Pre-Flight/Pre-Takeoff Checklists

January 2003

Recently, a Fly Baby builder preparing for his first flight asked if I had any pre-flight or pre-takeoff checklists. I didn't...but got to thinking that folks might find them useful. So here goes.

First, one precaution: THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF ITEMS TO CHECK. The intent is to list the what I think are good Fly Baby-specific items to include on your own checklists. For instance, I'm ignoring the engine and propeller(mostly) because there's nothing really different between what you'd do on a Cub or Champ. To generate your own detailed checklists, get hold of one from another airplane, copy it, then add these Fly Baby items to it.

You'll also need to add items specific to your own configuration, too. If you've got a biplane or a canopy, add the appropriate steps.

Preflight

Cockpit

Seat secure, in position (Mine isn't bolted down, and the notches, etc. for keeping it in place aren't very deep.)
Shoulder harness draped across outside of turtledeck (to facilitate pulling them on once you drop into the cockpit. It's awkward to dig them out from behind your back....)
Seat belts clear of rudder cables, draped diagonally across front of seat (with my fat gut, the buckles hang below the seat level, which makes them easy to scoop out from under me once I'm in the seat)
Spar pins in place (If I think about it, I feel the back of the aft spar carry-though to see if the safety pins are in place)
Elevator pushrod attach bolt
If you have a folding seat back, look behind the seat and check the elevator walking beam
Aileron pushrods connected, with safety pins in place.
Turtledeck latches secure

Plus the normal cockpit stuff...controls clear, altimeter set, missing bolts, parts, etc.)

Wings

Landing wires attached to anchors
No distortion in fabric around anchors (would indicate that the attach points are damaged)
Close examination of flying wire anchor plates (cracks, bends, nuts in place, etc.)
"Plunk" both forward flying wires to see if they're about the same tension
Check turnbuckles, cables, and arrow
Check cables at wheel shackle...no fraying, kinking, etc.

Plus the usual wing stuff (aileron pushrod bolts, hinges,etc.)

Landing Gear

Flying-wire attachment shackle (look for damage, make sure the clevis pin is secured, etc.)
Flying-wire loops on shackle (fraying, kinks, damage, etc.)
Landing-Gear cross-brace cables, turnbuckles, and attach points
Plunk the landing-gear cross-bracing to ensure none have loosened
Make sure wheel-attach bolts are in place

Normal gear stuff (tires, brakes, etc.)

Engine and Propeller

Tail

Tail bracing cables, turnbuckles, and anchors
Elevator bolts (the ones that hold the individual elevators to the main bellcrank).
Check the differential play in elevators (This is common, and probably not a problem as long as the play is only an inch or so. The main thing is to monitor it to catch it if it gets worse)
Close examination of tailwheel horn (especially if not modified with reinforcement - See note below)
Shake tail slightly side-to-side, watching the motion of the tailwheel. Look for side-to-side play around the tailpost mounting (I had the lower bolt sheer once, and the greatly-increased play is how I detected it).

Normal tailwheel-airplane stuff (tailwheel assembly, elevator/rudder hinges, etc.)

Taxiing

Between a combination of tailwheel spring stiffness, tire condition, tire inflation, temperature, and taxi speed, the airplane sometimes starts bouncing up and down on its tires as it taxies along. It's not dangerous, it doesn't affect control. It's just an odd boing-boing-boing as you taxi merrily along. It's like someone dribbling a basketball.

It is totally harmless. I've never had it happen during takeoff run or landing roll. It tends to occur when the tires are stiff...new tires, freshly-inflated, and especially in colder weather. If you get the "dribbles", just slow down or speed up...it'll go away.

Pre-Takeoff

Controls free
Drop hand along seat belts, ensure they are clear of rudder cables (many seat belt assemblies have a slider for adjustment, and this slider seems to get real close to the cables...check the cable isn't hooked over the slider)
Goggles down
Jacket zipped (it can get distracting to have your clothing start whipping in the wind....)
Shoulder harness straps secured (I have a real problem with the loose ends of my harness flapping in the breeze. Just slide the ends underneath the harness)

This is addition to your normal pre-takeoff checks...instruments set, engine runup, etc. I'd do the above prior to the runup, so you have your goggles in place.

Ron Wanttaja

Note on Elevator Horn

The tailwheel is steered by a bellcrank bent out of flat 0.090" steel, as shown in Figure 6-6 of the plans (page 6-11 in my copy). Several high-time Fly Babies have experienced cracking in a leg of the horn. While the design is similar to the rudder horn, the rudder horn is flat and incorporates a bend at the leading edge to strengthen it. The legs of the Tailwheel Horn bend down at a 45 degree angle and thus can't incorporate a bend.

If you're flying a completed Fly Baby, keep an eye on this area. If you notice cracking, remove the horn and weld up the crack, adding stiffeners as shown in the diagram.. If you're building one, go ahead and install a modified horn instead of the stock one.

Comments? Contact Ron Wanttaja .