# Piper PA-44-180 Seminole — 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 Piper PA-44-180 Seminole twin-engine trainer. Covers preflight walk-around through shutdown and securing. The Seminole has counter-rotating propellers (left engine standard rotation, right engine opposite rotation), which eliminates the critical engine problem. Each engine has an independent fuel system with its own selector; confirm selectors are on the correct tank before every phase. Both engines have Lycoming O-360 carbureted piston engines — carburetor heat is available and should be used per the POH. Gear is retractable; know the emergency extension procedure before flight. All airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities, manifold pressure values, and performance limits must come from the specific aircraft POH. Not a substitute for dual instruction or a multi-engine checkout with a qualified instructor.

> **safety_defect**: Contains no airspeeds, power settings, fuel quantities, or other numerical limitations — all must come from the specific aircraft POH.
> **content_gap**: Equipment and avionics vary across PA-44-180 airframes. Verify every item against the specific aircraft and its POH before use.

## Preflight Walk-Around

- [ ] Aircraft documents (ARROW) — **ON BOARD AND CURRENT**
- [ ] Weight and balance — computed for actual payload and fuel load — **WITHIN LIMITS PER POH**
- [ ] Weather briefing and NOTAMs — **OBTAINED; FLIGHT PLANNING COMPLETE**
- [ ] Left fuel quantity — visually confirm tank level through filler port; compare with gauge — **QUANTITY CONFIRMED; ADEQUATE WITH RESERVES PER POH**
- [ ] Left fuel filler cap — **SECURED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Left fuel sump drains — sample fuel at sump and wing root — **CLEAR, CORRECT GRADE, NO WATER OR SEDIMENT**
- [ ] Left engine oil level — check dipstick and secure cap — **WITHIN OPERATING RANGE PER POH; CAP SECURE**
- [ ] Left engine compartment — oil lines, fuel lines, hoses, wiring, and induction system — **NO LEAKS, CHAFING, OR LOOSE CONNECTIONS**
- [ ] Left engine exhaust stacks and heat shroud — **NO CRACKS, CARBON DEPOSITS, OR LOOSE HARDWARE**
- [ ] Left cowling and access panels — **CLOSED AND ALL FASTENERS SECURED**
- [ ] Left propeller — blades for nicks, cracks, erosion, and oil on leading face — **SERVICEABLE; NO DAMAGE OR OIL LEAKAGE**
- [ ] Left propeller spinner and back plate — **SECURE; NO CRACKS OR LOOSE FASTENERS**
- [ ] Left main gear — strut inflation, tire condition and inflation, brake assembly, and gear door — **STRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; BRAKES ADEQUATE; DOOR UNDAMAGED**
- [ ] Left main gear torque links, oleo, and down-lock — **SECURE; NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Left wing leading edge and skin — dings, deformation, fuel staining — **NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Left aileron — hinges, control rod end, balance weight, and travel — **SECURE; FULL AND FREE MOVEMENT**
- [ ] Left flap — hinge pins, actuator arm, and condition — **SECURE; NO DAMAGE**
- [ ] Left wingtip — navigation light and strobe lens — **UNDAMAGED; LENS INTACT**
- [ ] Nose area — nose gear strut, tire, torque links, shimmy damper, and gear door — **STRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; HARDWARE SECURE**
- [ ] Pitot tube — cover removed and inlet clear — **COVER REMOVED; UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Static ports — both sides of fuselage clear — **UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Fuselage skin, antennas, and cabin door seals — **NO DAMAGE; ANTENNAS SECURE; SEALS INTACT**
- [ ] Horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and trim tab — both sides — **UNDAMAGED; HINGES SECURE; NO EXCESSIVE PLAY**
- [ ] Vertical stabilizer and rudder — hinges and travel — **UNDAMAGED; FREE AND FULL MOVEMENT**
- [ ] Tail beacon and position light — **LENS INTACT; SECURE**
- [ ] ELT — armed switch and antenna connection — **ARMED; ANTENNA CONNECTED**
- [ ] Right wing — leading edge, skin, aileron, flap, tip light, and fuel cap — **UNDAMAGED; CONTROLS FREE; CAP LOCKED**
- [ ] Right fuel sump — sample at wing root and sump — **CLEAR, CORRECT GRADE, NO CONTAMINATION**
- [ ] Right fuel quantity — visual check at filler port — **QUANTITY CONFIRMED; ADEQUATE WITH RESERVES PER POH**
- [ ] Right main gear — strut, tire, brakes, and gear door — **STRUT NORMAL; TIRE SERVICEABLE; BRAKES ADEQUATE; DOOR UNDAMAGED**
- [ ] Right engine oil, cowling, propeller, exhaust, and engine compartment — **OIL IN RANGE; ALL SECURE; PROPELLER SERVICEABLE; NO LEAKS**
- [ ] Chocks, tiedowns, and external control locks — **ALL REMOVED**

