Piper PA-44-180 Seminole — Normal Operating Procedures

Preflight Walk-Around preflight_inspection

• Aircraft documents (ARROW)ON BOARD AND CURRENT
• Weight and balance — computed for actual payload and fuel loadWITHIN LIMITS PER POH
• Weather briefing and NOTAMsOBTAINED; FLIGHT PLANNING COMPLETE
• Left fuel quantity — visually confirm tank level through filler port; compare with gaugeQUANTITY CONFIRMED; ADEQUATE WITH RESERVES PER POH
• Left fuel filler capSECURED AND LOCKED
• Left fuel sump drains — sample fuel at sump and wing rootCLEAR, CORRECT GRADE, NO WATER OR SEDIMENT
• Left engine oil level — check dipstick and secure capWITHIN OPERATING RANGE PER POH; CAP SECURE
• Left engine compartment — oil lines, fuel lines, hoses, wiring, and induction systemNO LEAKS, CHAFING, OR LOOSE CONNECTIONS
• Left engine exhaust stacks and heat shroudNO CRACKS, CARBON DEPOSITS, OR LOOSE HARDWARE
• Left cowling and access panelsCLOSED AND ALL FASTENERS SECURED
• Left propeller — blades for nicks, cracks, erosion, and oil on leading faceSERVICEABLE; NO DAMAGE OR OIL LEAKAGE
• Left propeller spinner and back plateSECURE; NO CRACKS OR LOOSE FASTENERS
• Left main gear — strut inflation, tire condition and inflation, brake assembly, and gear doorSTRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; BRAKES ADEQUATE; DOOR UNDAMAGED
• Left main gear torque links, oleo, and down-lockSECURE; NO DAMAGE
• Left wing leading edge and skin — dings, deformation, fuel stainingNO DAMAGE
• Left aileron — hinges, control rod end, balance weight, and travelSECURE; FULL AND FREE MOVEMENT
• Left flap — hinge pins, actuator arm, and conditionSECURE; NO DAMAGE
• Left wingtip — navigation light and strobe lensUNDAMAGED; LENS INTACT
• Nose area — nose gear strut, tire, torque links, shimmy damper, and gear doorSTRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; HARDWARE SECURE
• Pitot tube — cover removed and inlet clearCOVER REMOVED; UNOBSTRUCTED
• Static ports — both sides of fuselage clearUNOBSTRUCTED
• Fuselage skin, antennas, and cabin door sealsNO DAMAGE; ANTENNAS SECURE; SEALS INTACT
• Horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and trim tab — both sidesUNDAMAGED; HINGES SECURE; NO EXCESSIVE PLAY
• Vertical stabilizer and rudder — hinges and travelUNDAMAGED; FREE AND FULL MOVEMENT
• Tail beacon and position lightLENS INTACT; SECURE
• ELT — armed switch and antenna connectionARMED; ANTENNA CONNECTED
• Right wing — leading edge, skin, aileron, flap, tip light, and fuel capUNDAMAGED; CONTROLS FREE; CAP LOCKED
• Right fuel sump — sample at wing root and sumpCLEAR, CORRECT GRADE, NO CONTAMINATION
• Right fuel quantity — visual check at filler portQUANTITY CONFIRMED; ADEQUATE WITH RESERVES PER POH
• Right main gear — strut, tire, brakes, and gear doorSTRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; BRAKES ADEQUATE; DOOR UNDAMAGED
• Right engine oil, cowling, propeller, exhaust, and engine compartmentOIL IN RANGE; ALL SECURE; PROPELLER SERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS
• Chocks, tiedowns, and external control locksALL REMOVED

