PIPER PA38 Checklists

Piper PA-38 Tomahawk · Checklist

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Overview

This document is a checklist for the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk, intended for use by pilots to ensure all necessary pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight procedures are followed. It includes detailed steps for pre-flight inspections, engine start procedures, taxiing, take-off, and emergency protocols. The checklist emphasizes the importance of safety and thoroughness in flight operations, providing a structured approach to various flight phases. It serves as a practical tool for pilots to enhance safety and operational efficiency during flights.

Ensure all documentation is complete before flight.
Perform thorough pre-flight inspections, including fuel and weight checks.
Follow specific RPM and magneto check procedures during taxiing.
Know emergency procedures for engine failure and electrical issues.
Complete post-flight shutdown procedures to secure the aircraft.

Document

Source

Originally published by www.dewouw.net. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.

View original at www.dewouw.net

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Document details

Type: Checklist
Year: 1981
Pages: 14
File size: 235 KB
Publisher: www.dewouw.net

Documentation completeness

4/7

Most owners only have the POH. Here's the essential set for the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk.

Pilot's Operating Handbook / AFM
Checklist
Maintenance Manual
Parts Catalog (IPC)
Systems & Wiring
Service Bulletins
Type Certificate (TCDS)

More Piper PA-38 Tomahawkmanuals & documents

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In this document

Pre-Flight Inspection

The pre-flight inspection checklist includes verifying aircraft documentation, checking weather conditions, ensuring flight planning is complete, confirming fuel levels, and assessing weight and balance. Pilots must ensure that all necessary documents are on board and that the aircraft is within weight limits.

In Cabin Checks

Before starting the engine, pilots should remove control locks, set the parking brake, check magneto switches, and ensure the master switch is on. Other checks include verifying the position of the stall warner, pitot heat, fuel, and flaps, as well as securing emergency equipment.

Taxiing and Power Checks

During taxiing, pilots must check brakes, rudder movement, and instruments. Power checks involve setting the RPM to 2000 while holding brakes, checking magnetos, and ensuring oil temperature and pressure are within limits. The checklist specifies maximum RPM drops for magneto checks.

Emergency Procedures

The checklist outlines procedures for various emergencies, including engine failure after take-off, electrical failure, and ditching at sea. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining best glide speed and assessing landing areas during engine failure, as well as the need for clear communication and passenger briefing.

Post-Flight Actions

After landing, pilots must ensure the aircraft is vacated safely, check carburetor heat, retract flaps, and secure the aircraft. The shutdown procedure includes checking for dead cut on magnetos, turning off the master switch, and ensuring all doors and windows are closed.

Safety notes

This checklist is not an authoritative document; refer to the Pilot Operating Handbook for detailed procedures.
Emergency procedures should be followed as per pilot judgment, as situations may vary.

