wing configuration limits upward visibility; clear above and aheadCONTINUOUS

Cruise cruise

Throttle — set cruise power per POHSET PER POH
Mixture — lean for cruise altitude and power per POH; monitor EGT or RPM as applicableLEANED PER POH
Stabilator trim — adjust for hands-off level flightTRIMMED
Fuel selector — confirm BOTH or select per POH fuel management guidancePER POH
Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure; all in normal rangeNORMAL
Carburetor heat — apply periodically or when icing conditions suspectedAS REQUIRED
Fuel quantity — monitor both tanks; cross-check against elapsed time and planned burnCHECKED
Flight instruments — heading indicator, altimeter, attitude indicator cross-checkCONSISTENT
Electrical system — ammeter indicating charge, no unusual loadsNORMAL

Descent descent

ATIS or destination weather — obtain current informationOBTAINED
Altimeter — update to destination altimeter settingUPDATED
Throttle — reduce to cruise descent power; avoid prolonged idle to prevent shock coolingSET PER POH; AVOID PROLONGED IDLE
Mixture — enrich progressively as descending to lower altitudesENRICHED AS REQUIRED
Carburetor heat — apply as power is reduced; monitor for icingAS REQUIRED
Fuel selectorBOTH
Fuel quantity — verify adequate for pattern and approachCONFIRMED ADEQUATE
Airspeed — remain within maneuvering speed if turbulence encounteredMONITORED PER POH

Before Landing before_landing

Fuel selectorBOTH
MixtureRICH
Carburetor heat — apply before reducing power for approach; confirm no ice presentAPPLIED; COLD BEFORE FINAL POWER REDUCTION
Canopy — confirm fully closed and latchedCLOSED AND LATCHED
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupantsTIGHTENED AND SECURE
Landing lightON
Traffic pattern — spacing, altitude, and runway selection confirmedESTABLISHED
Airspeed — established on approach at appropriate speed per POHPER POH

Landing landing

Runway — confirm clear; landing clearance or CTAF call madeCLEAR, CLEARANCE OBTAINED
Airspeed — stabilized approach speed per POH on finalSTABLE PER POH
Flare — gradual reduction of rate of descent; stabilator authority is good; avoid over-rotationSMOOTH
Touchdown — main wheels first in normal landing attitudeMAINS FIRST
Directional control on rollout — use rudder; differential braking as neededTRACKING CENTERLINE
Braking — apply as needed after weight is on wheelsAS REQUIRED
Throttle — confirm idle after touchdownIDLE

Go-Around go_around

Throttle — advance promptly to full powerFULL POWER
Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF) — maximum power for go-around
Pitch — establish climb attitude; counter pitch change from power additionCLIMB ATTITUDE ESTABLISHED
Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or climb speed per POHESTABLISHED PER POH
MixtureRICH
Positive rate of climb — confirm on VSICONFIRMED
Traffic pattern re-entry — announce position and intentions on CTAF or advise ATCANNOUNCED / COORDINATED

After Landing / Shutdown and Securing after_landing

Carburetor heatCOLD (OFF)
Landing lightOFF (as appropriate)
Strobes — off after clearing active runwayOFF
Flaps — retract after clearing runwayRETRACTED
TransponderSTANDBY OR OFF PER LOCAL PROCEDURE
Parking brake — set when at parking positionSET
Throttle — idle for engine cool-down period per POH before shutdownIDLE, COOLING DOWN
Avionics and radiosOFF
Mixture — pull to idle cut-off to shut down engineIDLE CUT-OFF (ENGINE STOPS)
Ignition switchOFF
Master switchOFF
Canopy — open and secure in open positionOPEN AND SECURED
Fuel selectorBOTH OR OFF PER LOCAL POLICY
Tie-downs and wheel chocks — secure aircraftINSTALLED
Flight log and squawks — record flight time and any defects notedCOMPLETED

Grumman AA-5B Tiger — 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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