How do you shut down?

[Cruiser]

when do you turn off the magneto? Master switch?

Do you wait for the engine to stop or switch off the master earlier? How does this effect the alternator or VR?

Do you turn off any other electrical equipment?

Things to watch for when engine is spinning down? Oil pressure? Ammeter?

 

What do you do?

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: Cruiser

when do you turn off the magneto? Master switch?

Do you wait for the engine to stop or switch off the master earlier? How does this effect the alternator or VR?

Do you turn off any other electrical equipment?

Things to watch for when engine is spinning down? Oil pressure? Ammeter?

[The-sky-captain]

Pretty much the same as George and Jim. An easy way for me to remember to cover all the bases is SLIM... Switches (a/p, trim, handheld gps, stormscope, rockers incl master avionics...), Lean, Ignition, Master. It works for me.

 

[eaglebkh]

Same as George, however before all of that, during the taxi to the hangar, I do a quick mag check at idle power- no need to wait until the next flight to discover a dead mag.  Of course, I still do the mag check as part of the run-up before departure.

My mechanic taught me this after I had a dead mag once and cancelled a flight.  This is especially useful on trips, so that if there is a dead mag or fouled plug, you can have it fixed while you're attending to other business instead of waiting until the return flight to discover these things.

[Mooney_Allegro]

Jim, just curious, why do you close all of your vents on your shutdown checklist? Is it to keep insects from coming into the plane while it's sitting idle?

[N207LS]

I like all the suggestions and ideas here.  There are a few that I will add to my shutdown list (like mag check, and close the vents), but a couple of others that I do and have on my shutdown list is to set the trim for takeoff, DG to Mag Compass, and AI to level.  This means that when I get in the plane, all is set and should just be checked, instead of having to be adjusted prior to takeoff. 

 

Aaron

[eaglebkh]

Quote: N207LS

I like all the suggestions and ideas here.  There are a few that I will add to my shutdown list (like mag check, and close the vents), but a couple of others that I do and have on my shutdown list is to set the trim for takeoff, DG to Mag Compass, and AI to level.  This means that when I get in the plane, all is set and should just be checked, instead of having to be adjusted prior to takeoff. 

 

Aaron

[Awqward]

I know the checklist says to leave the cowl flaps open at shutdown....but I usually close them again before putting the plane to bed....is it just me?

[Jamie]

Nope. It's not. I'd like to think closing them (along with cowl plugs) help keep critters out.

 

Man, these guys were detailed about shutting down. I just shut off the aviation master switch and pull the mixture. There's pleny of time for that other stuff once the plane is pushed into the T hangar. Especially now... when it's cold.

[carusoam]

Open oil dip stick access door as well, unless left outside. This allows for some excess heat to depart.

Then close up everything to keep critters out...

Best regards,

-a-

[Jamie]

Usual routine is to open that door, unscrew the dipstick (I can't tell if this is voodoo, or if the escaping moisture helps, but wth... can't hurt.) It usually takes me about 20 minutes of pulling bags out, putting rags in the external vents, installing my pitot tube tennis ball, etc. At which point I crawl back in and shut the cowl flaps, write down the tach time and make one last pass over the panel to make sure stuff's off. By that time, the engine cooling curve and my patience curve cross so I put the cowl plugs in, screw the dipstick back in, close the dipstick access panel, close the hangar and go the heck home.

[Hank]

Wow, ya''ll do it hard. I taxi in at 1000 RPM, stop, turn off the Avionics Master, pull the mixture, watch for ~50 RPM rise then pull the throttle. When it stops, I turn off the Master then ignition and put the keys on the glare shield. I always verify keys out when approaching the prop, as with the tow bar to move the plane; they're easy to see on top like that.

I don't leave the throttle at the 1000 RPM setting, because pumping the throttle prior to cranking is how I get fuel in the carb. Normally twice, once for a hot start, and 3-5 times when it's cold out.

[Oscar Avalle]

After landing, flaps up. Run up to 1400 RPM lean, then 1000 RPM, Avionics off, mixture cut off, master off and then magnetos off, finally keys out. Then master on, Avionics on, download information from JPI, then everything off again. 

 

 

[aaronk25]

I make sure the prop stops.... Just kidding good advice above. I think most important is to do a mag ground check every once in a while to ensure there isn't a hot mag.

[mulro767]

I look to see that I'm at the correct airport before shutting down. Then I turn off the radios, do a mag check and pull the mixture. I always turn the mags off and leave the key on the glareshield. That gives me a warm and fuzzy when I'm standing in front of the airplane about to push her in the hanger.

[Jamie]

The keys-left-in-the-ignition problem I solved by putting the hangar door lock key on the same keyring. If the door's open, the keys aren't in the plane.

[BigTex]

I have a Alternator switch so I make sure I turn that off after I switch off my avionics prior to pulling mixture.  I also lower my flaps if I have passengers then raise them after they've out of the plane.

[Jamie]

I also lower my flaps if I have passengers then raise them after they've out of the plane.

 

I should start doing that. When I bought the plane, the right flap was dinged up for  3" or so just about where a suitcase or briefcase would hit it as you step up. It was fixed as part of purchase, but I hadn't given it any thought until now.

[n824jl]

also a good practice to turn mag switch to "off" for a moment to assure mag grounding then back to both and continue with shut down.  ref. AD76-07-12 

[N601RX]

Does anyone go full throttle just as the engine dies? It seems to make the shutdown smoother.

[fantom]

19 hanger years, with cowls open......no critters yet.

[jlunseth]

Shutting down is easy.  I turn off all the electrical except strobe and master, then do a quick mag check by switching the ignition off and then on.  Found a broken P lead once that way.  Then pull the mixture, then strobe and mags.  I also have begun to run the flaps down if I have passengers, sooner or later one will step on the flaps even if you tell them not too.

[Jamie]

I'm not doubting either one of you guys about the mag check, I'll probably start doing it. But...

 

I seem to remember something from the far distant past about going to off and then back on being a serious no-no. Something about, I dunno.. it would hurt something. If this isn't it, what am I likely remembering?

 

All I know is, for 20+ years I've been very careful not to go to "OFF" during the mag check.

[Cruiser]

It is possible to cause a backfire and blow out the muffler at high rpm probably not a problem at idle rpm.

[jetdriven]

I do the mag grounding check after every flight. If you have a hot mag you can get yourself killed when you move the prop such as when you push the airplane back.

Set RPM below 1000 and do a quick "OFF" then back to "BOTH". Then pull the mixture.

The AD Jim mentions is due every 100 hours and can also be performed and logged by the pilot. It's the only AD like that I know of.