Full document text

PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 1 IMPORTANT This checklist is not an authoritative document. Full reference must be made to the individual aircraft flight Manual/Pilot Operating handbook as amended. Current ANO and AICs and Pilot Order book/Flying School Syllabus, local procedures, may also be relevant. PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION AIRCRAFT Documenation complete and satisfactory, DOCUMENTS Including valid Certificate of Maintenance if required. WEATHER Local, en-route and destination forecasts and actuals. FLIGHT PLANNING Current AlP/Flight Guide, NOTAMS, Amendments and bulletins. PPR, Daylight remaining, etc, FUEL Sufficient to destination and alternates, Contingency CHARTS Current and sufficient coverage for flight. WEIGHT & BALANCE Load (passengers, baggage, fuel) within limits. PERFORMANCE Take-off, en-route and range, landing. PASSENGERS Comfort and safety briefing, emergency procedures. PILOT Licence and experience current and valid. Medical certificate valid, fitness for flight. SURVIVAL For over water Ilight - dinghy accessible, EQUIPMENT Lifejackets worn but not inflated, Flares, Transceiver, ELT. BOOK-OUT Departure ATC, airfield movements book, aircraft tech. log FLIGHT PLAN File for IFR and International Flights, flight across water and sparsely populated areas PRE-FLIGHT ACTION OF PILOT IN COMMAND PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 2 APPROACHING AIRCRAFT Check Access to taxiways, Obstructions, Level surface For fuel / oil spillages, Remove ANY ice or frost from ALL aircraft surfaces Tie downs and Towbar, External control locks, Pitot cover, Chocks IN CABIN 1 Control Locks & Covers Remove and Stow 2 Parking Brake ON 3 Magneto Switches Check OFF, Key OUT 4 Master Switch ON 5 Stall Warner Check 6 Pitot Heat Check, then OFF 7 Anti-Collision Lights Check, then OFF 8 Landing/Nav.Lights Check as required, then OFF 9 Fuel ON - Check contents 10 Master Switch OFF 11 Throttle Closed 12 Mixture Idle Cutoff 13 Flaps Lower 21° (1st stage) 14 Trimmer Check position 15 First Aid Kit In Position - Secure 16 Fire Extinguisher In Position - Secure PRELIMINARY PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 3 EXTERNAL Left Wing 1 Flap Condition Linkages 2 Aileron Condition, Linkages and Hinges Full and Free movement 3 Wing Tip Condition, Security, Nav & Strobe lights 4 Winq Surface Condition, Upper and Lower 5 Leading Edge Dents, Stall Warner, Pitot Head checked, 6 Fuel Tank VISUALLY CHECK CONTENTS, Cap secure, Fuel drain, Vent Clear Left Undercarriage 1 Tyre Condition, inflation. Creep marks aligned 2 Hydraulic Lines Condition, leaks 3 Disc Brake Condition 4 Leg and Fairing Condition Front Fuselage and Engine 1 Left Cowling Check brake fluid level, Engine compartment, secure panel, Fuel drain 2 Windscreen CLEAN, OAT probe secure 3 Nose Leg Oleo extension, Torque link, Nuts and Split pins 4 Nose Wheel Condition, Inflation Creep marks aligned 5 Front Cowling Condition and Security, intakes clear Landing light 6 Propellor Condition, especially leading edge 7 Right Cowling Engine Compartment, Oil level Secure panel EXTERNAL / 1 PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 4 Right Undercarriage 1 Tyre Condition, inflation. Creep marks aligned 2 Hydraulic Lines Condition, leaks 3 Disc Brake Condition 4 Leg and Fairing Condition Right Wing 1 Fuel Tank VISUALLY CHECK CONTENTS, Cap secure, Fuel drain, Vent Clear 2 Leading Edge Condition, check for dents, 3 Winq Surface Condition, Upper and Lower 4 Wing Tip Condition, Security, Nav & strobe lights 5 Aileron Condition, Linkages and Hinges Full and Free movement 6 Flap Condition Linkages Right Fuselage 1 Door Latch and Hinges secure 2 Windows Clean 3 Skin Condition 4 Antenna’s Secure 5 Static Vent Clear Tail Unit 1 Tail Fin Condition and security, Fairings, Aerials 2 Rudder Conditions, Linkages Nuts and slpit pins, Navigation light 3 Tailplane/Elevator Conditions, Linkages Left Fuselage 1 Skin Condition 2 Aerials Secure 3 Static Vent Clear 4 Windows Clean 5 Door Latches and Hinges Secure EXTERNAL / 2 PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 5 INTERNAL 1 Seats Adjusted and LOCKED 2 Hatches &Harnesses Adjusted and secure 3 Parking Brake ON 4 Radios OFF 5 Instruments Legible, Serviceable. Readings within limit 6 Controls Full and free movement, correct sense 7 Trimmer Check through fuIl range, Set neutral 8 Flaps Check in stages, up 9 Cabin Air Control Closed (OFF) 10 Alternate Static OFF 11 Carb. Heat. Full and tree movement, Set Cold 12 Throttle Full and free movement, Set 0.5 cm open 13 Throttie Friction Checked and Loose 14 Mixture Full and free movement. Set Rich 15 Master Switch ON 16 Circuit Breakers/Fuses In/Secure 17 Fuel ON, tank with lowest contents 18 Fuel Pump ON, check fuel pressure,. OFF 19 Primer Prime as required and lock 20 LOOKOUT Good look round, call 'CLEAR PROP' 21 Magnetos Keys in, operate starter AFTER START 1 RPM Set to 1200 2 Starter Warning Light Out 3 Oil Pressure Rising to green arc within 30 secs 4 Ammeter Charging 5 Suction Registering 6 Magnetos Check for dead cut 7 Instruments Set as required 8 Radios Tuned and checked as required, Taxi clearance INTERNAL & STARTING PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 6 TAXYING 1 Brakes Checked before taxying 2 Rudder Movement and steering checked 3 Instruments Check in turns DI, Compass Turn Coordinator, Attitude indicator POWER CHECKS 1 Position into wind, clear all around 2 Parking Brake ON 3 Fuel Change to fuller tank, 4 Oil Temp. and Press Within limits, 5 Magnetos Check 6 RPM Set 2000 - Brakes holding 7 Carb. Heat. Set HOT, max. drop 100 RPM Set COLD 8 Magnetos Check LEFT & RIGHT Max drop 175 RPM

