Piper PA-28-181 Archer III — 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: ec3afaeb2d46a05d7897709073d22cf0fbaff41986951774ee8cf155a7880d36 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 [ ] Fuel quantity — visually verify each tank; quantity matches tabs or dipstick; sufficient for flight with required reserves ... VERIFIED, ADEQUATE [ ] Fuel grade — confirm correct octane for the O-360 engine ... CORRECT GRADE PER POH [ ] Fuel sump — left wing tank quick-drain; sample checked for water and contamination ... CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION [ ] Fuel sump — right wing tank quick-drain; sample checked for water and contamination ... CLEAR, CORRECT COLOR, NO CONTAMINATION [ ] Fuel sump — gascolator drain on lower engine firewall ... DRAINED AND CLEAR [ ] Fuel caps — both wing tanks ............. PROPERLY SEATED AND SECURED [ ] Fuel selector — rotate through all positions; verify freedom of movement and positive detents ... MOVES FREELY, DETENTS POSITIVE [ ] Engine oil level — dipstick check; verify quantity within acceptable operating range ... WITHIN LIMITS PER POH; CAP SECURE [ ] Engine compartment — inspect for fuel or oil leaks, chafed wiring, loose hoses, and foreign objects ... CLEAN AND SECURE [ ] Carburetor air inlet — screen or filter present; opening clear of obstructions ... CLEAR, FILTER SERVICEABLE [ ] Exhaust system — visible stacks and muffler for cracks, loose clamps, or unusual heat discoloration ... SERVICEABLE [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) — open and free to operate ... OPEN / SERVICEABLE [ ] Cowling fasteners ........................................ ALL SECURE [ ] Propeller and spinner — inspect for nicks, cracks, gouges, and spinner security ... SERVICEABLE, SPINNER SECURE [ ] Nose gear — strut extension, shimmy damper, tire condition, and tow bar removal ... STRUT EXTENDED, TIRE SERVICEABLE, TOW BAR REMOVED [ ] Pitot tube — cover removed, inlet clear ........ COVER REMOVED, CLEAR [ ] Static ports — both sides of fuselage, unobstructed ........... CLEAR [ ] Left wing leading edge, fuel tank skin, and stall warning vane ... NO DEFORMATION OR FUEL STAINING; VANE MOVES FREELY [ ] Left aileron and flap — attachment security, full travel, and surface condition ... SECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE [ ] Left wingtip and navigation light ............ UNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT [ ] Left main gear — strut extension, tire condition, and brake assembly ... STRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE [ ] Horizontal stabilator — leading edge, hinge bolts, and anti-servo tab condition ... UNDAMAGED, HARDWARE SECURE [ ] Vertical stabilizer and rudder — condition, hinge security, and tail beacon ... SERVICEABLE, BEACON LENS INTACT [ ] Tail tie-down ............................................... REMOVED [ ] Right main gear — strut, tire, and brake condition ... STRUT NORMAL, TIRE SERVICEABLE, BRAKES ADEQUATE [ ] Right wing — leading edge, fuel tank skin, and fuel cap security ... UNDAMAGED, FUEL CAP SECURE [ ] Right aileron and flap — attachment, travel, and condition ... SECURE, FREE MOVEMENT, NO DAMAGE [ ] Right wingtip and navigation light ........... UNDAMAGED, LENS INTACT [ ] Wing and nose tie-downs — all ground restraints removed ..... REMOVED [ ] Antennas — all externally visible units ........ SECURE AND UNDAMAGED [ ] Baggage door — latched and secured .......................... LATCHED COCKPIT PREPARATION / BEFORE START ---------------------------------- [ ] Control lock ..................................... REMOVED AND STOWED [ ] Seats — fore-aft position and lock .............. ADJUSTED AND LOCKED [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — all occupants ... FASTENED AND ADJUSTED [ ] Passenger briefing — seatbelts, door latching, emergency exits, no smoking, sterile cockpit during critical phases ... COMPLETED [ ] Flight controls — move through full travel; verify aileron, elevator, and rudder respond correctly and move freely ... FULL AND FREE, CORRECT SENSE [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Fuel selector — select fullest tank or per POH recommendation for start and takeoff ... CORRECT TANK SELECTED [ ] Avionics master switch .......... OFF (protect avionics during start) [ ] All electrical switches — lights, strobes, pitot heat, fan ...... OFF [ ] Circuit breakers ............................................. ALL IN [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) ....................................... OPEN [ ] Flaps — set for takeoff per POH ......................... SET PER POH [ ] Elevator trim — set to takeoff position ................. SET TAKEOFF [ ] Mixture ........................................................ RICH [ ] Throttle .............................................. CLOSED / IDLE ENGINE START ------------ [ ] Area clear — visually confirm propeller arc is free of persons and objects; announce 'CLEAR PROP' ... CLEAR; ANNOUNCED [ ] Battery master switch ............................................ ON [ ] Alternator switch ................................................ ON [ ] Beacon / anti-collision light .................................... ON [ ] Prime — prime per POH for ambient conditions; cold engine requires more priming than warm ... PRIMED PER POH CONDITIONS [ ] Throttle — set for start per POH (typically cracked slightly open) ... SET PER POH [ ] Mixture ............................. RICH (or per POH for elevation) [ ] Ignition switch ................................................ BOTH [ ] Starter — engage; release promptly when engine fires ... ENGAGED, THEN RELEASED [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle once engine runs smoothly ... REDUCED TO IDLE [ ] Oil pressure — verify pressure rise within first 30 seconds; shut down if no rise ... RISING NORMALLY [ ] Avionics master switch ..................... ON (after engine stable) [ ] Engine instruments — oil pressure in green arc, no warning lights ... NORMAL BEFORE TAXI / AFTER START ------------------------- [ ] Avionics — power-on self-tests; GPS, COM/NAV, transponder operational ... SELF-TESTS COMPLETE, OPERATIONAL [ ] Altimeter — set current altimeter setting; confirm indicated elevation matches field elevation within tolerance ... SET AND CONFIRMED [ ] Heading indicator — align to magnetic compass while stationary ... ALIGNED [ ] ATIS / weather — obtain current field conditions and NOTAM information ... OBTAINED AND NOTED [ ] Transponder — set assigned or VFR squawk code; mode as appropriate ... CODE SET, ALT [ ] Taxi clearance or CTAF advisory ............................ OBTAINED [ ] Taxi and landing lights ........................... ON AS APPROPRIATE [ ] Parking brake ............................ RELEASE WHEN READY TO TAXI [ ] Brakes — test effectiveness with brief application after first forward movement ... EFFECTIVE [ ] Flight instruments during taxi — attitude indicator erecting, turn coordinator responding, magnetic compass swinging ... FUNCTIONING NORMALLY RUN-UP / BEFORE TAKEOFF ----------------------- [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Run-up position — headed into wind if possible; surface firm and free of loose debris ... CONFIRMED [ ] Flight controls — recheck full and free movement, correct control response ... FULL, FREE, AND CORRECT [ ] Fuel selector — fullest tank or per POH recommendation for takeoff ... CORRECT TANK [ ] Mixture .............. RICH (or adjusted for field elevation per POH) [ ] Engine warm-up — oil temperature in green arc before run-up power application ... OIL TEMP IN GREEN [ ] Throttle — advance to run-up power setting per POH ...... SET PER POH [ ] Magnetos — check LEFT, then RIGHT; RPM drop on each within POH limits; differential within limits; return to BOTH ... BOTH CHECKED, WITHIN LIMITS [ ] Carburetor heat — apply and note RPM change; a slight drop confirms carb heat is functioning; clear ice if any; return to COLD ... CHECKED, CARB HEAT FUNCTIONAL, COLD [ ] Engine instruments at run-up power — oil pressure and temperature within normal range ... NORMAL [ ] Throttle — reduce to idle; engine runs smoothly without roughness or stumble ... SMOOTH AT IDLE [ ] Suction / vacuum gauge .......................... WITHIN NORMAL RANGE [ ] Ammeter / electrical system ....................... INDICATING CHARGE [ ] Flaps — confirm takeoff setting; indicator verified ... SET PER POH, CONFIRMED [ ] Elevator trim ............................... SET TO TAKEOFF POSITION [ ] Transponder ............................. ALT (or as directed by ATC) [ ] Strobes and landing light ........................................ ON [ ] Doors and windows — fully closed and latched ..... CLOSED AND LATCHED [ ] Abort plan — departure-end landing area and abort speed/criteria reviewed ... BRIEFED TAKEOFF ------- [ ] Final approach and runway — confirm clear in both directions before entering runway ... CLEAR [ ] Carburetor heat .................................... COLD for takeoff [ ] Throttle — advance smoothly to full power; do not rush the application ... FULL POWER, RPM CONFIRMED [ ] Engine gauges at takeoff power — oil pressure normal, no anomalies ... NORMAL [ ] Directional control — apply right rudder as needed to maintain runway centerline ... TRACKING CENTERLINE [ ] Rotate — apply smooth back pressure on stabilator at Vr per POH ... ROTATE PER POH [ ] Positive rate of climb — confirm on altimeter and VSI before retracting flaps ... CONFIRMED [ ] Flaps — retract after positive rate established and clear of obstacles per POH ... RETRACTING PER POH [ ] Airspeed — transition to Vx or Vy as appropriate for conditions per POH ... ESTABLISHED PER POH CLIMB ----- [ ] Airspeed — establish best-rate or best-angle climb per conditions and POH ... ESTABLISHED PER POH [ ] Throttle — full power or normal climb power per POH ..... SET PER POH [ ] Carburetor heat — monitor for conditions conducive to carburetor ice; apply if ice suspected ... MONITORED; COLD UNLESS ICE SUSPECTED [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) — open during climb to manage cylinder head temperatures ... OPEN [ ] Mixture — rich below density altitude requiring lean; lean progressively at higher elevations per POH ... SET PER POH [ ] Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure within normal limits; no abnormal indications ... NORMAL [ ] Fuel quantity — periodic check; consistent with planned consumption ... CHECKED [ ] Heading indicator — cross-check against magnetic compass ... CHECKED AND CONSISTENT [ ] Traffic scan ............................................. CONTINUOUS CRUISE ------ [ ] Throttle — set cruise power per POH cruise performance table for altitude and temperature ... SET PER POH [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) — adjust for cylinder head temperature management in cruise ... ADJUSTED PER POH [ ] Mixture — lean to best power or best economy per POH recommendation for cruise power and altitude ... LEANED PER POH [ ] Elevator trim — adjust for hands-free level cruise flight ... TRIMMED [ ] Engine instruments — oil temperature, oil pressure, and other gauges within normal limits ... ALL NORMAL [ ] Fuel quantity — both tanks; verify remaining fuel consistent with planned burn rate ... CHECKED AND CONSISTENT [ ] Fuel selector — switch tanks per POH interval to maintain lateral balance ... SWITCHED PER POH [ ] Carburetor heat — apply periodically or when conditions indicate icing risk (temperature and dewpoint spread, visible moisture, reduced RPM) ... MONITORED; APPLIED AS REQUIRED [ ] Navigation — position, course, and fuel remaining consistent with flight plan ... ON COURSE, ON SCHEDULE [ ] Weather scan — check for developing weather and review alternates ... CHECKED DESCENT ------- [ ] Fuel selector — switch to fullest tank or per POH for approach and landing ... FULLEST TANK / PER POH [ ] Mixture — enrichen progressively as altitude decreases ... ENRICHENING [ ] Carburetor heat — apply during power reductions; monitor for engine roughness indicating ice presence ... APPLIED DURING POWER REDUCTIONS [ ] Throttle — reduce gradually; avoid shock cooling the engine with abrupt power changes ... REDUCED GRADUALLY PER POH [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) — close as engine cools during descent ... ADJUSTED TO MANAGE CHT [ ] ATIS / destination weather — obtain current conditions ... OBTAINED AND NOTED [ ] Altimeter — update to current destination setting ........... UPDATED [ ] Airspeed — monitor; remain within the appropriate speed for flap extension as flaps are later deployed ... MONITORED BEFORE LANDING -------------- [ ] Fuel selector — fullest tank or per POH for landing ... FULLEST TANK / PER POH [ ] Mixture ........................................................ RICH [ ] Carburetor heat — apply on downwind or prior to significant power reduction on approach ... ON (WARM) [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) .......................... CLOSED OR PER POH [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — confirm all occupants secured ... FASTENED AND SNUG [ ] Flaps — extend incrementally on final approach per POH; verify indicator matches selected position ... SET PER POH [ ] Airspeed — stabilize approach speed per POH for weight and flap configuration ... ESTABLISHED PER POH [ ] Landing light .................................................... ON [ ] Traffic and runway — confirm final approach and runway are clear ... CLEAR LANDING ------- [ ] Approach speed — maintain stabilized approach at POH speed for flap setting and weight; do not allow excessive energy buildup ... STABILIZED PER POH [ ] Runway alignment — confirm landing on centerline; adjust crosswind correction as needed ... ON CENTERLINE [ ] Power — reduce smoothly to idle at flare; do not cut power abruptly from high setting ... REDUCED TO IDLE AT FLARE [ ] Flare — apply gentle back pressure on stabilator to arrest sink rate; avoid ballooning or holding off too high ... SMOOTH FLARE [ ] Touchdown — main gear first in normal landing; hold nose wheel off until speed decreases ... MAINS FIRST, NOSE HELD OFF [ ] Brakes — apply after nose wheel lowers; maintain directional control; avoid locking wheels ... SMOOTH, EVEN APPLICATION [ ] Runway exit — clear the active runway before slowing excessively; exit at a safe taxi speed ... CLEAR OF RUNWAY GO-AROUND / MISSED APPROACH --------------------------- [ ] Throttle — advance smoothly to full power without hesitation ... FULL POWER [ ] Carburetor heat ... COLD (full power required; carb heat reduces power) [ ] Pitch attitude — establish a positive climb attitude; do not over-rotate ... CLIMB ATTITUDE ESTABLISHED [ ] Flaps — retract incrementally; initial partial retraction to reduce drag while maintaining lift; verify climb performance before full retraction ... RETRACTING PER POH [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to Vy after flap retraction ... ESTABLISHED PER POH [ ] Traffic pattern — communicate intentions and fly standard pattern or as directed by ATC ... COMMUNICATED AFTER LANDING ------------- [ ] Carburetor heat ................................................ COLD [ ] Flaps ....................................................... RETRACT [ ] Cowl flaps (if equipped) ....................................... OPEN [ ] Landing light ..................................... OFF or as desired [ ] Transponder .................................. STANDBY or as directed [ ] Mixture — maintain rich for taxi if further operations; do not lean aggressively at high taxi power ... RICH SHUTDOWN AND SECURING --------------------- [ ] Parking brake ................................................... SET [ ] Avionics master switch ................ OFF (before magneto shutdown) [ ] All electrical loads — lights, fan, pitot heat .................. OFF [ ] Mixture — pull to idle cut-off when engine is ready for shutdown; allow engine to stop cleanly ... IDLE CUT-OFF; ENGINE STOPPED [ ] Throttle — after engine stops ......................... CLOSED / IDLE [ ] Ignition switch ................................................. OFF [ ] Battery master switch ........................................... OFF [ ] Fuel selector ........................... OFF or per owner's practice [ ] Control lock — install to protect flight controls ......... INSTALLED [ ] Tie-downs — secure both wings and nose/tail per airport requirements ... SECURED [ ] Pitot tube cover .......................................... INSTALLED [ ] Aircraft — log squawks; complete maintenance release if required; record Hobbs and tach time ... COMPLETED