| Tie-downs / Chocks / Covers | REMOVED |
|---|---|
| Fuel Quantity | CHECK VISUALLY (Drain samples from both wings, 50 gal total, 48 gal usable standard; 72 gal with tip tanks) |
| Fuel Caps | SECURED |
| Oil Level | CHECK (8 quarts, min 5 quarts, max 12 quarts) |
| Oil Cap / Dipstick | SECURED |
| Landing Gear | DOWN & VISUAL CHECK (Struts properly inflated, tires 24 psi mains, 36 psi nose) |
| Gear Doors | CHECK (No damage, secure, no hydraulic leaks) |
| Control Surfaces | FREE & CORRECT (Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder, Flaps, Trim tabs) |
| Pitot Tube Cover | REMOVED |
| Static Ports | CLEAR |
| Tires / Brakes | CHECK (Condition / Inflation, tread depth > 1/16") |
| Propeller | CHECK (No nicks, secure, spinner secure) |
| Exhaust System | VISUAL CHECK (No cracks, secure mounting) |
| Master Switch | OFF during walk-around |
| Parking Brake | SET |
|---|---|
| Battery / Alternator | OFF |
| Avionics Master | OFF |
| Mixture | IDLE CUTOFF |
| Throttle | 1/2 INCH |
| Propeller Control | FULL FORWARD (High RPM) |
| Carb Heat | OFF |
| Fuel Selector | BOTH (Or fullest tank) |
| Fuel Pump | OFF |
| Gear Lever | DOWN (Verify 3 green lights during battery check) |
| Flaps | UP |
| Trim | TAKEOFF (Neutral or 2 divisions nose up) |
| Cowl Flaps | OPEN (For ground ops) |
| Circuit Breakers | IN |
| Seat / Rudder Pedals | ADJUSTED & LOCKED |
| Shoulder Harnesses | CHECK (Properly stowed) |
| Area | CLEAR (Prop area, shout "Clear!") |
|---|---|
| Master Switch | ON (Check gear lights: 3 green) |
| Fuel Pump | ON (Prime: Cold engine 4-6 seconds, Hot engine 1-2 seconds) |
| Mixture | RICH |
| Throttle | 1/4 INCH |
| Ignition | START (Release at 800-1000 RPM, avoid continuous cranking > 30 sec) |
| Oil Pressure | CHECK (Within 30 seconds, 25-100 psi, green arc 60-90 psi) |
| Fuel Pump | OFF after start confirmed |
| Alternator | ON / CHECK (Ammeter shows charge, low voltage light out) |
| Engine Gauges | MONITOR (CHT 150-400°F, Oil Temp 100-245°F) |
| Location | RUN-UP AREA (Pointed into wind, 50 ft clear of obstructions) |
|---|---|
| Parking Brake | SET |
| Flight Controls | FREE & CORRECT (Full deflection each direction) |
| Engine Instruments | CHECK GREEN (Oil pressure 60-90 psi, Oil temp rising into green) |
| Propeller Control | CYCLE (2300 RPM to 2000 RPM, check smooth RPM drop and recovery) |
| Magnetos | CHECK (BOTH → L → BOTH → R → BOTH) Max drop: 175 RPM Difference L/R: < 50 RPM No mag drop on BOTH |
| Carb Heat | CHECK (ON: expect 75-125 RPM drop, then OFF) |
| Vacuum System | CHECK (4.5-5.5 inHg for primary instruments) |
| Amps / Volts | CHECK (Ammeter charging +10 to +60 amps, voltmeter 13.5-14.5V) |
| Fuel Flow | CHECK (Steady, no fluctuations at run-up RPM) |
| Gear System | CHECK (Warning horn when throttle reduced to idle with gear up) |
| Flaps | OPERATE (Cycle to 25° and retract, check indicator) |
| Autopilot (if equipped) | TEST (Turn on, verify disengage functions) |
| Stall Warning | TEST (Should sound at flaps 0°, approx 65 KIAS) |
| Throttle | 1000–1200 RPM (After checks) |
