Checklist for Twin Comanche (Don't Forget To Scroll Down...)
This is a checklist that I made for my Twin Comanche that I printed up on a series of 5 X 8 inch cards
and placed in a multi-page vinyl wallet. I bought several of these wallets in various sizes from AWK Aviation
Checklists and I found the 5 X 8 worked best considering the amount of information involved. Please feel
free to copy this checklist and modify it to your needs. With a few changes, it actually works pretty good
for single engine Comanches as well. If you want to make a copy of this, the best way is to simply go to
Edit up above on your toolbar in Internet Explorer and click on Select All. Then click on Copy. Next open your
word processor program such as MS Word and paste this into a new document. You can now edit
out this opening paragraph and the photo and make any changes that you wish. You can select the amount of text you
want so you can print just one 5 X 8 card at a time and figure out what spacing you want, etc. I print the
Emergency procedures on pink cards so they stand out.
PA 30 N8121Y
CHECK WEATHER FILE FLIGHT PLAN
CHECK WEIGHT AND BALANCE
WALK-AROUND CHECKLIST
1. Insure landing gear switch in down position
2. Turn on master. Check gear light. If not on
check instrument panel switch is off.
3. Drain 1/4 pint from all 4 tanks. Leave on
main tanks.
4. Check stall horn
5. Rotating beacon. If night flight, check nav
and landing lights.
6. Master off.
7. Check fuel sump not leaking.
8. Flight control surfaces.
9. Right wing: fuel quan.,caps secure
oil, tires, brakes, fuel vents open
10. Landing gear struts 2 3/4inch piston exposed
11. Propellers
12. Windshield clean and secure.
13. Left wing: same as right wing
14. Pitot tube and pitot heat if instrument flt.
15. Dorsal fin air scoop free of obstruction.
16. Baggage door secure.
17. Towbar secured
18. Remove chocks
19. Stow heatshields
FLOODED START
1. Magneto switches on
2. Throttles open
3. Mixtures idle cut-off
4. Electric fuel pumps off help
5. Starters engage
6. When engine fires, retard
throttle and advance mixture
HOT START
1. Try without priming
2. If that does help, try mixture
at idle cutoff and use regular procedure
PRE-START CHECKLIST
1. Gear selector switch in down position.
2. Maps, App plates, flight plan, lapboard,
pencil, flashlights.
