CESSNA 172S SKYHAWK NORMAL CHECKLISTS

Cessna 172 Skyhawk · Checklist

Free account — keep the POHs & checklists you reference in one place.

Overview

This document is a checklist for the Cessna 172S Skyhawk, designed to assist pilots in conducting preflight inspections, engine starts, and various phases of flight operations. It provides a structured approach to ensure that all necessary checks are completed before and during flight, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. The checklist covers preflight inspections, engine start procedures, takeoff, in-flight operations, and emergency procedures. It is intended for use by pilots operating the Cessna 172S Skyhawk, ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and safety protocols.

Ensure fuel quantity is checked visually before flight.
Set mixture to rich for takeoff and lean above 3000' MSL.
Perform a magneto check with a maximum drop of 150 RPM.
Maintain an airspeed of 70 KIAS for engine failure after takeoff with flaps up.
Always check that the parking brake is set before starting the engine.

Document

Open original PDF ↗

In this document

Preflight Inspection

The preflight inspection checklist includes a series of checks to ensure the aircraft is ready for flight. Key items include checking the cabin papers, emergency equipment, control lock removal, fuel quantity, and external lights. Specific checks for the empennage, wings, and nose are also included, such as ensuring the fuel selector valve is set to both and checking the engine oil level (greater than 4 quarts).

Before Start Checklist

This checklist ensures that all systems are ready before engine start. It includes verifying that cell phones are off, seats and belts are adjusted, doors are closed, and circuit breakers are checked in. The fuel selector valve should be set to both, and the parking brake must be set.

Starting Engine Checklist

The starting engine checklist outlines the steps to safely start the aircraft's engine. It includes opening the throttle to 1/4 inch, setting the mixture to idle cutoff, and ensuring the propeller area is clear. The master switch is turned on, and if the engine is cold, the auxiliary fuel pump is activated before starting the engine.

Before Takeoff Checklist

This checklist is crucial for ensuring the aircraft is ready for takeoff. It includes setting the parking brake, checking flight instruments, ensuring doors and windows are locked, and verifying the mixture is rich. The checklist also includes a magneto check with a maximum drop of 150 RPM.

Emergency Procedures

The emergency procedures section provides guidance for handling engine failures after takeoff and in-flight. It specifies airspeeds for various configurations (e.g., 70 KIAS with flaps up) and outlines steps for landing without engine power, including mixture settings and fuel shutoff valve actions.

Safety notes

Always verify that the control lock is removed before flight.
Ensure that all switches are off before securing the aircraft after landing.
Check that the fuel shutoff valve is in the correct position before starting the engine.

