"How to Preflight an Airplane" by Logan H

Ever wondered how pilots know whether the plane is safe to fly that day, and that all of its components are functioning properly? The answer to this question is preflighting. “Preflighting” is the inspection of an aircraft prior to flight to ensure everything is safe and working properly. This is done by either the pilot or co-pilot, and consists of examining the wheels, flaps, and lots of other components. Preflighting is done before each and every flight, and today I’m going to show you what this inspection looks like.

 

There are a few things to get out of the way before we start. First off, this does not count as flight instruction as I am not a certified flight instructor; this is meant for entertainment purposes only. Second, the airplanes we will be discussing are not Boeing 737s or the giant aircraft that airliners fly. I will be teaching you how to preflight small, piston-engine, general aviation aircraft. Specifically, today’s inspection will be performed on a Piper Cherokee 180. Now don’t be disappointed, because the inspection itself is very similar to what the airline flight crew does, and in many ways, is exactly the same. With those two things out of the way, please sit back, relax, and enjoy this tour.

 

Piper Cherokee 180:

   

 

 

Step 1:

 

The first step to preflighting happens before you even get in the airplane. As you’re walking up to it, glance over the airplane as a whole and make sure nothing major and obvious is wrong. This could include things like a flat tire, bent wings, dents, etc.

 

Step 2:

 

Next, you will want to hop inside the aircraft and make sure certain documents are present. We use an acronym called ARROW to help us do this. It stands for:

 

Airworthiness Certificate

Registration

Radio Station License (if flying internationally)

Operating Limitations

Weight and Balance data

 

I won’t bore you with what these documents mean, but just know that they’re required to be in the airplane, and the Airworthiness Certificate and Registration have to be visible to passengers as well.

 

Step 3:

 

Now, go ahead and extend the flaps. How you do this will differ by airplane, but in this model you just pull the lever on the floor all the way up. We do this so we can inspect them later in the preflight process.

 

 

 

 

Step 4:

 

Turn the red switch labeled “Master” on. This will start supplying electrical energy to the various systems in the airplane. Turn the Strobes, Landing light , Navigation lights, and Rotating Beacon on (their switches are labeled accordingly), and verify by walking around the airplane that they are, in fact, working. Lastly, read the fuel gauges in the airplane to get a rough idea of how much fuel it has, and then turn the master switch back off. Forgetting to turn it off could cause the battery to be completely drained, and you won’t be able to start the engine.

 

Step 5:

 

Take out the fuel sump located in a pouch behind the co-pilot seat, and drain a small amount of fuel from the fuel tank in one of the wings. Check to make sure there are no contaminants like water or dirt in the fuel, and that it is light blue (the color aviation gas is dyed). Repeat this for the fuel tank in the other wing, and the fuel strainer beneath the cowling.

 

Step 6:

 

Now, unscrew the fuel caps on each wing and visually check the amount of fuel onboard. This airplane uses a tab to do this, meaning if the fuel is up to the tab, then there are 18 gallons in that wing (they hold a max of 24 gallons each). Make sure you screw the cap back on tightly.

 

Step 7:

 

Walk up to the front of the airplane and inspect the engine and check the oil levels. When inspecting the engine, look for things out of place like disconnected cables or signs of animals, like bird or bees nests. To check the oil level, open the hatch on the nose of the airplane, unscrew the dipstick, and check what it reads. This airplane typically operates between 5-7 quarts of oil.

 

Step 8:

 

After that, inspect the prop for any possible cracks or dings. The prop experiences tremendous forces during flight so even the smallest crack can cause serious issues later on if left as is.

 

Step 9:

 

Now, starting from the right wing, walk in a full circle around the airplane while moving things like the ailerons, flaps, elevator, and rudder to make sure they are all functioning properly. As you move the ailerons up, the yoke should point to that side. As you move the elevator up the yoke should move forward. Also inspect for loose rivets and screws along the airframe. (This step is a lot more in-depth in reality, but for today’s purposes, that’s enough.)

 

Step 10:

 

This step is incredibly important, but easy to overlook. Under the left wing, make sure the “pitot mast” is attached, and that its holes are not clogged or damaged. This otherwise unremarkable part of the plane is actually what tells the pilot their altitude, airspeed, and rate of climb. These readings are crucial in all stages of flight, so this step cannot be stressed enough.

 

Step 11:

 

Now inspect the landing gear to make sure the tires are inflated properly, there’s no brake fluid leaks, and the brake pads are not worn too thin. If there’s a problem with the landing gear, it's clearly best to find out now and not when you’re barreling down the runway.

 

Step 12:

 

This airplane has multiple antennas attached to it that each do different things. Make sure the two antennas on the tail, and the three on the body are all there. These antennas are used for VOR navigation, talking on the radio, and for the emergency locator transmitter (in the event of an untimely landing).

 

Step 13: 

 

The very last thing is to make sure the baggage door is locked, and then remove all the chocks and tie-downs.

 

Now that you’ve ensured the airplane is in a safe condition for flight, you can have fun soaring the skies!!…after a few lessons.

 

 

I’m sure you’re wondering why I know so much about this. I’m actually a licensed Private Pilot and have been flying for two years with 100+ hours in the air. I got my student’s license December of 2020, and earned my Private Pilot License August 16th, 2022. After graduation, I intend on studying Commercial Flight in college and making this my career. There truly is no feeling like flying so I highly encourage anyone with an interest to take an introductory flight at your local flight school to experience it for yourself. I’ll admit this isn’t something for everyone, but a pilot’s license is a key that can take you countless places and truly enrich your life. Thanks for reading!