3. Seat belts .
4. Circuit breakers.
5. Master on, master avionic switch on.
6. Radio #1 copy ATIS.
7. Call clearance delivery, copy clearance.
8. Set freq. in Nav radios, ADF, Check Marker B.
9. Set transponder code, leave on standby.
10. Set altimeter, chek alt. static source.
11. Altimeter, altitude, and climb rate set
in altitude pre-select
12. VS Pre-select switch "on"
START ENGINES AND PRE-TAXI CHECKLIST
1. Master on.
2. Gear light check green
3. Fuel quantity guage.
4. Cowl flaps open.
5. Trim tabs set
6. Throttles 1/2 inch open.
7. Props full forward
8. Mixture full rich
9. Boost pumps on until flow indicated
10. Mixture idle cut-off
11. Magnetos on
12. Props "Clear"
13. Starter
14. Mixture advance, adjust props
15. Check oil and fuel pressure.
16. Generators on, Beacon on, Nav lights @ night
17. HSI & ADF agree w/ magnetic compass
18. Check autopilot test and disconnect
19. Heading bug on initial course
20. Check strikefinder/stormscope test
21. HSI slaving "on"
RUNUP CHECKLIST 3
1. Parking brake on
2. Engine runup
a. mixture controls forward
b. prop controls forward
c. throttle controls forward 1500 rpm
d. prop controls exercise, check feather
e. throttle controls forward 2200 rpm
f. magnetos check normal drop ~100 rpm
maximum drop 175 rpm
differential drop 50 rpm
3. Engine gauges check green
4. Lights: Beacon, nav lights at night
5. Pitot heat as required
6. Transponder standby
7. Flaps up for normal takeoff.
8. Suction gauge 4.8 to 5.1 inches Hg.
9. Directional Gyro set
10. Turn and Bank operating
11. Altimeter set
12. Clock set
13. Door locked
14. Record time, set timer
SPEEDS
Best rate of climb 112
Best angle of climb 90
VMC 90
Best single engine R/C 105
Best single engine cruise 135
Maximum gear extension 150
Maximum flap extension 125
Manuevering speed 3600# 162
Manuevering speed 2450# 135
Stall clean airframe 76
Stall flaps and gear down 69
1.3 Vso 90
Vno 194
Vne 230
TAKE OFF CHECKLISTS4
1. Fuel main tanks on
2. Engine guages checked
3. Boost pumps on
4. Cowl flaps open
5. Controls free
6. Trim tabs set
7. Flaps up, door locked
8. Transponder on
9. Take runway-- does heading match DG??
===================================
10. Mixture, Props, Throttles full forward
11. Accelerate to 95 mph prior to climb
12. Landing gear retract when positive rate
13. Accelerate to 112 mph best rate of climb
14. At 400 feet AGL adjust power to 25 square
15. Boost pumps off one at a time
CRUISE CHECKLIST
IFR report reaching altitude
1. Set cruise power.
2. Lean out mixture.
3. Trim.
4. Close cowl flaps.
5. Boost pumps on.
6. Switch to aux tanks if appropriate.
7. Set timer for tank use.
8. Boost pumps off.
PERFORMANCE DATA
Take off run 950 feet
Take off dist over 50 ft obst 1530 feet
Landing roll 1215 feet
Landing over 50 ft obst 1875 feet
Service Ceiling 18,600 feet
Absolute Ceiling 20,000 feet
Single eng service ceiling 5,800 feet
Single eng absolute ceiling 7,100 feet
DESCENT CHECKLIST5
IFR report leaving altitude
1. Boost pumps on.
2. Switch to main tanks.
3. Boost pumps off.
4. Enrich mixture as appropriate.
5. ATIS, set radios, turn on marker beacon
6. Set DG and altimeter.
TURN TIME TWIST THROTTLE TALK
APPROACH AND LANDING CHECKLIST
VFR IFR
1. Boost pumps on.
2. Fuel tanks main.
3. Mixture rich.
4. Props 2400 RPM
5. Cowl flaps open.
6. Gear down.
7. Flaps set.
8. IDENTIFY ALL NAVAIDS
9. SET FREQ AND RADIALS
10. MARKER BEACON ON
11. GET MISSED AP INSTR
12. START TIMER AT FAF
13. HEADING BUG TO COURSE
POST LANDING CHECKLIST
After leaving runway
1. Flaps IDENTIFIED, flaps up.
2. Cowl flaps open.
3. Boost pumps off.
4. Transponder to standby.
5. Lean mixture.
SHUTDOWN CHECKLIST
1. Radios off.
2. Heater off.
3. Mixture idle cut-off.
4. Magnetos off.
5. Master off.
6. Heat shields.
7. Secure controls with seat belt.
8. Lock and tie down plane.
9. CLOSE OUT FLIGHT PLAN.
LOSS OF POWER BEFORE LIFTOFF 6
1. Reduce power immediately.
2. Retain directional control.
LOSS OF POWER AFTER LIFTOFF
If sufficient runway left.
1. Reduce power immediately.
2. Land the airplane.
If insufficient runway left
1. Maintain directional control.
2. Establish best SE R/C 105 mph.
3. Insure props, mixture, throttles forward
4. Insure flaps and gear up.
5. Verify proper engine and if can't restart
then feather.
6. Climb straight ahead, don't turn sharply.
SINGLE ENGINE APPROACH
1. Reduce power in good engine as needed.
2. Retrim the airplane gradually.
3. Lower landing gear only when landing sure.
4. DON'T PLAN ON GO-AROUND.
5. Maintain additional altitude and airspeed.
6. Use 105 mph as approach speed.
7. Use flaps on final approach as needed.
UNFEATHERING
1. Mags on. Generator off for that engine.
2. Mixture rich.
3. Throttle open 1/2 inch.
4. Prop control on cruise setting.
5. Engine starter long enough to spin prop.
6. Allow engine to idle at 1000 to 1500 rpm
until oil temp and pressure climb.
