Aircraft outside inspection

Aircraft Preflight Inspection, I

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, I

The walk around is a visual inspection for the general condition of the aircraft and it is intended to make a final check for its airworthiness. Especially important during the winter season, is to remove even small accumulations of frost, ice or snow from the wings, tail and control surfaces. Be on the lookout for clear ice! Make sure that control surfaces do not contain any accumulations of ice or debris which could hinder the movement.

Prior to the flight, check that the pitot heat (if installed) is warm within 30 seconds. With a night flight, check to make sure your all the aircraft lights are functional and carry a flashlight with spare batteries in your flight bag.

There are a number of items that need to be checked on the exterior of the aircraft during the walk around (this order can be slightly different but this one would work for any high wing aircraft like Cessna's, Murphy's or Pelicans):

While walking toward the airplane look at how it is sitting on its wheels. Is it leaning toward the left or right? This could mean a soft main tyre or just a hole in the grass. Take a look at the airplane as a whole, is it missing things? This gives you a general idea of its condition.

1 - Cabin/Cockpit

In the cabin we need to check for a number of items, most importantly are aircraft papers like: POH, Weight (mass) and Balance and insurance. Don't ask me why but at this point I also check the movement of the stick/yoke and listen for any odd sounds and check if elevator/ailerons move in the correct direction without problems. After making sure no one is standing near the propeller/engine switch on the master and check fuel level (later we look into the wing tanks for visual verification).

For aircraft with fuel tank sight gauges (my favorites), this is the easy part. Leave the master switch on and check the aircraft lights. Having someone with you to look at the lights (carefull with the strobes!) is great. Remove the control yoke lock (if any). If electric flaps: set full flaps, otherwise put them down manually. Master switch off.

While you are in the cabin: check for any sign of mice or other rodent which may have turned the airplane into their house.

Now leave the cabin and walk, while looking at the fuselage for anything out of the ordinary (missing antenna's, dents, loose bolts, missing rivets, remove any bird droppings, you get the picture), towards the tail feathers (empennage).

Written by EAI.