# Mooney M20J 201 — 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 Mooney M20J 201 with Lycoming IO-360 fuel-injected engine, constant-speed propeller, and electric retractable tricycle gear. The IO-360 is fuel-injected and not susceptible to carburetor icing. Fuel selector has LEFT, BOTH, and RIGHT positions; BOTH is required for takeoff and landing. The 201 uses an electric gear system; some earlier M20 variants used a manual Johnson bar — verify the gear system on the specific aircraft. Speed brakes are an optional installation; check the specific aircraft for their presence. All airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities, and performance limitations must come from the specific aircraft POH. Not a substitute for qualified instruction or currency in type.

> **safety_defect**: Contains no airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities, or other numerical limitations — all must come from the specific aircraft POH.
> **content_gap**: Equipment varies across M20J airframes, including gear actuation type, avionics fit, and optional speed brakes. Verify every item against the specific aircraft before use.

## Preflight Walk-Around

- [ ] Aircraft documents (ARROW) — **ON BOARD AND CURRENT**
- [ ] Weight and balance for planned load and fuel — **COMPUTED AND WITHIN LIMITS**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — visually confirm both tanks and compare with gauges — **VERIFIED; ADEQUATE FOR FLIGHT WITH REQUIRED RESERVES**
- [ ] Fuel grade and appearance — check for water and sediment — **CORRECT GRADE; CLEAR, NO CONTAMINATION**
- [ ] Fuel caps — both tanks — **SECURE AND PROPERLY SEATED**
- [ ] Fuel sump drains — both wing sumps and gascolator — **DRAINED AND CHECKED; CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR**
- [ ] Fuel vent inlets on both wing leading edges — **CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Oil level — **FULL TO MANUFACTURER MINIMUM; CORRECT GRADE**
- [ ] Oil filler cap and dipstick — **SECURE**
- [ ] Engine compartment — look for fluid leaks, loose baffling, chafed wiring, and foreign objects — **CLEAR AND SECURE**
- [ ] Propeller and spinner — check for nicks, cracks, and security of spinner — **NO DAMAGE; SECURE**
- [ ] Air induction inlet — check for blockage or debris — **CLEAR**
- [ ] Nose gear strut extension, tire condition, and shimmy damper — **STRUT INFLATED; TIRE SERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS**
- [ ] Pitot tube — remove cover if installed; check for blockage or water — **COVER REMOVED; CLEAR**
- [ ] Left main gear — tire condition, strut extension, brake line and pad condition — **SERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS**
- [ ] Left wing leading edge, fuel cap, and skin condition — **NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Left aileron and pushrod — full movement without binding; no play in attachment — **FREE AND CORRECT; SECURE**
- [ ] Left flap hinge pins and actuator — **SECURE; NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Speed brakes (if equipped) — panels flush and actuator secure — **FLUSH AND SECURE**
- [ ] Forward-swept tail — horizontal stabilizer, elevator, trim tab, and attachment fairings — **NO DAMAGE; CONTROL SURFACES SECURE**
- [ ] Rudder, rudder tab, and vertical fin — **NO DAMAGE; HINGES SECURE**
- [ ] Static ports — both sides of fuselage — **CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Right wing — fuel cap, leading edge, aileron, and flap — **NO DAMAGE; SURFACES SECURE**
- [ ] Right main gear — tire, strut, brake line — **SERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS**
- [ ] Cockpit windows and door seals — **CLEAN; SEALS INTACT**
- [ ] Chocks removed; tie-downs and control lock removed — **REMOVED AND STOWED**

## Cockpit Preparation and Before Start

- [ ] Seats and seat backs — **ADJUSTED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — pilot and all occupants — **FASTENED AND ADJUSTED**
- [ ] Control lock — **REMOVED**
- [ ] Flight controls — check full, free, and correct movement — **FREE AND CORRECT**
- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Avionics master — **OFF — to protect avionics during start**
- [ ] Master switch (battery) — **ON**
- [ ] Landing gear position — confirm three green indicators show down — **THREE GREEN; GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Fuel quantity gauges — compare to visual check — **CONSISTENT WITH VISUAL**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Primer — **IN AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Circuit breakers — **ALL IN; CHECK FOR POPPED BREAKERS**
- [ ] Flaps — **RETRACTED FOR START**
- [ ] Elevator trim — **SET FOR TAKEOFF**
- [ ] Rudder and aileron trim (if equipped) — **SET NEUTRAL**