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Max diff. Btwn mags. 50 RPM 9 Suction 3" - 5" 10 Ammeter Charging 11 Oil temp. and Press Within limits 12 RPM To idle, 500 - 700 RPM Reset 1200 RPM TAXI & POWER CHECK PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 7 PRE TAKE-OFF CHECKS - VITAL ACTIONS 1 T Trimmer Set for take off 2 T Throttle friction Finger tight 3 M Mixture RICH 4 M Magnetos On BOTH, Master Switch ON 5 P Pitot heather As required 6 P Primer Locked 7 F Fuel selector On tank with highest contents, 8 Fuel pump ON 9 F Flaps As required (see POH) 10 I Instruments Checked and set, Gyros Altimeter, Engine T° & Press. 11 H Hatches Doors and windows secure 12 H Harness Secure 13 C Carb. Heat COLD 14 C Controls Full and free movement PRE-TAKE OFF CHECKS PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 8 TAKE OFF 1 LOOKOUT Runway, approach and departure paths visually checked ATC clearance 2 RPM Full power 3 Engine Temp & Press, steady within limit 4 Airspeed Increasing AFTER TAKE-OFF 1 Flaps Up if necessary 2 Engine Temp / Press, steady within limit 3 Radios Set, ATC clearance as necessary 4 Altimeter Check 5 Fuel pump OFF above 1000'AGL PRE STALL / AEROBATIC CHECKS (H A S E L L) (Slow flight and stall exercise can result in unintentional spin and therefore should only be started at altitudes granting adequate recovery space) 1 H Height Sufficient to recover by 4000'AGL. (if spinning see POH) 2 A Airframe Gyros caged, brakes off Flaps as required (see POH) 3 S Security Hatches and harnesses tight and Secure, no loose articles 4 E Engine Temp / Press, Check for Carb ice, mixture RICH 5 Fuel pump ON 6 L Location Clear of cloud, controlled airspace Built up areas and airfields 7 L LOOKOUT 360° turn to check for aircraft especially below CONTINUED STALL / AEROBATICS ( H E L L ) TAKE-OFF / STALL / AEROBATIC PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 9 CRUISE / RE-JOIN CHECKS (F R E D A) 1 F Fuel selector On and sufficient (including go-around & diversion) 2 F Fuel pump ON if necessary, tanks even 3 R Radio On and corect frequency set Joining instructions if required 4 E Engine Temp / Press, mixture Check for carb. Ice 5 D DI Synchronized with compass 6 A Altimeter QNH set as required PRE-LANDING CHECKS 1 B Brakes OFF 2 U Undercarriage Fixed 3 M Mixture Rich 4 F Fuel selector On fullest tank, Sufficient 5 F Fuel pump ON 6 F Flaps As required 7 P Pitch Fixed 8 I Instruments Engine temp & press checked, Altimeter set 9 C Carb. Heat Checked, return Cold 10 H Hatches Secure 11 H Harness Secure and fastened GO-AROUND 1 Throttle Full power, correct for yaw 2 Carb. Heat COLD 3 Flaps Retract in stages at safe height 4 Radio 'Go-around'call, ATC instructions CRUISE / RE-JOIN / GO-AROUND PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 10 AFTER LANDING Vacate active runway and stop 1 Carb. Heat Cold (if necessary) 2 Flaps UP 3 Trimmer Neutral 4 Throttle Nut Loosen 5 Fuel pump OFF 6 Anti-collision lights OFF 7 Electrics Non-essential OFF 8 Radios Non-essential OFF SHUT DOWN 1 Position Into wind, nosewheel straight 2 Parking brake ON 3 RPM 1200 for 30 secs 4 Magnetos Check for dead cut 5 Radio OFF 6 Throttle Close 7 Mixture Idle Cut Off (fully lean) After engine stops 8 Magnetos OFF, KEY OUT 9 Electrics OFF 10 Master Switch OFF 11 Harness Left tidy 12 Hatches Doors and windows closed. LANDING & SHUT DOWN CHECKS PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 11 EMERGENCY FIRE FIRE ON THE GROUND