As pilot in command you are responsible to ascertain that the aircraft is an airworthy condition. As such you are required to check all aircraft papers as weight (mass) and balance, aircraft logbooks, licenses and limitations. Part of any flight is a visual inspection of the aircraft.

Visual inspection or walk around is done by the pilot as final airworthiness check. In this section we describe were and what to look for when inspecting your aircraft. Any pilot who has build an aircraft will look much deeper and further than normally is required, as builders/pilots ourselves we will discuss this important part of the preflight and help you looking deeper and further.

Aircraft Walk Around part Two

3,4 - Right Wing
The flaps are now in the full down position, this gives us the change to inspect the tracks they move in. Again the hinges must have your attention. Visually look over the wing for dents or wrinkled skin (high load damage) or fuel stains (leaky fuel cap). Proceed towards the wingtip inspecting the aileron. Move it carefully up and down and look at the left aileron, it must move in the opposite direction. Listen for any strange noises.
The wingtip must be firmly attached to the wing. Walk along the leading edge (make sure to look at the strut too) to check for damage and verify that the fuel caps are secure and closed. Now is the time to visually verify the quantity in the tank, drain fuel from the quick drains. Do not forget to look at the mail wheel, tyre and brakes.

5 - Nose and Engine
If you can remove the top cowling, then do so. At least once a day before the first flight. I cannot count the times I lifted 'the hood' and found something loose. Be it ty-wraps or exhaust springs (especially with Rotax engines) these tend to get loose or break, also check for other items like broken brackets near the ignition units or coolant hoses near hot spots (exhaust or turbo). Check the propeller spinner too, inspect the propeller leading edge for nicks and dents. Have them dressed out by a qualified person (tip: clean the propeller after the last flight of the day, dead bugs eat away the paint and more and you will see any damage sooner). The same goes for the windscreen, clean it properly and you will see other traffic sooner.

Aircraft outside inspection Birds have sometimes nested in engine compartments. Especially in aircraft that haven't flown for awhile. Be sure to remove all foreign material, which could have blown in there or left by birds. Engine fires have resulted from the lack of this action.

Do not forget to visually inspect the battery and its connections. At this point do look at the ignition wires for any chafing which could cause a rough running engine. Look for stains around the lower cowling and on the floor. This could indicate exhaust system problems, oil leaks or coolant leaks in case of a watercooled engine. And while you are there: check the exhaust system for cracks indicated by stains. CO posioning is not fun.

Be careful when checking the oil level if the engine has run previously. Keep the level between the min. and max. on the dipstick. Before checking the level in a Rotax engine: open the oil sump, ignition off and rotate the propeller until a murmling sound is heard from the oil reservoir. Always carry an extra quart (0,946 liter) of right type oil in the aircraft.
Make sure to drain fuel from the gascolator (check for water and dirt), check the nose gear strut too and do not forget the tyre pressure of all tyres. The Aircraft Flight Manual (or Pilots Operating Handbook) has the details for the exact pressure.

6,7,8 - Left Wing
Visually look over the wing for dents or wrinkled skin (high load damage). Proceed from the root towards the wingtip inspecting the leading edge. Also, verify the quantity in the tank and secure the cap (look again for fuel stains), drain fuel from the quick drains. Walk along the leading edge (make sure to look at the strut too) to check for damage. Make sure the wingtip is firmly attached to the wing. Turn toward the aileron and move it carefully up and down and look at the right aileron, it must move in the opposite direction. Listen for any strange noises.
The flaps are still in the full down position, this gives us the change to inspect the tracks they move in. Again the hinges must have your attention, move the flap to see for any unusual movement. Do not forget to look at the mail wheel, tyre and brakes.

Final note

Everybody can look at aircraft parts but it takes some learning and practice to recognize parts that need replacement when doing a visual check. If not sure get your mechanic to have a look at it, he/she can teach you what to look for. In time you will learn to do this yourself. Below we present some tips when visually inspecting an aircraft, note that the list is not complete.

Hardware checks
When inspecting hardware on an aircraft note that threaded bolts must have at least one thread coming through the nut, castle nuts must have their safety pin installed, rod end bearings must have a large washer on each side, just in case the bearing fails. Excessive oxidation must be removed and the cause taken care of. Rotating parts should not be installed with self locking nylon nuts and these nuts may not be used where high temperatures (under the cowling) are present. Electrical wiring must be protected from chafing against other parts, the same can be said for push-pull rods.
Gear leg check: To see if there is movement in the main gear, set your foot on the tyre and move the wheel forward and backward. No motion is allowed between the fuselage and the gear leg.

If your aircraft has a shimmy damper: check the fluid level and move the nose gear to see if the shimmy damper operates properly. Do pay attention for any puddles of fluid onderneath the aircraft, it could be leaking brake fluid, oil, coolant....

These are some of the things to look at when doing the walk around, if in doubt: get an A&P to take a look at the part in question. Better safe than sorry.