Aircraft Checklist: Preflight to Shutdown

Posted on Feb 16, 2025 in Commercial Aviation Pilot and Air Operations

Cockpit Preparation

Crew Setup

  • Briefing: Complete
  • Doors: Confirm closed and unlocked
  • Seat and Pedals: Adjust
  • Circuit Breakers: Check all in
  • Push Buttons: Check all off
  • Carburetor Heating: Off (Blue Zone)
  • Throttle: Idle
  • Propeller: Full Forward
  • Mixture: Full Rich
  • Pitch Trim: Check full travel and set for takeoff
  • Takeoff Briefing: Confirm
  • ATIS & Startup Clearance: Obtain
  • Taxi Briefing: Confirm

Before Engine Start

  • Parking Brake: Set and pump
  • Main Power Button: On
  • Gyroscope Light: On
  • Alternator Light: On
  • Fuel Selector Light: On
  • Parking Brake Light: On
  • Oil Pressure Light: On
  • Annunciator Panel: Test
  • Fuel Quantity: Check both gauges
  • Manifold Pressure: Check and memorize
  • Strobe Lights Push Button: On
  • Fuel Selector: Right
  • Headphones: Connect

Standard Engine Start

  • Propeller: Clear, announce “Clear Prop”
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: On
  • Annunciator Light: On
  • Fuel Pressure: Green Sector
  • Throttle: Prime and open 1/4
  • Magneto Selector: Switch to both and press to start (Max 10s)
  • Throttle: 1000 RPM
  • Oil Pressure: Green Sector

Caution: If no oil pressure indication after 30 seconds, shut down the engine.

Note: Do not start the engine more than six times, with a cooling period of 20 seconds for each attempt. Do not use the starter for more than 10 seconds per attempt. After trying six times, a cooling period of 30 minutes is required. Report the incidence to maintenance.

Hot or Overprimed Engine Start

  • Propeller: Clear and announce
  • Throttle: Full Forward
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: On
  • Annunciator Light: On
  • Fuel Pressure: Green Sector

Caution: If there is no oil pressure indication after 30 seconds, shut down the engine.

  • Mixture: Idle Cut Off
  • Magneto Selector: Switch to both and press to start
  • Mixture: Full Rich
  • Throttle: Idle and then adjust to 1000 RPM
  • Oil Pressure: Green Sector
  • Magneto Selector: Check both
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: Off
  • Annunciator Light: Off

Note: Do not try to start the engine more than six times, with a cooling period of 20 seconds. Do not use the starter for more than 10 seconds per attempt. After trying six times, a cooling period of 30 minutes is required. Report the incidence to maintenance.

After Engine Start

  • Alternator Push Button: On
  • Caution Light: Off
  • Voltmeter: Green Sector
  • Seatbelts and Shoulder Harnesses: Fastened
  • Airspeed Indicator and VSI: Set to zero
  • Attitude Indicator: Check and adjust
  • Heading Indicator: Adjust
  • Vacuum Gauge: Check
  • Radio Master Switch: On
  • Engine Instruments: Check
  • Communication and Radio Equipment: On and check
  • Transponder: Check and standby
  • Turn Coordinator Push Button: On
  • Indicator: Centered (Red flag out)
  • Navigation Lights Push Button: On
  • Pitot Heat Push Button: On
  • Voltmeter: Check deflection
  • Annunciator Light: On
  • Pitot Heat Push Button: Off
  • Annunciator Light: Off
  • Flaps: Gradually down (Check indicator and surfaces)
  • Flaps: Up
  • Taxi Clearance: Obtain
  • Altimeter: Set QNH
  • Operations Frequency: Report
  • Taxi Light Push Button: On
  • Annunciator Light: On

Taxi

  • Apron: Clear
  • Parking Brake: Release
  • Caution Light: Off
  • Throttle: 1000 RPM
  • Brakes: Check both
  • Attitude Indicator: Max bank 5º
  • Turn Coordinator: Check
  • Heading Indicator: Check
  • Compass: Free and no bubbles

Caution: If the oil temperature does not reach the Green Sector, avoid exceeding 1200 RPM during taxi.

Engine Run-Up

  • Doors: Closed and locked
  • Parking Brake: Set and pump
  • Caution Light: On
  • Taxi Light Push Button: Off
  • Annunciator Light: Off
  • Engine Instruments: Green Sector

Caution: Do not start the engine run-up until the oil temperature indicator is in the Green Sector.

  • Carburetor Heating: Off
  • Propeller: Full Forward
  • Mixture: Full Rich
  • Engine Controls Friction: Adjust
  • Fuel Selector: Left
  • Throttle: 2000 RPM

Propeller Check

  • Propeller (First flight x2): Cycle once (Max drop 500 RPM)
  • Propeller: Full Forward (2000 RPM)

Magneto Check

  • Magneto Selector: Left (Max drop 175 RPM)
  • Magneto Selector: Both (2000 RPM)
  • Magneto Selector: Right (Max drop 175 RPM)
  • Magneto Selector: Both (2000 RPM)
  • Max Difference Between Magnetos: 50 RPM

Caution: RPM should not decrease during the magneto check. If the test is invalid, return to the apron and document it in the daily maintenance record.

