Mooney M20J 201 — Normal Operating Procedures

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Aircraft documents (ARROW)ON BOARD AND CURRENT
Weight and balance for planned load and fuelCOMPUTED AND WITHIN LIMITS
Fuel quantity — visually confirm both tanks and compare with gaugesVERIFIED; ADEQUATE FOR FLIGHT WITH REQUIRED RESERVES
Fuel grade and appearance — check for water and sedimentCORRECT GRADE; CLEAR, NO CONTAMINATION
Fuel caps — both tanksSECURE AND PROPERLY SEATED
Fuel sump drains — both wing sumps and gascolatorDRAINED AND CHECKED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR
Fuel vent inlets on both wing leading edgesCLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED
Oil levelFULL TO MANUFACTURER MINIMUM; CORRECT GRADE
Oil filler cap and dipstickSECURE
Engine compartment — look for fluid leaks, loose baffling, chafed wiring, and foreign objectsCLEAR AND SECURE
Propeller and spinner — check for nicks, cracks, and security of spinnerNO DAMAGE; SECURE
Air induction inlet — check for blockage or debrisCLEAR
Nose gear strut extension, tire condition, and shimmy damperSTRUT INFLATED; TIRE SERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS
Pitot tube — remove cover if installed; check for blockage or waterCOVER REMOVED; CLEAR
Left main gear — tire condition, strut extension, brake line and pad conditionSERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS
Left wing leading edge, fuel cap, and skin conditionNO DAMAGE
Left aileron and pushrod — full movement without binding; no play in attachmentFREE AND CORRECT; SECURE
Left flap hinge pins and actuatorSECURE; NO DAMAGE
Speed brakes (if equipped) — panels flush and actuator secureFLUSH AND SECUREIf speed brakes equipped
Forward-swept tail — horizontal stabilizer, elevator, trim tab, and attachment fairingsNO DAMAGE; CONTROL SURFACES SECURE
Rudder, rudder tab, and vertical finNO DAMAGE; HINGES SECURE
Static ports — both sides of fuselageCLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED
Right wing — fuel cap, leading edge, aileron, and flapNO DAMAGE; SURFACES SECURE
Right main gear — tire, strut, brake lineSERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS
Cockpit windows and door sealsCLEAN; SEALS INTACT
Chocks removed; tie-downs and control lock removedREMOVED AND STOWED

Cockpit Preparation and Before Start before_start

Seats and seat backsADJUSTED AND LOCKED
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — pilot and all occupantsFASTENED AND ADJUSTED
Control lockREMOVED
Flight controls — check full, free, and correct movementFREE AND CORRECT
Parking brakeSET
Avionics masterOFF — to protect avionics during start
Master switch (battery)ON
Landing gear position — confirm three green indicators show downTHREE GREEN; GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED
Fuel quantity gauges — compare to visual checkCONSISTENT WITH VISUAL
Fuel selectorBOTH
PrimerIN AND LOCKED
Circuit breakersALL IN; CHECK FOR POPPED BREAKERS
FlapsRETRACTED FOR START
Elevator trimSET FOR TAKEOFF
Rudder and aileron trim (if equipped)SET NEUTRAL

Engine Start engine_start

MixtureFULL RICH for start at low altitude; per POH for high-density altitude
Propeller controlFULL FORWARD
Throttle — advance slightly then return to idle positionCRACKED OPEN
NOTEIO-360 is fuel-injected. Hot start procedure differs from cold start — consult POH for hot start fuel flow technique.
Fuel pump (boost pump) — prime for cold start per POH procedureON BRIEFLY THEN OFF FOR START; OR PER POH
Propeller area — call out and visually clearCLEAR
Ignition switchSTART — crank until engine fires
Oil pressure — confirm rise within 30 secondsRISING INTO GREEN ARC
Throttle — set to idle or low RPM for warm-upIDLE — SMOOTH
Avionics masterON
Engine instruments — scan for any abnormal indicationsALL WITHIN NORMAL RANGE

After Start and Before Taxi after_start

Oil pressure and temperatureOIL PRESSURE IN GREEN; TEMPERATURE RISING
Alternator — verify charge indicationCHARGING
Vacuum or pressure gauge (gyro instruments)IN THE GREEN
Radios and navigation equipmentON; FREQUENCIES SET FOR DEPARTURE
ATIS or weather informationCOPIED; ALTIMETER SET
TransponderSET TO DEPARTURE CODE; ALT MODE
Taxi clearance (if towered airport)OBTAINED
Parking brakeRELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI

Run-Up and Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Parking brakeSET
Flight controls — final check for full, free, and correct movementFREE AND CORRECT
Fuel selectorBOTH
Fuel quantity — confirm adequate for planned flightCONFIRMED ADEQUATE
Elevator trimSET FOR TAKEOFF
MixtureFULL RICH for sea-level takeoff; per POH for density altitude
Propeller controlFULL FORWARD
Throttle — advance to run-up power (per POH)RUN-UP POWER SET
Magneto check — cycle ignition from BOTH to LEFT, note RPM drop; return to BOTH; cycle to RIGHT, note RPM drop; return to BOTHDROPS WITHIN POH LIMITS; NO ROUGHNESS
Propeller cycle — advance prop control full forward; slowly pull aft to reduce RPM; note drop; advance back to full forward. Repeat as directed by POH to clear and warm the governor.RPM DROPS NOTED; PROP GOVERNOR OPERATING; FULL FORWARD
Engine gauges at run-up powerALL IN GREEN; OIL PRESSURE AND TEMP NORMAL
Throttle — reduce to idle; check for smooth response and no roughnessSMOOTH IDLE; NO ROUGHNESS
Landing gear handle and indicatorsDOWN; THREE GREEN
Flaps — set for takeoff per POH recommendationSET
Doors and windowsCLOSED AND LATCHED
Speed brakes (if equipped)RETRACTED AND CONFIRMED INIf speed brakes equipped
TransponderALT MODE; CODE SET
Takeoff clearance or traffic checkCLEARANCE RECEIVED OR TRAFFIC CLEAR
Abort criteria — briefed mentally: if engine abnormality, loss of power, or runway remaining insufficient, abort takeoffBRIEFED

Takeoff takeoff

Throttle — smoothly advance to full powerFULL POWER
Engine instruments at full powerOIL PRESSURE, RPM, AND FUEL FLOW IN NORMAL RANGE
Directional control — maintain runway centerline with rudderMAINTAINED
Rotate — apply back pressure at rotation speed per POHROTATE AT POH SPEED
Climb attitude established; positive rate of climb confirmed on VSI and altimeterPOSITIVE RATE
Landing gear — retract after positive rate confirmed with no usable runway remainingGEAR UP; LIGHT OUT
Airspeed — accelerate to best-rate-of-climb or obstacle clearance speed per POHON SPEED

Climb climb

Airspeed — set climb speed per POH for conditions (Vy or Vx as required)CLIMB SPEED MAINTAINED
Flaps — retract when clear of obstacles and at safe airspeedRETRACTED
Mixture — adjust for altitude per POH; lean during climb if prescribedPER POH FOR ALTITUDE
Engine instruments — monitor oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, and EGTALL IN GREEN
Fuel flow — verify consistent with power settingWITHIN NORMAL RANGE
Heading and altitude target — monitor against cleared routingON COURSE
Landing gear position — confirm UPUP; INDICATOR LIGHT OUT OR GEAR LIGHT EXTINGUISHED

Cruise cruise

Power setting — reduce to cruise per POH at cruise altitudeTHROTTLE AND RPM SET PER POH
Mixture — lean to peak EGT then richen per POH guidance for cruise power settingLEANED PER POH
Engine instruments — scan oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, EGT, fuel flowALL NORMAL
Fuel quantity and balance — check both tanks; manage fuel burn symmetricallyQUANTITY ADEQUATE; TANKS BALANCED
Fuel selectorBOTH
Altimeter setting — update as ATC or ASOS providesCURRENT SETTING
Trim — adjust for hands-off level flightTRIMMED
Traffic and airspace awarenessSCANNING; TRANSPONDER ACTIVE

Descent descent

ATIS or destination weatherCOPIED; ALTIMETER UPDATED
Power — reduce gradually; avoid shock-cooling by maintaining CHTs above minimumPOWER REDUCED GRADUALLY; CHT MONITORED
Mixture — enrichen as altitude decreases per POHENRICHING WITH DESCENT
Fuel selectorBOTH
Speed brakes (if equipped) — may be used to control descent rate or slow the aircraft within placard limitsEXTENDED IF NEEDED; WITHIN LIMITSIf speed brakes equipped
Approach briefing — runway, pattern altitude, approach procedure, and go-aroundBRIEFED
Engine instrumentsALL NORMAL