## Cockpit Preparation / Before Start

- [ ] Seats and rudder pedals — adjusted for both occupants — **ADJUSTED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — **FASTENED AND ADJUSTED**
- [ ] Baggage door and cabin doors — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Flight controls — aileron, elevator, and rudder for full and free movement — **CORRECT AND FREE**
- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Fuel selectors — left engine to left tank, right engine to right tank — **LEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT**
- [ ] Fuel shutoff valves — both engines — **OPEN**
- [ ] Mixture controls — both engines — **RICH**
- [ ] Propeller controls — both engines — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Throttles — both engines — **CLOSED**
- [ ] Master switch (battery) — **ON**
- [ ] Fuel quantity gauges — both sides — **CHECKED; CONSISTENT WITH VISUAL INSPECTION**
- [ ] Avionics master — **OFF (before engine start)**
- [ ] Circuit breakers — all positions — **IN AND SECURE**
- [ ] Exterior lights — as needed — **SET**
- [ ] Primer — left and right engines — **PRIMED AS REQUIRED PER POH; LOCKED**

## Engine Start

> **WARNING:** Confirm area is clear of personnel and obstacles before energizing the starter. Shout 'CLEAR PROP' on both sides before starting each engine.
- [ ] Brakes — **HELD**
- [ ] Area — visually clear before each engine start — **CLEAR**
- [ ] Left throttle — cracked open per POH — **SET**
- [ ] Left ignition switch — **START; RELEASE WHEN ENGINE FIRES**
- [ ] Left engine — oil pressure rise within time limit per POH — **PRESSURE RISING**
- [ ] Left engine — idle stabilized; check for unusual noise or vibration — **RUNNING SMOOTHLY**
- [ ] Right throttle — cracked open per POH — **SET**
- [ ] Right ignition switch — **START; RELEASE WHEN ENGINE FIRES**
- [ ] Right engine — oil pressure rise within time limit per POH — **PRESSURE RISING**
- [ ] Right engine — idle stabilized; check for unusual noise or vibration — **RUNNING SMOOTHLY**
- [ ] Avionics master — **ON**
- [ ] Radios and navigation equipment — **ON; FREQUENCIES SET**
- [ ] Alternators — both engines, charge indicators — **CHARGING**

## After Start / Before Taxi

- [ ] Oil pressure — both engines — **IN GREEN ARC**
- [ ] Oil temperature — both engines — **MONITORING; APPROACHING OPERATING RANGE**
- [ ] Alternator output — both engines — **CHECKED; CHARGING NORMALLY**
- [ ] Suction gauge (vacuum) — **IN GREEN ARC PER POH**
- [ ] Fuel quantity — both engines confirmed — **CHECKED**
- [ ] Transponder — **SET; ALT MODE**
- [ ] ATIS/weather — obtained for departure airport — **OBTAINED**
- [ ] Taxi clearance — **RECEIVED**
- [ ] Parking brake — **RELEASED**