| Parking Brake | RELEASED |
|---|---|
| Flight Controls | FREE & CORRECT (Final check before entering runway) |
| Fuel Selector | BOTH |
| Fuel Pump | ON (For takeoff and landing) |
| Mixture | FULL RICH (Below 3000 ft density altitude) |
| Propeller | FULL FORWARD (High RPM, 2700) |
| Carb Heat | OFF |
| Flaps | AS DESIRED (0° normal, 25° short/soft field) With flaps 25°: Rotate 5 KIAS slower, climb at 75 KIAS gear down |
| Trim | TAKEOFF (2 divisions nose up from cruise) |
| Cowl Flaps | OPEN (For takeoff and climb) |
| Avionics / Radios | SET (COM/NAV frequencies, transponder ALT, autopilot OFF) |
| Altimeter | SET (To current altimeter setting) |
| Directional Gyro | SET (To magnetic compass, corrected for turning errors) |
| Clock | START (Note takeoff time) |
| Doors / Windows | CLOSED & LATCHED |
| Briefing | TAKEOFF / DEPARTURE / EMERGENCY Normal climb: 88 KIAS, Engine failure: Best glide 85 KIAS, Land straight ahead below 500' |
| Area | CLEAR (Final runway check left and right) |
|---|---|
| Throttle | FULL (Smoothly, monitor RPM: 2700, MP: 27-28" at sea level) |
| Engine Instruments | MONITOR (Oil pressure 60-90 psi, CHT rising but < 400°F) |
| Airspeed | ALIVE at 40 KIAS, rotate at 65-75 KIAS (flaps 0°) |
| Lift-off | ESTABLISH POSITIVE RATE |
| Gear | UP (Positive rate, 300-500 ft AGL, < 87 KIAS) |
| Vy (Best Rate) | 88 KIAS (Gear up, flaps up) |
| Vx (Best Angle) | 73 KIAS (Gear up, flaps up) |
| Climb Power | 25" MP / 2500 RPM (75% power below 5000 ft) |
| Gear | UP & VERIFIED (3 green lights out, gear handle UP) |
|---|---|
| Flaps | UP (If used, retract at safe altitude and airspeed) |
| Fuel Pump | OFF (Above 500 ft AGL, positive rate established) |
| Climb Power | 25" MP / 2500 RPM (75% power up to 5000 ft) MP decreases approx 1" per 1000 ft altitude gain |
| Climb Speed | 88 KIAS (Vy) or 100 KIAS (cruise climb) Cruise climb reduces noise and improves visibility |
| Mixture | LEAN (Above 3000 ft for smooth operation) Enrich if roughness occurs |
| Cowl Flaps | AS REQUIRED (Adjust to maintain CHT 300-380°F) |
| Engine Gauges | MONITOR (CHT ≤ 400°F, Oil Temp ≤ 245°F, Oil pressure 60-90 psi) |
| Power Check | AT CRUISE ALTITUDE (Set cruise power, then lean) |
| Power Setting | 24" MP / 2400 RPM (65% power at 8000 ft) 23" MP / 2300 RPM for 55% power (economy cruise) |
|---|---|
| Mixture | LEAN Best power: 100°F rich of peak EGT Best economy: 50°F lean of peak EGT Always monitor for smooth operation |
| Cruise Speed | 130 KTAS (65% power at 8000 ft) 120 KTAS at 55% power |
| Fuel Flow | CHECK (10.5 GPH at 65% power, 9.0 GPH at 55% power) |
| Engine Gauges | MONITOR (CHT 300-380°F, Oil Temp 180-220°F ideal, Oil pressure 60-90 psi) |
| Cowl Flaps | ADJUST (As needed for cooling, usually partially closed in cruise) |
| Fuel Tanks | BALANCE (Switch tanks every 30 minutes if not using BOTH) |
| Performance Check | EVERY HOUR (Fuel remaining vs planned, groundspeed check, ETA update) |
| Power | REDUCE (15-18" MP, 2000-2200 RPM) |
|---|---|
