Checklists for Ultralight and Sport Planes
By: John W. Davis, BFI
1. People and the Weather Check ~ Yourself and your passenger.Be sure you have had plenty of sleep, that you are not overly tired, and that you have not taken any type of medication that will make you sleepy or drowsy. And, be sure you have not had ANY ALCOHOL within the previous 8 hours. Check ~ Your attitude.You should be calm and not angry, sad, depressed nor letting anything come between you and flying safely. Check ~ Your clothing.Make sure that your clothing is suitable for flight. Make sure there is nothing sharp in your pockets or in the cockpit that will cause damage or injury in case of an emergency landing. Check ~ The weather.Check and make sure the wind is not blowing more than 20 mph and not gusting. The wind should be less for a low-time pilot. Make sure there will be good visibility during the flight. Check the forecast and verify that the weather is conducive to flying. You can do this by calling 1-800-WXBRIEF, which is 1-800-992-7433. 2. The Walk-around Inspection Now as far as the walk-around inspection is concerned, you can do this any way you like, but just make sure that you always end up back at the starting point and that everything was checked in the process. In this, we will start at the nose of the airplane. Starting at the Nose . . . Check the PITOT TUBE and remove the cover, making sure that it is not stopped up and that it is in good working order. Check the NOSE WHEEL for proper inflation and condition; inspect all hardware and wheel pants if installed. Check the IGNITION AND MASTER SWITCH to make sure they are in the OFF position. Check all CONTROL STICKS, RUDDER PEDALS, and BRAKES for proper operation. Inspect all hardware. Check to see that all SEATS and HARNESSES are properly secured. Check all THROTTLE LEVERS and PRIMERS making sure they are working properly. Check the COCKPIT AREA, making sure nothing is loose that could be blown out and into the prop. Check the ROOT TUBE, making sure it is not bent and that all the things attached to it are secure, for example, the BRS, antennas, and so forth. Check the WINDSHIELD, making sure it is secure, clean, and that no cracks are present.Wing, port (left) side Check the LEADING EDGE for bends or dents, and check the fabric integrity. Inspect all the ribs, root tube connections, and all connecting hardware. Check the main and jury STRUTS, the connections, and the hardware on the wings and also at the fuselage. Check the AILERON control surface and all hinges and gap seals. Also check the connecting rods, horn, and bell crank. Check the left main WHEEL for proper inflation and condition. Check the gear leg and all connecting hardware and support wires. Also, check the braking system, wheel pants, and all hardware items. Engine Area Check the MUFFLER and inspect all attachment points, mounting hardware, springs, and safety wire. Make sure there are no cracks in the exhaust system. Check the LEADING EDGE of the propeller, its surface, and all mounting hardware. Rotate the prop 2 or 3 times and listen for any abnormal sounds. At this time, take the end of the prop and gently push it in and out, checking that the drive bearing is in good condition. Check the FAN BELT, making sure that it is tight, and check to see that no fan blades are missing or cracked. Check the condition of the drive COG BELT and make sure that it is not too loose or too tight. If you can barely move the belt on the top cog, it should about right. There should be no more that a 1/4 inch deflection on the muffler side when a moderate force is applied to the flat side of the belt. Check the ENGINE MOUNTS and make sure that all 6 rubber mounts are secure and not loose. Check the 2 MOUNTING PLATE BOLTS and make sure they are tight and secure. Check all the FUEL LINES, WIRES, and SPARKPLUG CAPS. Make sure there are no fuel leaks and that all is secure and properly fastened. Check the CARBURETORS and FUEL FILTERS, making sure they are secure and clean. Check the CARBURETOR BOOTS for cracks. Check the FUEL PUMP to see that it is secure and that there are no leaks. Check the STARTER (if installed) and all electrical connections. Check the PULL ROPE and make sure it is working properly. Tail Section Check the DORSAL FIN and make sure the fabric and all hardware is secure. Check the STABILIZERS by inspecting