## Run-Up / Before Takeoff

- [ ] Brakes — **SET AND HOLDING**
- [ ] Flight controls — final check for correct and free movement — **CORRECT AND FREE**
- [ ] Trim — elevator set for takeoff — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Flaps — takeoff position — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Fuel selectors — both engines on respective tanks — **LEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT; CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Fuel shutoff valves — both engines — **OPEN**
- [ ] Mixture controls — both engines — **RICH (or adjusted for density altitude per POH)**
- [ ] Propeller controls — both engines, full forward — **FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Left engine run-up — advance throttle to run-up RPM per POH — **RPM STABLE**
- [ ] Left magneto check — select LEFT, note RPM drop; select RIGHT, note drop; return to BOTH — **DROPS WITHIN LIMITS PER POH; NO ROUGHNESS**
- [ ] Left propeller cycle — advance to full forward, reduce RPM per POH, observe RPM drop, advance back to full forward — **RPM DROP NOTED; RETURNED TO FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Left carburetor heat — apply heat, observe slight RPM drop and possible smoothing; return to COLD — **DROP NOTED; RETURNED TO COLD**
- [ ] Left engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel pressure, manifold pressure — **ALL IN GREEN ARCS PER POH**
- [ ] Left throttle — return to idle — **IDLE**
- [ ] Right engine run-up — advance throttle to run-up RPM per POH — **RPM STABLE**
- [ ] Right magneto check — LEFT, RIGHT, BOTH — **DROPS WITHIN LIMITS PER POH; NO ROUGHNESS**
- [ ] Right propeller cycle — full forward, reduce RPM, observe drop, advance back to full forward — **RPM DROP NOTED; RETURNED TO FULL FORWARD**
- [ ] Right carburetor heat — apply and check, return to COLD — **DROP NOTED; RETURNED TO COLD**
- [ ] Right engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel pressure, manifold pressure — **ALL IN GREEN ARCS PER POH**
- [ ] Right throttle — return to idle — **IDLE**
- [ ] Gear handle — **DOWN AND LOCKED; THREE GREEN LIGHTS**
- [ ] Doors and windows — **CLOSED AND LATCHED**
- [ ] Instruments — gyros erect, altimeter set, heading indicator aligned with compass — **SET AND CHECKED**
- [ ] Lights — strobes and landing light as required — **ON**
- [ ] Engine-out procedures and Vyse — briefed — **BRIEFED PER POH**
- [ ] Takeoff clearance — **RECEIVED OR AREA CLEAR**

## Takeoff

- [ ] Throttles — advance together smoothly to full power — **FULL POWER; BOTH ENGINES CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Engine gauges — scan both engines during takeoff roll — **POWER EQUAL; ALL GAUGES GREEN**
- [ ] Directional control — maintain runway centerline with rudder — **TRACKING CENTERLINE**
- [ ] Rotate — lift nosewheel at rotation speed per POH — **ROTATE PER POH**
- [ ] Positive rate of climb — verify on VSI and altimeter — **POSITIVE RATE CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Landing gear — retract — **GEAR UP; NO RED LIGHTS**
- [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or as directed by departure procedure — **ESTABLISHED PER POH**
- [ ] Flaps — retract at safe altitude and speed per POH — **RETRACTED PER POH**

## Climb

- [ ] Airspeed — establish climb speed per POH — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Power — reduce from takeoff power to climb power per POH; both engines — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Propeller controls — reduce to climb RPM per POH — **SET PER POH**
- [ ] Mixture — adjust for altitude per POH — **ADJUSTED PER POH**
- [ ] Engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temp, CHT, fuel pressure, both engines — **ALL IN GREEN ARCS**
- [ ] Alternator output — both engines — **CHARGING NORMALLY**
- [ ] Gear — verify up and lights extinguished — **GEAR UP; NO RED LIGHTS**
- [ ] Fuel selectors — confirm both engines on correct tanks — **LEFT ON LEFT; RIGHT ON RIGHT**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — consider application in conditions conducive to icing per POH — **AS REQUIRED**

## Cruise

- [ ] Power — set cruise power for both engines per POH; match manifold pressure and RPM — **SET PER POH; ENGINES SYNCHRONIZED**
- [ ] Mixture — lean for cruise altitude per POH — **LEANED PER POH**
- [ ] Engine gauges — oil pressure, oil temperature, CHT, EGT, fuel pressure; both engines — **ALL IN GREEN ARCS PER POH**
- [ ] Fuel quantities — both tanks; monitor for crossfeed if applicable per POH — **MONITORED; BALANCED PER POH**
- [ ] Trim — aircraft trimmed for hands-off level flight — **TRIMMED**
- [ ] Alternators — both engines producing; electrical loads balanced — **CHARGING; LOAD BALANCED**
- [ ] Vacuum — in operating range — **IN GREEN ARC**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply as required for icing conditions per POH — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Fuel burn check — confirm consumption rate consistent with planning — **CHECKED**