Cockpit Preparation / Before Start before_start

• Seats and rudder pedals — adjusted for both occupantsADJUSTED AND LOCKED
• Seat belts and shoulder harnessesFASTENED AND ADJUSTED
• Baggage door and cabin doorsCLOSED AND LATCHED
• Flight controls — aileron, elevator, and rudder for full and free movementCORRECT AND FREE
• Parking brakeSET
• Fuel selectors — left engine to left tank, right engine to right tankLEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT
• Fuel shutoff valves — both enginesOPEN
• Mixture controls — both enginesRICH
• Propeller controls — both enginesFULL FORWARD
• Throttles — both enginesCLOSED
• Master switch (battery)ON
• Fuel quantity gauges — both sidesCHECKED; CONSISTENT WITH VISUAL INSPECTION
• Avionics masterOFF (before engine start)
• Circuit breakers — all positionsIN AND SECURE
• Exterior lights — as neededSET
• Primer — left and right enginesPRIMED AS REQUIRED PER POH; LOCKED

Engine Start engine_start

• WARNINGConfirm area is clear of personnel and obstacles before energizing the starter. Shout 'CLEAR PROP' on both sides before starting each engine.
• BrakesHELD
• Area — visually clear before each engine startCLEAR
• Left throttle — cracked open per POHSET
• Left ignition switchSTART; RELEASE WHEN ENGINE FIRES
• Left engine — oil pressure rise within time limit per POHPRESSURE RISING
• Left engine — idle stabilized; check for unusual noise or vibrationRUNNING SMOOTHLY
• Right throttle — cracked open per POHSET
• Right ignition switchSTART; RELEASE WHEN ENGINE FIRES
• Right engine — oil pressure rise within time limit per POHPRESSURE RISING
• Right engine — idle stabilized; check for unusual noise or vibrationRUNNING SMOOTHLY
• Avionics masterON
• Radios and navigation equipmentON; FREQUENCIES SET
• Alternators — both engines, charge indicatorsCHARGING

After Start / Before Taxi after_start

• Oil pressure — both enginesIN GREEN ARC
• Oil temperature — both enginesMONITORING; APPROACHING OPERATING RANGE
• Alternator output — both enginesCHECKED; CHARGING NORMALLY
• Suction gauge (vacuum)IN GREEN ARC PER POH
• Fuel quantity — both engines confirmedCHECKED
• TransponderSET; ALT MODE
• ATIS/weather — obtained for departure airportOBTAINED
• Taxi clearanceRECEIVED
• Parking brakeRELEASED

Run-Up / Before Takeoff before_takeoff

• BrakesSET AND HOLDING
• Flight controls — final check for correct and free movementCORRECT AND FREE
• Trim — elevator set for takeoffSET PER POH
• Flaps — takeoff positionSET PER POH
• Fuel selectors — both engines on respective tanksLEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT; CONFIRMED
• Fuel shutoff valves — both enginesOPEN
• Mixture controls — both enginesRICH (or adjusted for density altitude per POH)
• Propeller controls — both engines, full forwardFULL FORWARD
• Left engine run-up — advance throttle to run-up RPM per POHRPM STABLE
• Left magneto check — select LEFT, note RPM drop; select RIGHT, note drop; return to BOTHDROPS WITHIN LIMITS PER POH; NO ROUGHNESS
• Left propeller cycle — advance to full forward, reduce RPM per POH, observe RPM drop, advance back to full forwardRPM DROP NOTED; RETURNED TO FULL FORWARD
• Left carburetor heat — apply heat, observe slight RPM drop and possible smoothing; return to COLDDROP NOTED; RETURNED TO COLD
• Left engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel pressure, manifold pressureALL IN GREEN ARCS PER POH
• Left throttle — return to idleIDLE
• Right engine run-up — advance throttle to run-up RPM per POHRPM STABLE
• Right magneto check — LEFT, RIGHT, BOTHDROPS WITHIN LIMITS PER POH; NO ROUGHNESS
• Right propeller cycle — full forward, reduce RPM, observe drop, advance back to full forwardRPM DROP NOTED; RETURNED TO FULL FORWARD
• Right carburetor heat — apply and check, return to COLDDROP NOTED; RETURNED TO COLD
• Right engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel pressure, manifold pressureALL IN GREEN ARCS PER POH
• Right throttle — return to idleIDLE
• Gear handleDOWN AND LOCKED; THREE GREEN LIGHTS
• Doors and windowsCLOSED AND LATCHED
• Instruments — gyros erect, altimeter set, heading indicator aligned with compassSET AND CHECKED
• Lights — strobes and landing light as requiredON
• Engine-out procedures and Vyse — briefedBRIEFED PER POH
• Takeoff clearanceRECEIVED OR AREA CLEAR

