AFH Chapter 2-3 Visual Preflight Assessment

 

Visual Preflight Assessment

 

The inspection should start with the cabin door.

 

If the door is hard to open or close, does not fit snugly, or the door latches do not engage or disengage smoothly, the surrounding structure, such as the doorpost, should be inspected for misalignment, which could indicate structural damage.

 

The visual preflight inspection should continue to the interior of the cabin or flight deck where carpeting should be inspected to ensure that it is serviceable, dry, and properly affixed;

 

seat belts and shoulder harnesses should be inspected to ensure that they are free from fraying, latch properly, and are securely attached to their mounting fittings;

 

seats should be inspected to ensure that the seats properly latch into the seat rails through the seat lock pins and that seat rail holes are not abnormally worn to an oval shape;

 

the windshield and windows should be inspected to ensure that they are clean and free from cracks, and crazing.

 

A dirty, scratched, and/or a severely crazed window can result in near zero visibility due to light refraction at certain angles from the sun.

 

The AFM/POH or a third party checklist based on the AFM/POH may be used to conduct the visual preflight inspection, and each manufacturer has a specified sequence for conducting the actions.

 

 

In general, the following items are likely to be included in the AFM/POH preflight inspection:

 

⦁ Landing gear control is DOWN, if applicable.

 

⦁ Master, alternator, and magneto switches are OFF.

 

⦁ Control column locks are REMOVED.

 

⦁ Fuel selectors should be checked for proper operation in all positions, including the OFF position.

Stiff fuel selectors or where the tank position is not legible or lacking detents are unacceptable.

 

⦁ Trim wheels, which include elevator and may include rudder and aileron, are set for takeoff position. 

 

⦁ Mechanical air-driven gyro instruments should be inspected for signs of hazing on the instrument face, which may indicate leaks. 

 

⦁ Avionics master is OFF.

 

⦁ Circuit breakers checked IN.

 

⦁ Confirm that the landing gear handle is in the DOWN position, then turn the master switch ON.

 

Note the fuel quantities on the fuel gauges and compare to the tank level by visual inspection.

 

If so equipped, fuel pumps may be placed in the ON position to verify fuel pressure in the proper operating range.

 

⦁ Other items may include checking that lights for both the interior and exterior airplane positions are operating and checking any annunciator panels.

 

⦁ If the airplane has retractable gear, landing gear down and locked lights are checked green.

 

⦁ Flight instruments should read as follows:

 

⦁ Airspeed should read zero.

 

 

⦁ The altimeter, when properly set to the current barometric setting, should indicate the field elevation within 75 feet for IFR flight.

 

⦁ If installed, the magnetic compass should indicate the airplane’s direction accurately; and the compass correction card should be legible and complete.

 

For conventional wet magnetic compasses, the instrument face should be clear and the instrument case full of fluid.

 

A cloudy instrument face, bubbles in the fluid, or a partially filled case renders the compass unusable.

 

⦁ The vertical speed indicator (VSI) should read zero.

 

If the VSI does not show a zero reading, a small screwdriver can be used to zero this instrument if not part of an electronic display.

 

The mechanical VSI is the only flight instrument that a pilot has the prerogative to adjust.

 

All others need to be adjusted by an FAA-certificated repairman or mechanic.

 

⦁ Avionics master switch ON to check avionics.

 

Avionics master switch OFF, master switch OFF.

 

Aircraft equipped with Integrated Flight Deck (IFD) “glass-panel” avionics and supporting systems have specific requirements for checking prior to flight.

 

Ground-based inspections may include verification that the flight deck reference guide is in the aircraft and accessible;

 

checking of system driven removal of “Xs” over engine indicators;

 

checking pitot/static and attitude displays;

 

testing of low level alarms and annunciator panels; setting of fuel levels; and verification that the avionics cooling fans, if equipped, are functional.

 

The AFM/POH specifies how these preflight inspections are to take place.

 

Since an advanced avionics aircraft preflight checklist may be extensive, pilots should allow time to ensure that all items are properly addressed.

 

AFH Chapter 1-7 Safety Considerations

AFH Chapter 1-7 Safety Considerations

 

AFH Chapter 4-18 Full Stalls, Power-On

AFH Chapter 4-18 Full Stalls, Power-On