## Descent

- [ ] ATIS/AWOS — obtain destination weather — **OBTAINED; ALTIMETER SET**
- [ ] Fuel quantities — both tanks sufficient for approach and alternate if required — **CHECKED; ADEQUATE**
- [ ] Fuel selectors — both engines on correct respective tanks — **CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Mixture — enrich as altitude decreases per POH — **ENRICHED PER POH**
- [ ] Power — reduce gradually; avoid shock-cooling by monitoring CHT — **REDUCED PER POH; CHT MONITORED**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply when reducing power in descent; monitor for icing — **APPLIED AS REQUIRED PER POH**
- [ ] Engine gauges — both engines; confirm all parameters normal in reduced-power descent — **ALL IN NORMAL RANGE**
- [ ] Approach briefing — runway, pattern altitude, landing configuration, abort point — **BRIEFED**

## Before Landing (GUMPS)

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

## Gear Check — Three Greens Confirmed

*Retractable gear — perform before each landing*

- [ ] Gear selector handle — DOWN position — **DOWN**
- [ ] Three green indicator lights — illuminated — **THREE GREEN**
- [ ] Gear position light — no red warning lights illuminated — **NO RED LIGHTS**
- [ ] Landing gear warning horn — test if equipped and conditions met per POH — **TESTED / SILENT AS APPROPRIATE**

## Landing

- [ ] Final approach — stabilized on centerline, glidepath, and airspeed by published gate — **STABLE APPROACH CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Threshold — aim point established; airspeed per POH — **VREF MAINTAINED**
- [ ] Flare — reduce power smoothly over the threshold to idle — **POWER TO IDLE IN FLARE**
- [ ] Touchdown — on main gear; track centerline with rudder — **SMOOTH TOUCHDOWN; CENTERLINE MAINTAINED**
- [ ] Nosewheel — lower smoothly after speed decreases — **LOWERED SMOOTHLY**
- [ ] Braking — apply as needed; avoid skidding — **APPLIED AS NEEDED**
- [ ] Flaps — retract after clear of runway — **RETRACTED AFTER CLEARING RUNWAY**

## Go-Around

- [ ] Throttles — both engines, advance smoothly to full power — **FULL POWER**
- [ ] Pitch — establish climb attitude per POH — **CLIMB ATTITUDE**
- [ ] Flaps — retract incrementally per POH; do not retract all at once close to the ground — **INCREMENTAL RETRACTION PER POH**
- [ ] Positive rate of climb — verify on VSI — **POSITIVE RATE CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Landing gear — retract once positive rate established — **GEAR UP**
- [ ] Airspeed — accelerate to Vy or climb speed per POH — **ESTABLISHED PER POH**
- [ ] ATC — advise of go-around — **NOTIFIED**

## After Landing

- [ ] Flaps — retract after clearing runway — **RETRACTED**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — both engines, return to COLD — **COLD**
- [ ] Landing light — off when clear of runway if no longer needed — **OFF OR AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Transponder — set to ground mode or as per local procedure — **SET**
- [ ] Fuel selectors — confirm both on respective tanks — **CONFIRMED**
- [ ] Taxi to parking — clear of active runway before performing checklist items — **CLEAR OF RUNWAY**

## Engine Shutdown

- [ ] Parking brake — **SET**
- [ ] Throttles — both engines to idle — **IDLE**
- [ ] Avionics master — **OFF**
- [ ] Allow engines to cool at idle — per POH idle time before shutdown — **COOLING PERIOD COMPLETE**
- [ ] Mixture — both engines, pull to IDLE CUTOFF simultaneously or in sequence per POH — **IDLE CUTOFF; BOTH ENGINES STOPPING**
- [ ] Ignition switches — both engines, OFF after engines stop — **OFF**
- [ ] Throttles — both engines, closed — **CLOSED**
- [ ] Fuel selectors — both engines — **OFF (or per POH / operator guidance)**
- [ ] Master switch — **OFF**

## Securing the Aircraft

- [ ] Control lock — **INSTALLED**
- [ ] Flaps — **RETRACTED**
- [ ] Pitot cover — **INSTALLED**
- [ ] Tiedowns — wing and tail — **SECURED**
- [ ] Wheel chocks — **IN PLACE**
- [ ] Fuel — fill tanks if appropriate to prevent moisture condensation overnight — **TOPPED OR PER OPERATOR PREFERENCE**
- [ ] Oil levels — check both engines while warm; top up as needed — **CHECKED; TOPPED AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Hobbs and tach times — record for both engines — **RECORDED IN LOGBOOK**
- [ ] Logbook — squawks or discrepancies noted — **RECORDED**
- [ ] Cabin doors and windows — **CLOSED AND LOCKED**

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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: c281bbeda9c881131907684e809227893cb3616123f6feb8604e0a5dec2d5492  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.