Before Landing before_landing

Fuel selectorBOTH
MixtureFULL RICH or per POH for field elevation
Propeller controlFULL FORWARD
Landing gear — select DOWN; verify three green indicatorsDOWN; THREE GREEN CONFIRMED
Gear indicator lights — confirm green; check gear switch is in DOWN detentTHREE GREEN; SWITCH DOWN
Flaps — extend to desired setting per POH for approach speedSET FOR APPROACH
Airspeed — establish and maintain final approach speed per POHON SPEED
Speed brakes (if equipped) — retract before landing flare unless POH authorizes landing with them extendedRETRACTED OR PER POHIf speed brakes equipped
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupantsFASTENED AND SNUG

Gear-Down Confirmation (Final Approach) approach

CAUTIONThe Mooney M20J is a retractable-gear aircraft. A gear-up landing will cause substantial damage and may injure occupants. Confirm gear down and locked on every approach.
Landing gear handleDOWN
Gear position indicators — three green lightsTHREE GREEN; GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED
Gear warning horn (if airspeed reduced with throttle at idle) — test if in doubtCONFIRMED ARMED
On most M20J aircraft, the gear warning horn sounds when throttle is reduced below a threshold with gear up. If no horn sounds on late final at idle power, verify gear is actually down and check the system.

Landing landing

Final approach speed — maintain stabilized approach at POH airspeed to thresholdSTABLE; ON SPEED
Runway alignment — on centerline throughout approachON CENTERLINE
Flare — reduce power smoothly and raise pitch to arrest sink rate over runway thresholdPOWER TO IDLE; ATTITUDE FLYING
Touchdown — aim for mains first on normal landingSMOOTH MAINS-FIRST TOUCHDOWN
After touchdown — lower nose wheel gently; maintain directional control with rudder and brakes as neededNOSE WHEEL DOWN; TRACKING CENTERLINE
Braking — apply as needed; avoid excessive brake heatingCONTROLLED ROLLOUT

Go-Around / Balked Landing go_around

Throttle — advance smoothly to full powerFULL POWER
Pitch — raise to go-around climb attitude; arrest sink rateCLIMBING ATTITUDE
Flaps — retract incrementally per POH; avoid sudden full retraction at low airspeedRETRACT IN STAGES PER POH
Airspeed — accelerate to Vx or Vy as appropriate for obstacle clearancePOSITIVE CLIMB SPEED CONFIRMED
Landing gear — retract after positive rate established and runway no longer usable for landingGEAR UP; THREE GREEN EXTINGUISHED
Mixture and propeller — confirm full rich and full forwardBOTH FULL FORWARD
ATC — advise of go-around if at towered airportNOTIFIED

After Landing after_landing

Flaps — retract after clearing the runwayRETRACTED
Speed brakes (if equipped)RETRACTEDIf speed brakes equipped
Propeller controlFULL FORWARD
Mixture — do not lean on taxiway unless the airport elevation or taxi distance warrantsRICH OR PER JUDGMENT
Fuel pump (boost pump)OFF after clearing runway
TransponderSTANDBY OR GROUND MODE
Landing lightOFF
Brakes — confirm adequate feel for taxiNORMAL FEEL

Shutdown and Securing shutdown

Parking brakeSET
Avionics masterOFF
Engine — allow to idle per POH cool-down period before shutdown, especially after hard climb or high power operationIDLED AT LEAST 1 MINUTE
Mixture — pull to idle cutoff to shut down; confirm engine stops cleanlyIDLE CUTOFF; ENGINE STOPPED
ThrottleCLOSED
Magnetos / Ignition switchOFF
Master switch (battery and alternator)OFF
Fuel selectorBOTH or per hangar storage practice
Control lock — install to protect flight controlsINSTALLED
Pitot cover — install if leaving aircraftINSTALLED
Tie-downs — secure all three pointsSECURED
Chocks — place if on a sloped or exposed rampPLACED AS APPROPRIATE
Aircraft discrepancies and logbooksENTRIES MADE AS REQUIRED

Mooney M20J 201 — Normal Operating Procedures

Ratings & reviews

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

Cockpit Preparation and Before Start before_start

Engine Start engine_start

After Start and Before Taxi after_start

Run-Up and Before Takeoff before_takeoff

Takeoff takeoff

Climb climb

Cruise cruise

Descent descent

Before Landing before_landing

Gear-Down Confirmation (Final Approach) approach

Landing landing

Go-Around / Balked Landing go_around

After Landing after_landing

Shutdown and Securing shutdown

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