Printable Checklist

[mkrakoff]

Hey all, I've been working on a suitable checklist for a while and I figured I'd upload them here. They are always evolving but I'm getting close to happy with them. I left them in a .odt format. It's an open source text format that should work in office and a number of other programs so you can customize it to fit your preferences. If the formatting isn't correct, I used Libreoffice to create it and can be downloaded for free. Currently set up to print in either a flip book (4x6) or two-sided single sheet format.  (edited to add pdf versions)

Checklist Single 1.0.odt Flip Book Checklist v1.3.odt

Checklist Single.pdf Flip Book Checklist v1.3.pdf

[PeteMc]

A couple of (nit picking) thoughts:

• Fuel Sumps: Drain or Checked or Fuel Ckd  (Did you drain the tank?? )
• Strobe Lights:  Strobe's On or Beacon On, assuming you have a Beacon.  I don't usually turn the Strobes on unless I'm taxiing across a runway or going onto one to depart.  (I also don't ever turn my Beacon off.  So if I forget the Master while updating, etc.  The Beacon will still be flashing when I get out of the plane.)
• Prop: Just as an FYI... I learned from Inst. and @ MAPA PPP to reduce the RPMs for the prop.  Better for the Prop & Governor not to do a full range test at high RPM.  I do the Mag check at the higher RPM, then reduce to about 1500 RPM for the Prop (min RPM where your plane still has full range on the prop).
• Shutdown: You could add a Mag Grounding Check.

[mkrakoff]

Thanks for the notes! No beacon for me so the strobes are my anti-collision lights. Of course if they are affecting safety I'll turn them off (ie. most ground ops at night, you're blinding ramp guys, etc). 

Interesting on the prop. I'll have to take that into consideration.

[Tom 4536]

27 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

Prop: Just as an FYI... I learned from Inst. and @ MAPA PPP to reduce the RPMs for the prop.  Better for the Prop & Governor not to do a full range test at high RPM.  I do the Mag check at the higher RPM, then reduce to about 1500 RPM for the Prop (min RPM where your plane still has full range on the prop).

This is the first time I have heard of using a reduced RPM for the prop test. I am curious what RPM other MS'ers are checking their prop at. Also how many times they are doing the check. Thank you.

[mkrakoff]

I've been doing my prop cycles at run-up rpm. I also will do as many as necessary to get a responsive cycling (sometimes that is 1 and sometimes 2).

[Hank]

Just now, mkrakoff said:

I've been doing my prop cycles at run-up rpm. I also will do as many as necessary to get a responsive cycling (sometimes that is 1 and sometimes 2).

Mr, too.

[MikeOH]

1700 rpm for 1 prop cycle.  I just want to prove the governor works to reduce rpm.  I suppose if it was REALLY slow in responding I might run another cycle, but that hasn't happened.

Another fan of a Mag Grounding check after EVERY flight.  I've been doing that for a couple of decades; never had a failure until about 6 weeks ago.  Turned the key to off and boy was I surprised when the engine kept right on idling

It ended up being a frayed shield on the left mag points that had finally failed open.

[EricJ]

11 hours ago, Tom 4536 said:

This is the first time I have heard of using a reduced RPM for the prop test. I am curious what RPM other MS'ers are checking their prop at. Also how many times they are doing the check. Thank you.

I do it at 2000 rpm, which is where I do mag checks as well.   With the new governor I think it lets the prop drain more easily on shutdown or something, as it'll often be a little slow on the first cycle of the day, and then the next one is fine.   So I just do it until it's responsive, which with this governor is typically twice after a cold start.   With the old governor it was always just once even when cold.

[Rjfanjet]

Cold start, cycle prop 3 times. Hot start, just once. Been doing that for 29 years.

[Hank]

10 minutes ago, Rjfanjet said:

Cold start, cycle prop 3 times. Hot start, just once. Been doing that for 29 years.

I've only had my Mooney half that time. I cycle enough times to get a quick response, usually once on a cold start in summer, up to three times on a cold start in winter. Warm starts are almost always one time.

[Rjfanjet]

Only had my Mooney 3 years. Just been flying for 30, complex for 29.