| Mixture | ENRICH (Below 5000 ft MSL for smooth operation) |
| Carb Heat | AS REQUIRED (ON when RPM below green arc or in visible moisture) |
| Descent Speed | 120-140 KIAS (With 500-1000 FPM descent) Do not exceed 159 KIAS (Vne in smooth air) |
| Cowl Flaps | CLOSED (To prevent overcooling during descent) |
| Engine Cooling | MONITOR (Keep CHT > 250°F during descent to prevent shock cooling) Limit CHT decrease to < 50°F per minute |
| Fuel Pump | ON (Below 3000 ft AGL or when power < 15") |
| Gear Speed | 140 KIAS MAX (Do not extend gear above this speed) |
| Before Landing Check | START (When within 10 NM of destination or 3000 ft AGL) |
| Fuel Selector | BOTH (Or fullest tank) |
|---|---|
| Fuel Pump | ON (Below 3000 ft AGL) |
| Mixture | FULL RICH (Below 3000 ft MSL) |
| Propeller | FULL FORWARD (High RPM) |
| Carb Heat | ON (Below green arc, typically < 2000 RPM) |
| Gear | DOWN (Below 140 KIAS, verify 3 green lights) Gear warning horn will sound if throttle reduced with gear up |
| Gear Horn Check | VERIFY (Reduce throttle to idle briefly, horn should sound if gear not down) |
| Seat Belts | SECURED (All occupants) |
| Shoulder Harnesses | SECURED |
| Flaps | AS DESIRED 10° on downwind: +5 KIAS 25° on base: +0 KIAS 40° on final: -5 KIAS |
| Approach Speed | 75-85 KIAS Flaps 0°: 85 KIAS Flaps 25°: 80 KIAS Flaps 40°: 75 KIAS Add 1/2 gust factor |
| Trim | SET for approach speed |
| Cowl Flaps | OPEN (For landing) |
| Landing Light | ON (If equipped, below 10,000 ft and within 10 NM of airport) |
| Final Approach | 75 KIAS (With full flaps, adjust for conditions) |
|---|---|
| Threshold Crossing | 70 KIAS (50 ft over threshold) |
| Flare | GENTLY (Power to idle at 10-20 ft, gradual back pressure) |
| Touchdown | MAIN WHEELS FIRST (Airspeed 60-65 KIAS) |
| After Touchdown | NOSE WHEEL DOWN (Gently, after aerodynamic braking) Hold full back pressure during rollout |
| Flaps | UP (After clearing runway, improves braking) |
| Carb Heat | OFF |
| Braking | AS REQUIRED (Differential braking for steering) |
| Flaps | UP |
|---|---|
| Transponder | STANDBY |
| Landing Light | OFF (If equipped) |
| Fuel Pump | OFF (Unless low fuel or rough ground) |
| Cowl Flaps | OPEN (For ground cooling) |
| Mixture | LEAN for taxi if needed (Above 2000 ft density altitude) |
| Engine Gauges | MONITOR (During taxi) |
| Taxi Speed | WALKING PACE (Prop blast consideration) |
| Parking | INTO WIND (If possible) |
| Parking Brake | SET |
|---|---|
| Avionics / Radios | OFF |
| Fuel Pump | OFF |
| Mixture | IDLE CUTOFF (Smoothly pull to full lean) |
| Ignition | OFF (After engine stops) |
| Master Switch | OFF |
| Cowl Flaps | CLOSED |
| Control Lock | INSTALL (If available) |
| Control Lock | INSTALL (Prevents wind damage) |
|---|---|
| Pitot Cover | INSTALL |
| Static Port Covers | INSTALL (If available) |
| Tie-downs | SECURED (3-point minimum: nose, each wing) |
| Chocks | INSTALLED (Front of main wheels) |
| Fuel Selector | OFF |
| Baggage / Documents | REMOVED |
| Door | LOCKED |
| Logbook Entry | COMPLETE (Hobbs/Tach times, discrepancies) |