## Engine Start

- [ ] Mixture — **FULL RICH for start at low altitude; per POH for high-density altitude**
- [ ] Propeller control — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Throttle — advance slightly then return to idle position — **CRACKED OPEN**
> **NOTE:** IO-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 procedure — **ON BRIEFLY THEN OFF FOR START; OR PER POH**
- [ ] Propeller area — call out and visually clear — **CLEAR**
- [ ] Ignition switch — **START — crank until engine fires**
- [ ] Oil pressure — confirm rise within 30 seconds — **RISING INTO GREEN ARC**
- [ ] Throttle — set to idle or low RPM for warm-up — **IDLE — SMOOTH**
- [ ] Avionics master — **ON**
- [ ] Engine instruments — scan for any abnormal indications — **ALL WITHIN NORMAL RANGE**

## After Start and Before Taxi

- [ ] Oil pressure and temperature — **OIL PRESSURE IN GREEN; TEMPERATURE RISING**
- [ ] Alternator — verify charge indication — **CHARGING**
- [ ] Vacuum or pressure gauge (gyro instruments) — **IN THE GREEN**
- [ ] Radios and navigation equipment — **ON; FREQUENCIES SET FOR DEPARTURE**
- [ ] ATIS or weather information — **COPIED; ALTIMETER SET**
- [ ] Transponder — **SET TO DEPARTURE CODE; ALT MODE**
- [ ] Taxi clearance (if towered airport) — **OBTAINED**
- [ ] Parking brake — **RELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI**

## Run-Up and Before Takeoff

- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Flight controls — final check for full, free, and correct movement — **FREE AND CORRECT**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — confirm adequate for planned flight — **CONFIRMED ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Elevator trim — **SET FOR TAKEOFF**
- [ ] Mixture — **FULL RICH for sea-level takeoff; per POH for density altitude**
- [ ] Propeller control — **FULL 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 BOTH — **DROPS 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 power — **ALL IN GREEN; OIL PRESSURE AND TEMP NORMAL**
- [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle; check for smooth response and no roughness — **SMOOTH IDLE; NO ROUGHNESS**
- [ ] Landing gear handle and indicators — **DOWN; THREE GREEN**
- [ ] Flaps — set for takeoff per POH recommendation — **SET**
- [ ] Doors and windows — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Speed brakes (if equipped) — **RETRACTED AND CONFIRMED IN**
- [ ] Transponder — **ALT MODE; CODE SET**
- [ ] Takeoff clearance or traffic check — **CLEARANCE RECEIVED OR TRAFFIC CLEAR**
- [ ] Abort criteria — briefed mentally: if engine abnormality, loss of power, or runway remaining insufficient, abort takeoff — **BRIEFED**

## Takeoff

- [ ] Throttle — smoothly advance to full power — **FULL POWER**
- [ ] Engine instruments at full power — **OIL PRESSURE, RPM, AND FUEL FLOW IN NORMAL RANGE**
- [ ] Directional control — maintain runway centerline with rudder — **MAINTAINED**
- [ ] Rotate — apply back pressure at rotation speed per POH — **ROTATE AT POH SPEED**
- [ ] Climb attitude established; positive rate of climb confirmed on VSI and altimeter — **POSITIVE RATE**
- [ ] Landing gear — retract after positive rate confirmed with no usable runway remaining — **GEAR UP; LIGHT OUT**
- [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to best-rate-of-climb or obstacle clearance speed per POH — **ON SPEED**

## 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 airspeed — **RETRACTED**
- [ ] Mixture — adjust for altitude per POH; lean during climb if prescribed — **PER POH FOR ALTITUDE**
- [ ] Engine instruments — monitor oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, and EGT — **ALL IN GREEN**
- [ ] Fuel flow — verify consistent with power setting — **WITHIN NORMAL RANGE**
- [ ] Heading and altitude target — monitor against cleared routing — **ON COURSE**
- [ ] Landing gear position — confirm UP — **UP; INDICATOR LIGHT OUT OR GEAR LIGHT EXTINGUISHED**

## Cruise

- [ ] Power setting — reduce to cruise per POH at cruise altitude — **THROTTLE AND RPM SET PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — lean to peak EGT then richen per POH guidance for cruise power setting — **LEANED PER POH**
- [ ] Engine instruments — scan oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, EGT, fuel flow — **ALL NORMAL**
- [ ] Fuel quantity and balance — check both tanks; manage fuel burn symmetrically — **QUANTITY ADEQUATE; TANKS BALANCED**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Altimeter setting — update as ATC or ASOS provides — **CURRENT SETTING**
- [ ] Trim — adjust for hands-off level flight — **TRIMMED**
- [ ] Traffic and airspace awareness — **SCANNING; TRANSPONDER ACTIVE**