Takeoff takeoff

• Throttles — advance together smoothly to full powerFULL POWER; BOTH ENGINES CONFIRMED
• Engine gauges — scan both engines during takeoff rollPOWER EQUAL; ALL GAUGES GREEN
• Directional control — maintain runway centerline with rudderTRACKING CENTERLINE
• Rotate — lift nosewheel at rotation speed per POHROTATE PER POH
• Positive rate of climb — verify on VSI and altimeterPOSITIVE RATE CONFIRMED
• Landing gear — retractGEAR UP; NO RED LIGHTS
• Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or as directed by departure procedureESTABLISHED PER POH
• Flaps — retract at safe altitude and speed per POHRETRACTED PER POH

Climb climb

• Airspeed — establish climb speed per POHSET PER POH
• Power — reduce from takeoff power to climb power per POH; both enginesSET PER POH
• Propeller controls — reduce to climb RPM per POHSET PER POH
• Mixture — adjust for altitude per POHADJUSTED PER POH
• Engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temp, CHT, fuel pressure, both enginesALL IN GREEN ARCS
• Alternator output — both enginesCHARGING NORMALLY
• Gear — verify up and lights extinguishedGEAR UP; NO RED LIGHTS
• Fuel selectors — confirm both engines on correct tanksLEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT
• Carburetor heat — consider application in conditions conducive to icing per POHAS REQUIRED

Cruise cruise

• Power — set cruise power for both engines per POH; match manifold pressure and RPMSET PER POH; ENGINES SYNCHRONIZED
• Mixture — lean for cruise altitude per POHLEANED PER POH
• Engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temperature, CHT, EGT, fuel pressure; both enginesALL IN GREEN ARCS PER POH
• Fuel quantities — both tanks; monitor for crossfeed if applicable per POHMONITORED; BALANCED PER POH
• Trim — aircraft trimmed for hands-off level flightTRIMMED
• Alternators — both engines producing; electrical loads balancedCHARGING; LOAD BALANCED
• Vacuum — in operating rangeIN GREEN ARC
• Carburetor heat — apply as required for icing conditions per POHAS REQUIRED
• Fuel burn check — confirm consumption rate consistent with planningCHECKED

Descent descent

• ATIS/AWOS — obtain destination weatherOBTAINED; ALTIMETER SET
• Fuel quantities — both tanks sufficient for approach and alternate if requiredCHECKED; ADEQUATE
• Fuel selectors — both engines on correct respective tanksCONFIRMED
• Mixture — enrich as altitude decreases per POHENRICHED PER POH
• Power — reduce gradually; avoid shock-cooling by monitoring CHTREDUCED PER POH; CHT MONITORED
• Carburetor heat — apply when reducing power in descent; monitor for icingAPPLIED AS REQUIRED PER POH
• Engine gauges — both engines; confirm all parameters normal in reduced-power descentALL IN NORMAL RANGE
• Approach briefing — runway, pattern altitude, landing configuration, abort pointBRIEFED

