Mooney M20J 201 — 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: bd1e1b8fa72dbce5067da491dd3f5fc7fceccea6a1796fe170016ea4d69bfc2b Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation 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 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