Full document text

CESSNA 172S SKYHAWK NORMAL CHECKLISTS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION PREFLIGHT—Cabin ■ PAPERS .....................................................................................CHECKED ■ POH......................................................................................... ON BOARD ■ EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT…………………………………..... CHECKED ■ CONTROL LOCK...................................................................... REMOVED ■ IGNITION SWITCH.................................................................................OFF ■ AV MASTER SWITCH ........................................................................ OFF ■ ALL SWITCHES …………………………………………………………. OFF ■ MASTER SWITCH...................................................................................ON ■ FUEL QTY INDICATOR ....................................................... CHECK QTY ■ ANNUCIATOR PANEL SW..............................HOLD, TEST & RELEASE ■ FUEL SELECTOR VLV.................................................................... BOTH ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV.............................................................................ON ■ FLAPS........................................................................................... EXTEND ■ PITOT HEAT...................................On & check tube warm within 30 secs. ■ EXTERNALS LIGHTS ……………….………………………… OPERATIVE ■ MASTER SWITCH..................................................................................OFF ■ ELT ………………………………………………………………………… ELT ■ BAGGAGE DOOR............................................CHECK, LOCK WITH KEY PREFLIGHT—Empennage ■ FLT INST STATIC SOURCE . ....................................................... CHECK ■ RUDDER GUST LOCK................................................................ REMOVE ■ TAIL TIEDOWN ............................................................................. CHECK ■ CONTROL SURFACE................................................................... CHECK PREFLIGHT—Right Wing ■ AILERON....................................................................................... CHECK ■ WING TIEDOWN......................................................................... REMOVE ■ MAIN WHEEL & BRAKES PADS….............................................. CHECK ■ FUEL SAMPLE ...............................................................................OBTAIN ■ FUEL QTY ...................................................................CHECK VISUALLY PREFLIGHT—Nose ■ ENG OIL LEVEL............................................................... CHECK (> 4 qts) ■ FUEL FILTER................................................................................. CHECK ■ PROPELLER & SPINNER ............................................................ CHECK ■ NOSE WHEEL STRUT & TIRE .................................................... CHECK PREFLIGHT—Left Wing ■ MAIN WHEEL & BRAKES PADS….............................................. CHECK ■ FUEL SAMPLE ...............................................................................OBTAIN ■ FUEL QTY ....................................................................CHECK VISUALLY ■ WING TIEDOWN......................................................................... REMOVE ■ PITOT TUBE COVER .................................................................. REMOVE ■ STALL WARNING.......................................................................... CHECK ■ AILERON....................................................................................... CHECK BEFORE START CHECKLIST ■ CELLPHONES……..................................................................................OFF ■ SEATS / BELTS.....................................................ADJUSTED & LOCKED ■ DOORS……………………………………………………………….. CLOSED ■ CIRCUITS BREAKERS.............................................................. CHECK IN ■ ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.................................................................. OFF ■ AV MASTER SWITCH .......................................................................... OFF ■ FUEL SELECTOR VLV........................................................................BOTH ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV...............................................................................ON ■ PARKING BRAKE.................................................................................. SET STARTING ENGINE CHECKLIST ■ THROTTLE ........................................................................... OPEN 1/4 Inch ■ MIXTURE .............................................................................. IDLE CUTOFF ■ PROPELLER AREA …..................................................................... CLEAR ■ MASTER SWITCH.................................................................................. ON ■ NAV LIGHT …………………………………………………………………. ON ■ FLASHING BEACON ............................................................................. ON If Engine is Cold: ■ AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH............................................................ON ■ MIXTURE........................SET TO FULL RICH THEN IDLE CUTOFF ■ AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH...........................................................OFF ■ IGNITION SWITCH............................................................................ START ■ MIXTURE ................................ ADVANCE TO RICH WHEN ENG STARTS ■ THROTTLE.........................................................................1,000 RPM MAX ■ OIL PRESS ..................................................................................... CHECK ONLY FOR SIMULATED FLIGHTS EVV-FI-001 REV: 01 / 29.05.2016 CESSNA 172S SKYHAWK NORMAL CHECKLISTS AFTER START CHECKLIST ■ FLAPS …………..................................................................................... UP ■ AV MASTER SWITCH ............................................................................ON ■ FLIGHT CONTROLS................................................... FREE & CORRECT ■ MAN ELECTRICAL TRIM.............................................................. CHECK ■ ATIS ........................................................................................... OBTAINED ■ ALTIMETER ......................................................................................... SET ■ HEADING INDICATOR ........................................................................ SET ■ TAKEOFF & PAX BRIEFING ................................................ COMPLETED TAXI CHECKLIST ■ BLOCK TIME…………………………………………………..……... CHECK ■ TAXI LIGHT ……………………………………………………………….. ON ■ BRAKES................................................................................................TEST ■ TURN COORDINATOR, ATT IND, HI .....................................OPERATING BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST ■ PARKING BRAKE................................................................................ SET ■ TAXI LIGHT……………………………………………………………..… OFF ■ DOORS & WINDOWS.............................................. CLOSED & LOCKED ■ FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS...............................................SET & CHECKED ■ ELEVATOR & RUDDER ….................................................. SET FOR T.O ■ MIXTURE........................................................................................... RICH ■ THROTTLE.................................................................................1800 RPM ■ MAGNETOS................................... CHECK (150 RPM Max Drop) ■ VACUUM GAUGE........................................................... CHECK ■ ENG INSTRUMENTS / AMMETER................................. CHECK ■ THROTTLE ...................................................................1000 RPM ■ THROTTLE FRICTION LOCK........................................................ADJUST ■ FLAPS……………………………………………….............. AS REQUIRED ■ RADIOS ............................................................................................... SET ■ NAV/GPS SWITCH.............................................................................. SET ■ AUTOPIOT........................................................................................... OFF ■ CHANGES ON BRIEFING………………………….……… ANNOUNCED --------------------------------CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ---------------------------- ■ PARKING BRAKE...................................................................... RELEASE ■ DEPARTURE TIME..................................................................... RECORD ■ TRANSPONDER.................................................................................. ALT ■ LANDING LIGHT.................................................................................... ON ■ STROBE LIGHTS................................................................................. ON AFTER TAKEOFF & CLIMB CHECKLIST ■ OIL PRESS .................................................................................... CHECK ■ FLAPS ........................................................................................ RETRACK ■ PITOT HEAT………………………………………………………………... ON ■ LANDING LIGHT.................................................................AS REQUIRED ■ THROTTLE.................................................................................. 2300 RPM ■ MIXTURE................................................... RICH (Lean above 3000’ MSL) CRUISE ■ POWER ................................................................................................ SET ■ ELEVATOR TRIM .......................................................................... ADJUST ■ MIXTURE ............................................................... Lean above 3000’ MSL ■ ALTIMETER…..…….………………………………………… SET & CHECK ■ LANDING LIGHT ...................................................................................OFF DESCENT CHECKLIST ■ ATIS………………….……………………………………………. OBTAINED ■ FUEL SELECTOR............................................................................ BOTH ■ ALTIMETER…..……………………………………………… SET & CHECK ■ RADIOS................................................................................................ SET ■ NAV/GPS SWITCH.............................................................................. SET ■ DESCENT/APPROACH BRIEFING……………………….... COMPLETED APPROACH CHECKLIST ■ ALTIMETER…..……………………………………………… SET & CHECK ■ LANDING LIGHT................................................................................... ON ■ MIXTURE.............................................................RICH (Below 3000’ MSL) ONLY FOR SIMULATED FLIGHTS EVV-FI-001 REV: 01 / 29.05.2016 CESSNA 172S SKYHAWK NORMAL CHECKLISTS BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST ■ ALTIMETER…..……………………………………………… SET & CHECK ■ FUEL PUMP ......................................................................................... ON ■ FLAPS................................................................................ AS REQUIRED ■ AUTOPILOT............................................................... OFF FOR LANDING ■ CARBURATOR HEAT....................................................... AS REQUIRED ■ NORMAL APPROACH SPEED................................................ 60-70 KIAS ■ SHORT/SOFT FIELD LANDING.................................................... 55 KIAS AFTER LANDING CHECKLIST ■ FLAPS ................................................................................................... UP ■ PITOT HEAT....................................................................................... OFF ■ STROBE LIGHTS………………………………………………………… OFF ■ TAXI LIGHT…...................................................................................... ON ■ LANDING LIGHT…………………………………………………………. OFF ■ FUEL PUMP………………………………………………………………. OFF ■ TRANSPONDER................................................................................ STBY ■ ELEVATOR TRIM....................................................................... TAKEOFF PARKING CHECKLIST ■ PARKING BRAKE………………………………………………………… SET ■ BLOCK TIME……………………………………………………….…. CHECK ■ AV MASTER.......................................................................................... OFF ■ PANEL LIGHTS.................................................................................... OFF ■ MIXTURE............................................................................. IDLE CUTOFF ■ MASTER SWITCH................................................................................. OFF ■ IGNITION SWITCH................................................................................ OFF ■ CABIN AIR.................................................................................... CLOSED SECURING AIRCRAFT CHECKLIST ■ MASTER SWITCH............................................................................... OFF ■ ALL SWITCHES… ............................................................................... OFF ■ AV MASTER ....................................................................................... OFF ■ FLAPS ................................................................................................... UP ■ CONTROL LOCK.................................................................... INSTALLED ■ FUEL SELECTOR VLV.................................................. LEFT OR RIGHT ■ CABIN DOOR .............................................................................. LOCKED ■ CARGO DOOR............................................................................ LOCKED ■ AIRCRAFT COVERS & INTAKE COVERS............................ INSTALLED ■ TIEDOWNS............................................................................... SECURED ■ CELL PHONES...................................................................................... ON ONLY FOR SIMULATED FLIGHTS EVV-FI-001 REV: 01 / 29.05.2016 ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF EVV-FI-002 REV: 01 – 05.2016 FLY — NAVIGATE — COMUNICATE ■ THROTTLE...................................................... IDLE ■ BRAKES........................................ ................ APPLY ■ FLAPS…….............................................. RETRACT ■ MIXTURE......................................... IDLE CUTOFF ■ IGNITION SWITCH........................................... OFF ■ ATC ............................................................ ADVISE ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT LANDING WITHOUT ENGINE POWER ■ AIRSPEED.......................................... 70 (Flaps Up) ..................................................... 65(Flaps Down) ■ MIXTURE.......................................... IDLE CUTOFF ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV................... OFF (pull full out) ■ IGNITION SWITCH........................................... OFF ■ FLAPS............................................ AS REQUIRED Below 500 Feet: ■ MASTER SWITCH........................................... OFF ■ DOORS.................................................. UNLATCH ■ TOUCHDOWN.....................SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS ■ PITOT HEAT.........................................................ON ■ CABIN HEAT...................................................... ON ■ HEADING &/OR ALTITUDE.................... CHANGE ■ ATC............................................................. ADVISE On Ground: ■ CRANKING.......................................... CONTINUE If Engine Starts: ■ POWER.................................................. 1800 RPM ■ ENGINE...............................................SHUTDOWN If engine fails to start: ■ THROTTLE......................................... FULL OPEN ■ MIXTURE........................................ IDLE CUTOFF ■ CRANKING.......................................... CONTINUE ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV.................. OFF (pull full out) ■ AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH..............................OFF ■ ENGINE................................................... SECURE ■ MASTER SWITCH................................... OFF ■ IGNITION SWITCH.................................. OFF In Flight : ■ ATC .......................................................... ADVISE ■ MIXTURE.........................................IDLE CUTOFF ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV.................. OFF (pull full out) ■ AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH............................ OFF ■ MASTER SWITCH........................................... OFF ■ CABIN HEAT AND AIR................................... OFF ■ AIRSPEED...............................................100 KIAS ■ LANDING WITHOUT ENGINE…... ACCOMPLISH ■ MASTER SWITCH........................................... OFF ■ VENTS / CABIN AIR / HEAT......................CLOSED ■ ALL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES....................... OFF If fire appears out and electrics needed: ■ MASTER SWITCH.................................... ON ■ CIRCUIT BREAKERS....................... CHECK ■ ELECTRICAL SWITCHES............ 1 AT TIME ■ ATC............................................................ ADVISE AIRSPEEDS FOR EMERGENCY OPS ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF: FLAPS UP .............................................70 KIAS FLAPS DOWN ......................................65 KIAS MANEUVERING SPEEDS: 2550 Lbs..............................................105 KIAS 2200 Lbs................................................98 KIAS 1900 Lbs................................................90 KIAS MAXIMUM GLIDE..........................................68 KIAS Precautionary Landing with Engine...............65 KIAS LANDING WITHOUT ENGINE POWER: FLAPS UP .............................................70 KIAS FLAPS DOWN ......................................65 KIAS ELECTRICAL FIRE ■ AIRSPEED................................................... 68 KTS ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV.................... ON (push full in) ■ FUEL SELECTOR VLV............................. BOTH ■ AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH…....................ON ■ MIXTURE........................................................ RICH ■ IGNITION……………..........................BOTH (or START) ■ AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH…....................ON ■ ATC ............................................................ ADVISE ■ TRANSPONDER…........................................... 7700 ■ LANDING SITE.................................. DETERMINE ■ AIRSPEED......................................... 70 (Flaps Up) ................................................... 65(Flaps Down) ■ MIXTURE......................................... IDLE CUTOFF ■ FUEL SHUTOFF VLV.................. OFF (pull full out) ■ IGNITION SWITCH.......................................... OFF ■ FLAPS............................................ AS REQUIRED ■ ATC ........................................................... ADVISE ■ MASTER SWITCH.......................................... OFF ENGINE FIRE ENGINE FAILURE DURING TAKEOFF EMERGENCY CHECKLIST