# Grumman AA-5B Tiger — 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 Grumman AA-5B Tiger with Lycoming O-360 carbureted engine. Covers preflight walk-around through shutdown and securing. Reflects the Tiger’s distinctive features: sliding canopy, low wing, LEFT/RIGHT/BOTH fuel selector, and stabilator tail. Contains no numeric limitations; all airspeeds, fuel quantities, power settings, and performance values must be obtained from the specific aircraft POH.

> **safety_defect**: Contains no airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities or other limitations — must come from aircraft POH.
> **content_gap**: Equipment variations exist across AA-5B production. Avionics, fuel capacity, and optional equipment differ by aircraft. Verify all items against the specific aircraft POH before use.

## Preflight Walk-Around

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

## Cockpit Preparation / Before Start

- [ ] Canopy — open for entry; inspect rail and latch as occupants board — **INSPECTED**
- [ ] Seats — fore-aft position adjusted and locked for all occupants — **ADJUSTED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants — **FASTENED AND SNUG**
- [ ] Passenger briefing — seatbelts, canopy latching and emergency opening, emergency egress, no smoking, sterile cockpit during critical phases — **COMPLETED**
- [ ] Canopy — close, slide fully aft, and engage latch; confirm locked — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Flight controls — full travel; confirm ailerons, stabilator, and rudder move freely and in correct direction — **FULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE**
- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Avionics master switch — **OFF (protect avionics during start)**
- [ ] All electrical switches — lights, strobes, pitot heat — **OFF**
- [ ] Circuit breakers — **ALL IN**
- [ ] Elevator trim (stabilator trim) — **SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH**
- [ ] Throttle — **CLOSED / IDLE**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — **COLD (OFF)**

## Engine Start

- [ ] Area clear — visually confirm propeller arc free of persons and objects — **CLEAR; ANNOUNCE ‘CLEAR PROP’**
- [ ] Battery master switch — **ON**
- [ ] Beacon / anti-collision light — **ON**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Throttle — set approximately open per POH cold-start guidance — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — **COLD (OFF) FOR START**
- [ ] Primer — pump per POH for ambient conditions; lock after priming — **PRIMED PER POH, LOCKED**
- [ ] Ignition switch — **BOTH**
- [ ] 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 promptly — **RISING NORMALLY**
- [ ] Avionics master switch — **ON (after engine stable)**
- [ ] Engine instruments — verify oil pressure in green, no warning indications — **NORMAL**

## Before Taxi / After Start

- [ ] Avionics — COM, NAV, transponder, GPS power-on and self-test — **SELF-TESTS COMPLETE, OPERATIONAL**
- [ ] Altimeter — set current altimeter setting; verify indication near field elevation — **SET AND CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Heading indicator — align with magnetic compass while stationary — **ALIGNED**
- [ ] ATIS or weather — obtain current information — **OBTAINED AND NOTED**
- [ ] Transponder — set squawk code — **CODE SET, ALT MODE**
- [ ] Taxi clearance or CTAF call — **OBTAINED / ANNOUNCED**
- [ ] 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 to turns — **FUNCTIONING NORMALLY**

## Run-Up / Before Takeoff

- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Run-up position — headed into wind if possible; surface firm and clear of loose gravel or debris — **CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Flight controls — re-confirm full and free movement, correct response — **FULL AND FREE, CORRECT**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH (or leaned for field elevation per POH)**
- [ ] Engine warm-up — oil temperature in green arc before advancing to run-up power — **OIL TEMP IN GREEN**
- [ ] Throttle — advance to run-up power 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**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply hot air; note slight RPM drop indicating carburetor is receiving hot air; confirm RPM returns when heat is removed — **CONFIRMED, HEAT OFF FOR TAKEOFF**
- [ ] Engine instruments at run-up power — oil pressure and temperature — **BOTH IN GREEN**
- [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle; smooth response, no roughness or stumble — **SMOOTH AT IDLE**
- [ ] Suction / vacuum gauge — **IN NORMAL RANGE**
- [ ] Ammeter and electrical system — **INDICATING CHARGE**
- [ ] Stabilator trim — **SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION**
- [ ] Transponder — **ALT (or per ATC instruction)**
- [ ] Strobes and landing light — **ON**
- [ ] Canopy — fully closed and latched — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Abort plan — available runway remaining, abort decision speed, and intended action identified — **REVIEWED**

## Takeoff

- [ ] Traffic and runway — final approach clear, runway clear in both directions — **CLEAR**
- [ ] Throttle — advance smoothly to full power — **FULL POWER CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Engine instruments — verify oil pressure and RPM normal at takeoff power — **NORMAL**
- [ ] Directional control — apply rudder as needed to track runway centerline; stabilator becomes effective early due to low-wing design — **TRACKING CENTERLINE**
- [ ] Rotate — apply smooth aft pressure on the control yoke at Vr per POH — **ROTATE PER POH**
- [ ] Positive rate of climb — confirm on VSI and altimeter — **CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Airspeed — establish Vx or Vy per conditions and POH — **ESTABLISHED PER POH**

