Cessna F172E Skyhawk

① CABIN

0 / 9

Master Switch

ON

Fuel Quantity — Left and Right Gauges

CHECK

Master Switch

OFF

Ignition Switch

OFF — verify

Fuel Selector Valve

BOTH ON

Fuel Strainer Drain Knob

PULL OUT 4 SECONDS — drain water and sediment (first flight of day and after refuelling)

Fuel Strainer Drain Valve

VERIFY CLOSED after draining

Control Wheel Lock

REMOVE

Cabin Ventilation and Heating

AS REQUIRED

② LEFT AFT FUSELAGE

0 / 1

Baggage Door

CHECK SECURE

③ EMPENNAGE

0 / 3

Elevator and Rudder Gust Locks

REMOVE if installed

Tail Tie-Down

DISCONNECT

Elevator, Elevator Trim Tab and Rudder

CHECK condition, freedom of movement and security

④ RIGHT WING

0 / 5

Right Wing Tie-Down

DISCONNECT

Right Aileron Gust Lock

REMOVE if installed

Right Aileron

CHECK freedom of movement and condition

Right Fuel Tank Quantity

CHECK VISUALLY — remove cap, verify level

Right Fuel Filler Cap

SECURE — verify vent clear

⑤ RIGHT MAIN GEAR

0 / 1

Right Main Wheel Tire

CHECK inflation and general condition

⑥ NOSE / ENGINE

0 / 10

Nose Tie-Down

DISCONNECT

Engine Oil Level

CHECK — not less than 6 quarts; fill to 8 quarts for extended flight

Oil Filler Cap and Dipstick

SECURE

Propeller Blades

CHECK for nicks, cracks, and security

Propeller Spinner

CHECK condition

Nose Wheel Strut and Tie-Down Attachment

CHECK

Nose Wheel Tire

CHECK inflation and general condition

Fuel Strainer Drain Valve

VERIFY CLOSED

Carburetor Air Filter

CHECK — free of obstructions, dust and debris

Engine Cooling Air Inlets

CHECK — clear of obstructions

⑦ LEFT MAIN GEAR

0 / 2

Left Main Wheel Tire

CHECK inflation and general condition

Airspeed Static Source Hole (left fuselage)

CHECK — opening clear of obstructions

⑧ LEFT WING LEADING EDGE

0 / 5

Pitot Tube Cover

REMOVE

Pitot Tube

INSPECT — free of obstructions and damage

Left Fuel Tank Vent Opening

CHECK — opening clear

Left Fuel Tank Quantity

CHECK VISUALLY — remove cap, verify level

Left Fuel Filler Cap

SECURE — verify vent clear

⑨ LEFT WING TRAILING EDGE

0 / 3

Left Wing Tie-Down

DISCONNECT

Left Aileron Gust Lock

REMOVE if installed

Left Aileron

CHECK freedom of movement and condition

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

0 / 5

Seats and Seat Belts

ADJUST and LOCK

Brakes

TEST and SET

Circuit Breakers

CHECK IN — all pushed in

Master Switch

ON

Fuel Selector Valve

BOTH ON

STARTING ENGINE

0 / 10

Carburetor Heat

COLD — carb heat knob fully in

Mixture Control

RICH — full rich

Primer

AS REQUIRED — prime and lock

Warm engine: priming usually not needed. Cold engine: prime until fuel is felt. Push primer fully in and turn to locked position to prevent engine drawing fuel through primer.

Ignition Switch

BOTH

Throttle

OPEN 1/8 INCH

Propeller Area

CLEAR

Starter

ENGAGE — release immediately when engine starts

Oil Pressure

CHECK — green arc within 30 seconds; if not shown, shut down immediately

Engine

IDLE at 1000 RPM — warm up; check for smooth operation

Generator Warning Light

VERIFY OUT after engine stabilises

BEFORE TAKE-OFF

0 / 11

Throttle

1600 RPM

Engine Instruments

CHECK — all within green arc; generator warning light OUT

Magnetos

CHECK — max 75 RPM drop per mag; max differential between L and R

Switch: BOTH → LEFT (note drop) → BOTH → RIGHT (note drop). Max drop: 75 RPM. If greater or rough-running: do not take off.