Before Landing (GUMPS) before_landing

• NOTEComplete the GUMPS check on downwind, base, and final.
• G — Gas: fuel selectors on correct respective tanks for each engine; shutoff valves openLEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT; VALVES OPEN
• U — Undercarriage: gear handle DOWN; three green lights; no red lightsGEAR DOWN AND LOCKED; THREE GREEN
• M — Mixture: both engines rich for landingBOTH RICH
• P — Propellers: both engines to full forward (high RPM) for go-around capabilityBOTH FULL FORWARD
• S — Seat belts and switches: belts on; landing light on; boost pumps on if required per POHBELTS FASTENED; LIGHT ON; PUMPS AS REQUIRED
• Flaps — set for landing approach per POHSET PER POH
• Airspeed — stabilize at approach speed per POH by finalSTABILIZED AT VREF PER POH
• Engine gauges — both engines; power sufficient for go-aroundCONFIRMED; POWER AVAILABLE

Gear Check — Three Greens Confirmed before_landing

Retractable gear — perform before each landing

• Gear selector handle — DOWN positionDOWN
• Three green indicator lights — illuminatedTHREE GREEN
• Gear position light — no red warning lights illuminatedNO RED LIGHTS
• Landing gear warning horn — test if equipped and conditions met per POHTESTED / SILENT AS APPROPRIATE

Landing landing

• Final approach — stabilized on centerline, glidepath, and airspeed by published gateSTABLE APPROACH CONFIRMED
• Threshold — aim point established; airspeed per POHVREF MAINTAINED
• Flare — reduce power smoothly over the threshold to idlePOWER TO IDLE IN FLARE
• Touchdown — on main gear; track centerline with rudderSMOOTH TOUCHDOWN; CENTERLINE MAINTAINED
• Nosewheel — lower smoothly after speed decreasesLOWERED SMOOTHLY
• Braking — apply as needed; avoid skiddingAPPLIED AS NEEDED
• Flaps — retract after clear of runwayRETRACTED AFTER CLEARING RUNWAY

Go-Around go_around

• Throttles — both engines, advance smoothly to full powerFULL POWER
• Pitch — establish climb attitude per POHCLIMB ATTITUDE
• Flaps — retract incrementally per POH; do not retract all at once close to the groundINCREMENTAL RETRACTION PER POH
• Positive rate of climb — verify on VSIPOSITIVE RATE CONFIRMED
• Landing gear — retract once positive rate establishedGEAR UP
• Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or climb speed per POHESTABLISHED PER POH
• ATC — advise of go-aroundNOTIFIED

After Landing after_landing

• Flaps — retract after clearing runwayRETRACTED
• Carburetor heat — both engines, return to COLDCOLD
• Landing light — off when clear of runway if no longer neededOFF OR AS REQUIRED
• Transponder — set to ground mode or as per local procedureSET
• Fuel selectors — confirm both on respective tanksCONFIRMED
• Taxi to parking — clear of active runway before performing checklist itemsCLEAR OF RUNWAY

Engine Shutdown shutdown

• Parking brakeSET
• Throttles — both engines to idleIDLE
• Avionics masterOFF
• Allow engines to cool at idle — per POH idle time before shutdownCOOLING PERIOD COMPLETE
• Mixture — both engines, pull to IDLE CUTOFF simultaneously or in sequence per POHIDLE CUTOFF; BOTH ENGINES STOPPING
• Ignition switches — both engines, OFF after engines stopOFF
• Throttles — both engines, closedCLOSED
• Fuel selectors — both enginesOFF (or per POH / operator guidance)
• Master switchOFF

Securing the Aircraft securing

• Control lockINSTALLED
• FlapsRETRACTED
• Pitot coverINSTALLED
• Tiedowns — wing and tailSECURED
• Wheel chocksIN PLACE
• Fuel — fill tanks if appropriate to prevent moisture condensation overnightTOPPED OR PER OPERATOR PREFERENCE
• Oil levels — check both engines while warm; top up as neededCHECKED; TOPPED AS REQUIRED
• Hobbs and tach times — record for both enginesRECORDED IN LOGBOOK
• Logbook — squawks or discrepancies notedRECORDED
• Cabin doors and windowsCLOSED AND LOCKED