Timo Denk's Blog

My Cessna 172S Checklist

· Timo Denk

I started working on my private pilot license (PPL) and realized the need for a custom checklist which was tailored to my own flow. The plane I’m flying is a Cessna 172S with G1000 and the checklist is specific to it. Please find the PDF here. Below is the Markdown variant of it. This is version v8 of the checklist from June 23, 2024.

The checklist is what is for me personally the optimal tradeoff between conciseness and completeness. It drops some of the items listed in the official checklist that I naturally do, such as buckling up the seatbelt. This is very peronal though, so it can serve to others at best as an inspiration in creating their own version.

PREFLIGHT

  • Documents (A, R, OHB, W&B) – PRESENT
  • Control Wheel Lock – REMOVE
  • MASTER Switch (ALT & BAT) – ON
  • AVIONICS Switch (check fans for BUS 1 and BUS 2 audible) – ON & OFF
  • Flaps – FULL
  • All Lights – ON
  • PITOT HEAT Switch – ON
  • Walk-around check all lights and pitot heat
  • PITOT HEAT Switch – OFF
  • All Lights (but BEACON) – OFF
  • MASTER Switch (ALT & BAT) – OFF
  • Fuel quantity – CHECK
  • Walk-around
    Incl. fuel sample, static port, engine oil >6 inch

BEFORE ENGINE START

  • FUEL SELECTOR Valve – BOTH
  • FUEL SHUTOFF Valve – ON
  • STBY BATT Switch (10s test, then) – ARM
  • Annunciator (3x) – ON
    OIL PRESSURE, STBY BATT, (LOW VACUUM)
  • BUS E Volts (verify ≥24V) – CHECK
  • BUS M Volts (verify ≤1.5V) – CHECK
  • BATT S Amps (verify discharge) – CHECK
  • MASTER Switch (ALT & BAT) – ON

ENGINE START

(if engine is cold, prime)

  • Throttle Control – OPEN 50%
  • FUEL PUMP Switch – ON
  • Mixture Control (until fuel flow is stable; about 3-5s) – FULL RICH & IDLE CUTOFF
  • FUEL PUMP Switch – OFF

(start-up the engine)

  • Propeller Area – CLEAR
  • Throttle Control – OPEN 0.25 INCH
  • MAGNETOS Switch – START
  • Mixture Control – ADVANCE TO RICH
    (engine starts)
  • Throttle Control – 900 RPM
  • Mixture Control – LEAN 1 INCH
  • TAXI Light – ON
  • AVIONICS Switch – ON
  • Radio ATIS – NOTE DOWN
  • Matt’s Flow – CHECK
    • Flaps – UP
    • Heading Bug – SET
    • Oil Pressure – CHECK
    • Squawk – SET
  • AMPS (M BATT & BATT S >0) – CHECK
  • Radio Ground – CALL
  • Brakes (both sides) – CHECK

(start taxiing)

DURING TAXI

(check one item at a time, look outside in between)

  1. Airspeed Indicator – ZERO
  2. Altitude – CHECK
  3. Heading Ind. and Compass – MATCH
  4. Attitude Indicator – CHECK
  5. Slip / Skid Indicator – CHECK

BEFORE TAKEOFF

  1. AP (Autopilot) – CHECK
    (1) HDG mode (2) nose up/down (3) manual override (4) FD off
    “Autopilot check”
  2. Flight Controls – CHECK
    (1) yoke (2) trim tab (3) rudder
    “Flight controls free and correct”
  3. Engine – CHECK
    (1) mixture full rich (2) ~1800 rpm (3) magneto check (max drop 175 rpm, 50 rpm diff) (4) fuel flow, oil pressure & temp green (5) idle (6) 1000 rpm (7) battery charging and 28V
    “Engine run-up check”
  4. Matt’s Flow – CHECK
    • Mixture Control – LEAN 1 INCH
    • Lights (at daytime) – ALL ON
    • GPS 1 & 2 – CHECK
  5. Give departure briefing

TAKEOFF

  • Mixture Control – FULL RICH
  • Throttle Control – FULL

(during the takeoff roll, one at a time)

  1. Engine RPM (~2,400) – CHECK
  2. Engine Gauges – GREEN
  3. Airspeed – COMES ON
    “Airspeed alive”

CLIMB

  • Flaps – UP
  • Throttle Control – FULL
  • Airspeed – 85
  • Mixture Control (above 3k feet) – LEAN

CRUISE

(Matt’s Flow)

  • Throttle Control – 2400 RPM
  • Mixture Control (above 3k feet) – LEAN
  • Instruments – MONITOR

DESCENT

  • Throttle Control – 1800 RPM
  • Vertical Speed – 500 FPM
  • Mixture Control – FULL RICH
  • FUEL SELECTOR Valve – BOTH

AFTER LANDING

(Matt’s Flow)

  • Flaps – UP
  • Mixture Control – LEAN 1 INCH
  • All Lights (but BEACON & TAXI) – OFF
  • Squawk – 1200

ENGINE OFF & SECURING

  • Throttle Control – OFF
  • AVIONICS Switch – OFF
  • Lights (except BEACON) – OFF
  • Mixture Control – IDLE CUTOFF
  • Plane Key – OUT
  • MASTER Switch (ALT & BAT) – OFF
  • FUEL SELECTOR Valve – LEFT
  • Note down tach & engine hours
  • STBY BATT – OFF
  • Control Wheel Lock – INSERT
  • Doors – LOCK
  • Park and attach tie downs

MATT’S FLOW

  1. FUEL SELECTOR Valve – BOTH
  2. FUEL SHUTOFF Valve – ON
  3. Trim – AS DESIRED
  4. Flaps – AS DESIRED
  5. Mixture Control – AS DESIRED
  6. Throttle Control – AS DESIRED
  7. Standby Instruments – CHECK
  8. Circuit Breakers – OFF
  9. Lights – AS DESIRED
  10. Primary Flight Display – CHECK
    (1) squawk (2) heading select (3) barometer (4) altitude select (5) radio frequencies
  11. Multi-Function Display – CHECK
    (1) engine (2) map (3) traffic