If taxying, stop clear of other aircraft, fuel trucks/stations, etc 1 Throttle Closed 2 Mixture Idle Cut Off (fully lean) 3 Fuel selector OFF 4 Fuel pump OFF 5 Magnetos OFF 6 Master Switch OFF 7 Brakes Parking brake ON Evacuate to a safe distance upwind, taking fire extinguisher. CABIN FIR IN THE AIR 1 Master Switch OFF if electrical fire 2 Electrical circuits OFF as required 3 Fire extinguisher Use as necessary Forced landing procedure or diversion as applicable ENGINE FIRE IN THE AIR 1 Throttle Close 2 Mixture Idle Cut Off (fully lean) 3 Fuel selector OFF 4 Fuel pump OFF 5 Magnetos OFF 6 Cabin heather/Defrost OFF Forced landing (without power) procedure DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTART EMERGENCY : FIRE PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 12 EMERGENCY ELECTRICS RADIO FAILURE 1 Radio Check frequency, volume, squelch Check avionics selector/switches, 2 Headset Check plugs secure, change Headsets, try hand microphone 3 Electrics Check ammeter, Master Switch Circuit breakers - reset once only 4 Transponder Set 7600 Speechless / Transmit blind / Non-radio procedure as appropriate ELECTRICAL FAILURE 1 Electric load Reduce (non-essential electrics/radio only) 2 Field/Output Circuit Breaker Check / Reset 3 Ammeter/Low voltage Warning light Check 4 If NO OUTPUT Reset Master Switch (off for 2 secs, then on) IF OUTPUT RESTORED Restore essential electrics singly IN THE EVENT OF REPEATED/CONTINUED ELECTRICAL failure : select only essential electrical services, divert if applicable, note radio transmission makes a particulary heavy drain on the battery EMERGENCY / ELECTRICS PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 13 EMERGENCY ENGINE ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKE-OFF ( E F A T O) Lower nose to maintain best glide airspeed, Select landing area ahead, use flaps as necessary, 1 Fuel selector OFF 2 Fuel pump OFF 3 Magnetos OFF 4 Master Switch OFF Brief passengers/tighten harness/unlatch door as time permits NEVER ATTEMPT TO TURN BACK ENGINE FAILURE AT ALTITUDE (Forced landing without power) Immediate actions, Attain and maintain best glide speed – TRIM, Assess surface wind, Select suitable landing area, Plan approach pattern, Check for Cause of failure, 1 Carb Heat ON 2 Fuel selector Change tanks, check sufficient, 3 Fuel pump ON 4 Mixture Check 5 Primer LOCKED 6 Magnetos On BOTH 7 Throttle Check If engine does not restart, R/T ‘MAYDAY’ call, Committed checks 1 Fuel selector OFF 2 Fuel pump OFF 3 Magnetos OFF 4 Harness Tight 5 Doors Unlatched 6 Crew / passengers Briefed, as time permits 7 Master Switch OFF EMERGENCY / ENGINE PIPER PA38 Checklists Koninklijke vliegclub De Wouw Royal Aéro Club Le Milan EBTN 016 / 81.22.78 14 EMERGENCY DITCHING AT SEA DITCHING PROCEDURE (without power) Establish glide, head for coast line or any shipping area, check for causes of failure as time permits. 1 Radio MAYDAY call 2 Transponder 7700 3 Harnesses Tight 4 Doors Unlatched, DV window open 5 Crew / passengers Briefed Large swell / Light wind : land along swell, tail down stalled Light swell / Strong wind : Landing into wind, tail down stalled After ditching, use survival equipment : DO NOT INFLATE LIFE JACKETS IN CABIN Emergencies by their nature are not standard, and this checklist can olnly provide a guide to the appropriate actions - in an emergency : PILOT JUDGEMENT SHOULD DICTATE PILOT ACTIONS EMERGENCY / DITCHING

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