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) 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. ======================================================================== 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