## Climb

- [ ] Airspeed — best-rate or best-angle climb per conditions and POH — **ESTABLISHED PER POH**
- [ ] Throttle — full power or reduced per POH climb power schedule — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply if conditions favor icing; monitor for RPM change — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Mixture — rich or leaned progressively at higher density altitudes per POH — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Engine instruments — oil temperature and pressure in normal range — **NORMAL**
- [ ] Fuel selector — confirm BOTH — **BOTH**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — periodic cross-check against planned fuel burn — **CHECKED**
- [ ] Traffic scan — low-wing configuration limits upward visibility; clear above and ahead — **CONTINUOUS**

## Cruise

- [ ] Throttle — set cruise power per POH — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — lean for cruise altitude and power per POH; monitor EGT or RPM as applicable — **LEANED PER POH**
- [ ] Stabilator trim — adjust for hands-off level flight — **TRIMMED**
- [ ] Fuel selector — confirm BOTH or select per POH fuel management guidance — **PER POH**
- [ ] Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure; all in normal range — **NORMAL**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply periodically or when icing conditions suspected — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — monitor both tanks; cross-check against elapsed time and planned burn — **CHECKED**
- [ ] Flight instruments — heading indicator, altimeter, attitude indicator cross-check — **CONSISTENT**
- [ ] Electrical system — ammeter indicating charge, no unusual loads — **NORMAL**

## Descent

- [ ] ATIS or destination weather — obtain current information — **OBTAINED**
- [ ] Altimeter — update to destination altimeter setting — **UPDATED**
- [ ] Throttle — reduce to cruise descent power; avoid prolonged idle to prevent shock cooling — **SET PER POH; AVOID PROLONGED IDLE**
- [ ] Mixture — enrich progressively as descending to lower altitudes — **ENRICHED AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply as power is reduced; monitor for icing — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — verify adequate for pattern and approach — **CONFIRMED ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Airspeed — remain within maneuvering speed if turbulence encountered — **MONITORED PER POH**

## Before Landing

- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply before reducing power for approach; confirm no ice present — **APPLIED; COLD BEFORE FINAL POWER REDUCTION**
- [ ] Canopy — confirm fully closed and latched — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants — **TIGHTENED AND SECURE**
- [ ] Landing light — **ON**
- [ ] Traffic pattern — spacing, altitude, and runway selection confirmed — **ESTABLISHED**
- [ ] Airspeed — established on approach at appropriate speed per POH — **PER POH**

## Landing

- [ ] Runway — confirm clear; landing clearance or CTAF call made — **CLEAR, CLEARANCE OBTAINED**
- [ ] Airspeed — stabilized approach speed per POH on final — **STABLE PER POH**
- [ ] Flare — gradual reduction of rate of descent; stabilator authority is good; avoid over-rotation — **SMOOTH**
- [ ] Touchdown — main wheels first in normal landing attitude — **MAINS FIRST**
- [ ] Directional control on rollout — use rudder; differential braking as needed — **TRACKING CENTERLINE**
- [ ] Braking — apply as needed after weight is on wheels — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Throttle — confirm idle after touchdown — **IDLE**

## Go-Around

- [ ] Throttle — advance promptly to full power — **FULL POWER**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — **COLD (OFF) — maximum power for go-around**
- [ ] Pitch — establish climb attitude; counter pitch change from power addition — **CLIMB ATTITUDE ESTABLISHED**
- [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or climb speed per POH — **ESTABLISHED PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — **RICH**
- [ ] Positive rate of climb — confirm on VSI — **CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Traffic pattern re-entry — announce position and intentions on CTAF or advise ATC — **ANNOUNCED / COORDINATED**

## After Landing / Shutdown and Securing

- [ ] Carburetor heat — **COLD (OFF)**
- [ ] Landing light — **OFF (as appropriate)**
- [ ] Strobes — off after clearing active runway — **OFF**
- [ ] Flaps — retract after clearing runway — **RETRACTED**
- [ ] Transponder — **STANDBY OR OFF PER LOCAL PROCEDURE**
- [ ] Parking brake — set when at parking position — **SET**
- [ ] Throttle — idle for engine cool-down period per POH before shutdown — **IDLE, COOLING DOWN**
- [ ] Avionics and radios — **OFF**
- [ ] Mixture — pull to idle cut-off to shut down engine — **IDLE CUT-OFF (ENGINE STOPS)**
- [ ] Ignition switch — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switch — **OFF**
- [ ] Canopy — open and secure in open position — **OPEN AND SECURED**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH OR OFF PER LOCAL POLICY**
- [ ] Tie-downs and wheel chocks — secure aircraft — **INSTALLED**
- [ ] Flight log and squawks — record flight time and any defects noted — **COMPLETED**

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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: 5aee30426b623c04a21570ac9dcfffe539db805b09543909ab82b2c95e02add8  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.