## Descent

- [ ] ATIS or destination weather — **COPIED; ALTIMETER UPDATED**
- [ ] Power — reduce gradually; avoid shock-cooling by maintaining CHTs above minimum — **POWER REDUCED GRADUALLY; CHT MONITORED**
- [ ] Mixture — enrichen as altitude decreases per POH — **ENRICHING WITH DESCENT**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Speed brakes (if equipped) — may be used to control descent rate or slow the aircraft within placard limits — **EXTENDED IF NEEDED; WITHIN LIMITS**
- [ ] Approach briefing — runway, pattern altitude, approach procedure, and go-around — **BRIEFED**
- [ ] Engine instruments — **ALL NORMAL**

## Before Landing

- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH**
- [ ] Mixture — **FULL RICH or per POH for field elevation**
- [ ] Propeller control — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Landing gear — select DOWN; verify three green indicators — **DOWN; THREE GREEN CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Gear indicator lights — confirm green; check gear switch is in DOWN detent — **THREE GREEN; SWITCH DOWN**
- [ ] Flaps — extend to desired setting per POH for approach speed — **SET FOR APPROACH**
- [ ] Airspeed — establish and maintain final approach speed per POH — **ON SPEED**
- [ ] Speed brakes (if equipped) — retract before landing flare unless POH authorizes landing with them extended — **RETRACTED OR PER POH**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants — **FASTENED AND SNUG**

## Gear-Down Confirmation (Final Approach)

> **CAUTION:** The 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 handle — **DOWN**
- [ ] Gear position indicators — three green lights — **THREE GREEN; GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Gear warning horn (if airspeed reduced with throttle at idle) — test if in doubt — **CONFIRMED ARMED**
  <sub>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.</sub>

## Landing

- [ ] Final approach speed — maintain stabilized approach at POH airspeed to threshold — **STABLE; ON SPEED**
- [ ] Runway alignment — on centerline throughout approach — **ON CENTERLINE**
- [ ] Flare — reduce power smoothly and raise pitch to arrest sink rate over runway threshold — **POWER TO IDLE; ATTITUDE FLYING**
- [ ] Touchdown — aim for mains first on normal landing — **SMOOTH MAINS-FIRST TOUCHDOWN**
- [ ] After touchdown — lower nose wheel gently; maintain directional control with rudder and brakes as needed — **NOSE WHEEL DOWN; TRACKING CENTERLINE**
- [ ] Braking — apply as needed; avoid excessive brake heating — **CONTROLLED ROLLOUT**

## Go-Around / Balked Landing

- [ ] Throttle — advance smoothly to full power — **FULL POWER**
- [ ] Pitch — raise to go-around climb attitude; arrest sink rate — **CLIMBING ATTITUDE**
- [ ] Flaps — retract incrementally per POH; avoid sudden full retraction at low airspeed — **RETRACT IN STAGES PER POH**
- [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to Vx or Vy as appropriate for obstacle clearance — **POSITIVE CLIMB SPEED CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Landing gear — retract after positive rate established and runway no longer usable for landing — **GEAR UP; THREE GREEN EXTINGUISHED**
- [ ] Mixture and propeller — confirm full rich and full forward — **BOTH FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] ATC — advise of go-around if at towered airport — **NOTIFIED**

## After Landing

- [ ] Flaps — retract after clearing the runway — **RETRACTED**
- [ ] Speed brakes (if equipped) — **RETRACTED**
- [ ] Propeller control — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Mixture — do not lean on taxiway unless the airport elevation or taxi distance warrants — **RICH OR PER JUDGMENT**
- [ ] Fuel pump (boost pump) — **OFF after clearing runway**
- [ ] Transponder — **STANDBY OR GROUND MODE**
- [ ] Landing light — **OFF**
- [ ] Brakes — confirm adequate feel for taxi — **NORMAL FEEL**

## Shutdown and Securing

- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Avionics master — **OFF**
- [ ] Engine — allow to idle per POH cool-down period before shutdown, especially after hard climb or high power operation — **IDLED AT LEAST 1 MINUTE**
- [ ] Mixture — pull to idle cutoff to shut down; confirm engine stops cleanly — **IDLE CUTOFF; ENGINE STOPPED**
- [ ] Throttle — **CLOSED**
- [ ] Magnetos / Ignition switch — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switch (battery and alternator) — **OFF**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **BOTH or per hangar storage practice**
- [ ] Control lock — install to protect flight controls — **INSTALLED**
- [ ] Pitot cover — install if leaving aircraft — **INSTALLED**
- [ ] Tie-downs — secure all three points — **SECURED**
- [ ] Chocks — place if on a sloped or exposed ramp — **PLACED AS APPROPRIATE**
- [ ] Aircraft discrepancies and logbooks — **ENTRIES MADE AS REQUIRED**

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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: bd1e1b8fa72dbce5067da491dd3f5fc7fceccea6a1796fe170016ea4d69bfc2b  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.