Carburetor Heat

CHECK — apply FULL HOT; note slight RPM drop and smooth operation; return to COLD

Flight Controls

CHECK — free and correct movement

Elevator Trim Tab

SET for TAKE-OFF

Cabin Doors

CLOSED and LOCKED

Flight Instruments

CHECK and SET — altimeter, compass, DI

Radio(s)

SET as required

Fuel Selector Valve

BOTH ON

Mixture

RICH

NORMAL TAKE-OFF

0 / 5

Wing Flaps

0° — up

Carburetor Heat

COLD

Throttle

FULL — push in smoothly

Nosewheel

LIFT OFF at 60 MPH

Initial Climb Speed

85 MPH

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKE-OFF

0 / 7

Wing Flaps

0° — up

Carburetor Heat

COLD

Brakes

APPLY — hold

Throttle

FULL — push in smoothly

Brakes

RELEASE

Elevator Control

SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW — avoid over-rotation

Climb Speed

65 MPH — hold until all obstacles cleared

NORMAL CLIMB

0 / 3

Airspeed

80 – 90 MPH

Throttle

FULL

Mixture

RICH — lean for best power above 5,000 ft as required

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB

0 / 3

Airspeed

80 MPH at sea level — 77 MPH at 10,000 ft

Reduce climb speed approximately 1 MPH per 1,000 ft of altitude.

Throttle

FULL

Mixture

RICH

CRUISING

0 / 3

Power

2200 – 2700 RPM — 75% power maximum recommended

Elevator Trim Tab

ADJUST for level flight

Mixture

LEAN — adjust for desired performance or fuel economy

LET-DOWN

0 / 3

Mixture

RICH

Power

AS DESIRED

Carburetor Heat

AS REQUIRED — apply if carburetor icing suspected

BEFORE LANDING

0 / 7

Fuel Selector Valve

BOTH ON

Mixture

RICH

Airspeed

70 – 80 MPH — flaps up

Carburetor Heat

APPLY — before closing throttle on approach

Wing Flaps

AS DESIRED — extend below 100 MPH

Airspeed

65 – 75 MPH — flaps down

Cabin Door

CLOSED and LATCHED

NORMAL LANDING

0 / 3

Touchdown

MAIN WHEELS FIRST

Nosewheel

LOWER GENTLY after main wheels touch

Braking

MINIMUM REQUIRED

AFTER LANDING

0 / 2

Wing Flaps

UP

Carburetor Heat

COLD

SECURING AIRCRAFT

0 / 9

Mixture Control

FULL LEAN — pull fully out

All Electrical Switches

OFF

Ignition Switch

OFF

Master Switch

OFF

Parking Brakes

SET

Control Wheel Lock

INSTALL

Pitot Tube Cover

INSTALL

Gust Locks

INSTALL — ailerons and elevator/rudder

Tie-Downs

SECURE — left wing, right wing and nose

COLD WEATHER START — WITH PREHEAT

0 / 9

Recommended whenever possible at 0°F and below. Use external preheater to warm engine and battery before starting.

Propeller

TURN BY HAND through several revolutions — 'limber' the oil

Master Switch

ON

Ignition Switch

OFF — keep off during priming

Throttle

CLOSED

Primer

4–10 STROKES — heavy strokes while engine is being turned over by hand

Use heavy primer strokes for best fuel atomisation. After priming, push primer fully in and turn to locked position — prevents engine drawing fuel through primer.

Ignition Switch

BOTH

Throttle

OPEN 1/4 INCH

Starter

ENGAGE

Oil Pressure

CHECK — green arc within 30 seconds

COLD WEATHER START — WITHOUT PREHEAT

0 / 8

At temperatures below 0°F, use external preheater whenever possible. If preheat is unavailable, proceed as follows.

Propeller

TURN BY HAND — prime 8–10 strokes while propeller is being turned by hand

Propeller Area

CLEAR

Master Switch

ON

Ignition Switch

BOTH

Throttle

OPEN 1/4 INCH

Carburetor Heat Knob

FULL ON — pull fully out

Starter

ENGAGE — continue priming until engine runs smoothly

Oil Pressure

CHECK — green arc within 30 seconds

MODIFIED CRUISE FUEL MANAGEMENT

0 / 4

Recommended above 5,000 ft MSL to minimise fuel vapour accumulation and possible power irregularity.

Take-off and Climb

BOTH tanks — fuel selector BOTH ON

At Cruise Altitude above 5,000 ft MSL

Switch promptly to RIGHT or LEFT tank (single tank)

During Cruise

Alternate between LEFT and RIGHT tanks as required for fuel balance

Before Landing

Return fuel selector to BOTH ON

POWER RECOVERY — SINGLE TANK IN USE

0 / 1

Should power irregularities occur while operating on a single tank, fuel vapour may be present.

Fuel Selector

SWITCH IMMEDIATELY TO OPPOSITE TANK — power should restore immediately

The affected tank will also be ready for normal operation after approximately 1 minute unused — the vapour accumulation will rapidly dissipate.

POWER RECOVERY — BOTH TANKS IN USE

0 / 2

Should power irregularities occur with fuel selector on BOTH tanks.

Fuel Selector

SWITCH TO A SINGLE TANK — hold for 60 seconds

After 60 Seconds

SWITCH TO THE OPPOSITE TANK — power should restore