all tubes, hardware, and fabric, making sure everything is secure. Check the RUDDER by inspecting all tubes, fabric, hinges, cables, and horns. Check the ELEVATORS by inspecting all tubes, fabric, hinges, connecting rods, and horns. Check the TAIL WHEEL, making sure everything is in order. Wing, starboard (right) side Check the LEADING EDGE for bends or dents, and check the fabric integrity. Inspect all the ribs, root tube connections, and all connecting hardware. Check the main and jury STRUTS, the connections, and the hardware on the wings and also at the fuselage. Check the MAIN WHEEL for proper inflation and condition. Check the gear leg and all connecting hardware and support wires. Also, check the braking system, wheel pants, and all hardware items. Check the AILERON control surface and all hinges and gap seals. Also check the connecting rods, horn, and bell crank. And this brings us back to the nose of the plane, where we started. 3. Engine Start-up Checklist Check the FUEL SUPPLY by looking in the tank and confirm by checking the fuel gauge. Check all HARNESSES and make sure all are locked and properly tightened. Check the cockpit for LOOSE ITEMS. Check THROTTLE SETTING by setting to idle. If the engine is cold, prime it 2 or 3 times, or use the choke (enrichener) as appropriate. Check the AREA around the prop and the aircraft making sure no one is near the prop. Check to see that no objects are around that can be blown about by the prop blast. Look very carefully, and then yell "CLEAR PROP." Check that the MASTER SWITCH is ON and turn the ignition switch to START the engine, using the primer as needed. Check that, once the engine has started (if this is a Rotax), that you SET THE THROTTLE to approximately 2500 to 2800 RPM for around 5 minutes or so to properly warm the engine to around 200/225 degrees before attempting to take off. Check that all landing LIGHTS, STROBES, and AVIONICS are turned ON. Check HEADSETS and HELMETS to see that they are properly fitting and working properly. 4. Before-Takeoff Checklist Check HEADSETS, HELMETS, and HARNESSES to see that all are properly secure and tight. Check that the RADIOS and GPS are on the proper frequencies and channels. Check the FUEL SUPPLY again. Check that your landing and strobe LIGHTS are on. Check that your engine temperatures, EGTs and CHTs, are at the proper operating temperature. Check that you have your ALTIMETER set for the current airport altitude. Check that your TACHOMETER is working properly. Check that all FLIGHT CONTROLS are working by visually confirming that the control surfaces move in the proper direction. This is to include AILERONS, RUDDER, and ELEVATORS. Note: Only check the rudder while taxiing. Check MAGNETOS for proper operation. Check that the engine will reach FULL TAKE-OFF RPM. (This is called a run up.) Check the WINDSOCK for wind direction. Check in all directions looking for OTHER AIRCRAFT, and at this time, ANNOUNCE your intentions over the RADIO. Check that all is clear and TAXI onto the ACTIVE runway, checking the brakes and rudder while taxiing. Check that the runway and surrounding area is CLEAR and apply full throttle for take off. Check that you are maintaining the proper take-off and climb SPEEDS. Keep watching all the GAUGES as you climb out and leave the pattern. 5. Before-Landing Checklist Check all HEADSETS, HELMETS, AND HARNESSES. Make sure they are secure and tight. Check and verify that NO LOOSE ITEMS are in the cockpit. Check that all STROBES and LANDING LIGHTS are ON. Check the area for OTHER AIRCRAFT. Use your RADIO to announce that you intend to land. Check the WIND DIRECTION and choose the appropriate runway. Check altitude for the proper TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE. Check AIRSPEED and verify that the proper AIRSPEED is being maintained throughout the final approach. 6. Checklist for Securing the Aircraft Check all SWITCHES to see that they are turned OFF. Check and make sure that both wings and the tail are TIED DOWN. Check the AREA around your aircraft, making sure nothing will damage your plane in case the wind gets up. Check and make sure that you have removed all your VALUABLES from the aircraft, radios, GPS, and such. Check and make sure the PITOT TUBE COVER is back in place. And as you walk away, look behind one last time to see that all is in order. John W. Davis
|