Carburetor Heating Check

  • Carburetor Heating: On (Red Zone)
  • RPM: Decrease
  • Carburetor Temperature: Increase
  • Carburetor Heating: Off (Blue Zone)
  • RPM: Increase
  • Carburetor Temperature: Decrease

Max Power Check

  • Throttle: Full Forward and check Manifold Pressure
  • Tachometer: 2700 RPM

Vacuum Check

  • Throttle: 2000 RPM
  • Vacuum Indicator: Green Sector
  • Throttle: Idle Check
  • Throttle: 1000 RPM
  • Departure Briefing: Confirm

Before Takeoff

  • Doors: Closed and locked
  • Seat Belts and Harnesses: Fastened
  • Altimeter: Within limits
  • Engine Instruments: Green Sector
  • Communication, Radio, and Transponder: Set up
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: On
  • Annunciator Light: On
  • Pitot Heat Push Button: As required
  • Flaps: Set for takeoff
  • Carburetor Heating: Off
  • Propeller: Full Forward
  • Mixture: Full Rich
  • Pitch Trim: Takeoff
  • Flight Controls: Free
  • Line Up for Takeoff Clearance: Receive
  • Parking Brake: Release
  • Caution Light: Off

Entering the Runway

  • Approach and Takeoff Area: Clear
  • Transponder: On (ALT Mode C)
  • Landing Lights: On

After Takeoff

  • Gear Lever: Up
  • Landing Light Push Button: As required
  • Flaps: Up
  • Climb Power: Set
  • Propeller: Set
  • Altimeters: Set
  • When Leaving the Aircraft Pattern: Fuel pump off

Climb

  • Fuel Pump: On
  • Mixture: Full Rich
  • Propeller and Throttle: Full Forward
  • Altimeter: Set and cross-check

Cruise

  • Throttle: Set
  • Propeller: Set
  • Mixture: Adjust
  • Engine Instruments and AC Systems: Check
  • Carburetor Heating: As required
  • Fuel Selector: Select
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: Off

Caution: Always use carburetor heating when flying in humid air, OAT +6/-15ºC, or when the carburetor temperature is in the yellow sector. When the fuel pressure indicator drops into the red arc, switch the fuel pump on.

Before Descent

  • Radio Contact: Established
  • Weather Information: Received
  • Descent Briefing: Confirmed
  • Carburetor Heating: As required
  • Mixture: As required
  • Fuel Selector: Selected

Approach

  • Altimeters: Set
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: On
  • Annunciator Light: On
  • Pitot Heat Push Button: As required
  • Landing Light Push Button: On
  • Mixture: Full Rich
  • Propeller: 2500 RPM
  • Carburetor Heating: As required
  • Fuel Selector: Select
  • Radio Contact: Established

Landing

  • Gear Lever: Down, 3 Green Lights
  • Landing Light: On
  • Flaps: Set for landing
  • Propeller: Full Forward
  • Carburetor Heating: Off
  • Clearance: Obtain

After Landing

Once on the runway vacated:

  • Throttle: 1000 RPM
  • Non-Essential Electrical Equipment: Off
  • Fuel Pump Push Button: Off
  • Turn Coordinator Push Button: Off
  • Pitot Heat Push Button: Off
  • Landing Light Push Button: Off
  • Flaps: Up
  • Pitch Trim: Neutral

Before Taxi

  • Taxi Clearance: Obtain
  • Taxi Light Push Button: On

Engine Shutdown

  • Parking Brake: Set
  • Throttle: 1000 RPM
  • Taxi and Navigation Lights Push Button: Off
  • Operations Frequency: Report
  • Avionics: Off
  • Radio Master Switch: Off
  • Mixture: Idle Cutoff

Once the propeller stops:

  • Strobe Lights: Off
  • Alternator Push Button: Off
  • Main Power Button: Off
  • Magneto Selector: Off
  • Fuel Selector: Off
  • Maintenance Status Book: Complete
  • Parking Brake: Release

Leaving the Aircraft

  • Pitot and Static Covers: In place
  • Personal Belongings: Check them out
  • Control Lock: Set
  • Doors: Close and lock
  • Chocks and Tiedown Tires: In place
  • Fuel Quantity: Check and report

Limitations

Airspeeds

  • Max Airspeed: 165 KTS
  • Max Structural Airspeed: 128 KTS
  • Normal Airspeed: 60-128 KTS
  • Max Airspeed Flaps: 95 KTS

Oil Temperature

  • Yellow Sector: 0-40ºC
  • Green Sector: 40-118ºC
  • Red: 118ºC or more

Oil Pressure

  • Yellow Sector: 25-60 PSI
  • Green: 60-90 PSI
  • Red: 100 PSI or more, or less than 25 PSI

Tachometer

  • Green Sector: 750-2000 RPM
  • Red Arc: 2000-2250 RPM
  • Green Arc: 2250-2700 RPM

Fuel Pressure

  • Red Sector: Max 0.5 PSI or below
  • Green Sector: Min 0.5 PSI or above

Cylinder Head Temperature

  • Green: 200º-435ºF
  • Yellow: 435º-500ºF
  • Red: 500ºF or above

Carburetor Temperature

  • Yellow Arc: -10ºC to +5ºC

Vacuum Gauge

  • Green Arc: 4.4 to 5.2 inches

Fuel

  • Type: AVGAS 100LL
  • Capacity: 210 L
  • Usable Fuel: 204 L