Preflight Steps for Mooneys

[natdm]

There's the preflight steps you're taught on transition training, then there's the preflight steps you do based on your experience in the plane, right? Sometimes you come up with new ones the hard way. I once had an engine out on the trainer I was flying, and once I found out what the issue was (something not listed on preflight), I always checked it -- without failure. I get that the plane was a trainer so it's more likely to fail, and my Mooney is not, but the point still stands. 

I did a search on the forum hoping for a comprehensive list of how people have enhanced on their preflight for safety, but there are none so far. I wouldn't mind updating this main post with links to threads, or quotes to valuable items to add (and if you make a comment and the step is specific to a certain Mooney generation or model, I can note that). I'm not looking to come up with the longest, harshest preflight that's ever existed on a plane, though I would like to see what people have come up with to make sure I'm ahead of the game and learning from other people.

So far I've found these threads:

• Nose gear rotation if plane is towed
• Look nice and hard inside the front cowl, at those fuel lines
• Preflight those fuel vents

 

edit: Maybe another good one is additional run-up steps?

Edited October 5, 2022 by natdm

[Pinecone]

Just a plug here for MiraChek app.

I did my checklists on the app, and it actually tells you each step, and with ear buds or such (also Bluetooth to device from headset), you can actually respond Check to each item and it will check it off.

 

I have changed the order of a few things.  Like check Gear Switch Down as the FIRST thing in the Pre-Start Checklist.

[EricJ]

Checklist vs Flow is another good way to fan the flames on the usual holy wars. 
 

I think good feedback for whether whatever system you're using is working is that you occasionally find something that either stops or delays a flight, or that you schedule a maintenance task to get done based on pre-flight observations (e.g., finally decide to change a tire).    Other good feedback is that you don't crash or damage something because of something that you really think you should have found before taking off.   Cooking a motor due to a forgotten cowl plug comes to mind.    Some people find the forgotten cowl plug when the prop catches the rope and flings it across the ramp during startup.   That's good feedback that your preflight inspection needs improvement. 

Some things need to adapt from time to time, e.g., my prop cycling methodology has changed since the governor got swapped out.    The previous governor was nice and loose and responsive and only needed one cycle to make sure it was happy.   After it failed (which was caught by noticing significant behavior change during runup), the new governor needs a couple cycles to get where it responds quickly, i.e., the first one will be a bit slow, verify that the second one is quick.

I use flow for preflight, a checklist for pre-start, and a mnemonic for pre-takeoff (CIFFTRS).  I use the factory checklist for pre-start with a couple modifications, like verifying the hatch is closed as the first item (from experience, added first 'cause I gotta stop everything and get out if it's not right).   Everybody's airplane and methodology can be expected to be different, I think.

 

[Pinecone]

I use flow for pre-flight.  Checklist for first few, then flow once you know what to check.

I use flow for pre-start, with confirm using checklist.  So left to right across the upper instrument panel, down the CB panel, across the lower pane, then the center.  Then run down the checklist to see if I missed anything.

Pre-take off, I use the one on the center console, along with a mnemonic one.

GUMPS on downwind and final.  With an additional gear check on base and short final.

[midlifeflyer]

Preflight and other checklists often need changes. Some are "officially" necessary like where the AFMS for your after-market TKS system or brand new autopilot includes preflight inspection steps*.  Others are convenience items - things not mentioned we tend to forget. Changing the order of some things to conform with a more ergonomic flow (I cringe when I watch someone read-and-do a checklist and go back and forth across the panel in a way that looks haphazard because the manufacturer did not think in flow terms).

*FAA talks about those here.