CROSSFEED 7
1. Fuel valve on either Main or Aux on
inoperative side
2. Boost pumps off on both except when changing
tanks or if mechanical pump failure, then
you must use boost pump on operating side.
3. Crossfeed ON on operative engine
4. DON'T PUT BOTH FUEL SELECTOR VALVES ON
CROSSFEED
If crossfeed has been used to extend range the
fuel system should be taken off crossfeed prior
to landing by the following procedure:
1. Fuel valve ON main tank on operating side
2. Fuel valve OFF on inoperative side
3. Boost pump ON on operative side
MANUAL GEAR EXTENSION
1. Check master and gear circuit breakers.
2. Check master switch is on.
3. Nav lights are off, so that green light
can be seen in daytime.
4. Remove cover on floor.
5. AIRSPEED NOT OVER 100 MPH.
6. Landing gear switch to down and locked.
7. Disengage motor. Raise motor release arm
and push forward thru full travel.
8. Remove gear extension handle. If left socket
not visible, place handle in right socket and
engage slot and twist clockwise to lock
handle. Rotate handle to bring left socket
into view and put handle into left socket and
rotate handle forward full travel to extend
landing gear. Green light on panel indicates
landing gear down and locked.
9. Reducing power and rocking the gear extension
handle will help extend the gear.
FIRE ON GROUND 8
1. If started, run for 3 min at 1700 rpm
If not started:
Mixture off, throttle full, crank 2 minutes
2. Mixture, fuel valve, boost mags off.
3 Call for help on radio.
4. Master off, fire extinguisher, evacuate.
ENGINE FIRE IN FLIGHT
1. Fuel valve, throttle, mixture off.
2. Feather prop.
3. Fuel pump off, mags off, cowl flaps closed
4. Generator off.
WING FIRE IN FLIGHT
1. Turn off nav and landing lights, pitot heat.
2. Land immediately.
ELECTRICAL FIRE
1. Master switch off.
2. Electrical equipment off.
3. Leave mags on!!
4. Cabin air off.
5. Use extinguisher as needed.
SMOKE OR FUMES
1. Cabin vents open.
2. Open storm window.
3. Turn off heater/Defroster.
ICING ENCOUNTER 9
1. Turn back, change altitude.
2. Pitot heat on.
3. Cabin heat/defroster full on.
4. Alternate air as needed.
5. Maintain high rpm for less ice.
Cycle props rpm if vibration.
6. If still icing, land ASAP.
7. Caution: higher stall speed.
Use faster appr. speed. Avoid missed
Approach.
ELECTRIC TRIM MALFUNCTION
1. Hold pitch attitude with elevator.
2. Pull electric trim circuit breaker.
3. Retrim manually.
PROPELLER OVERSPEED
1. Prop full low, then set if any control.
2. If no help, then retard throttle.
3. Reduce aircraft speed to 95 to 100 mph
4. If at high altitude, descend to lower alt.
5. If cannot be controlled, then feather.
DOOR OPEN IN FLIGHT
1. Don't panic because of noise and buffeting.
2. If on climbout maintain airspeed and control.
3. Slow aircraft to 125 mph, then lower flaps.
4. Slow aircraft to 100 mph, open storm window.
5. Skidding may help slightly.
6. Open door a little and slam shut. Usually it
is easier for pilot than right seat passenger.
7. If you can't close door, then land.
8. Maintain slightly higher approach airspeed
on final.
DITCHING 10
1. TRANSMIT MAYDAY ASAP
2. DON'T DITCH UNLESS LAST RESORT
Often can fly just above surface for miles
3. Gear up
4. Flaps 20 degrees
5. Seat belts tight, cushion face with pillows
6. Door open with object to prop it open.
7. Get vests on, life raft up front, don't
inflate vests in plane, remove headsets
8. Parallel the swells, don't flare
9. Make as slow a landing possible
10.Evacuate plane, inflate raft
LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS WHILE ON IFR FLIGHT PLAN
IF IN VFR CONDITIONS
1. Land as soon as practicable.
2. Notify ATC
IF IN IFR CONDITIONS
1. Transponder to 7700 one minute then 7600
2. Fly last route assigned
3. On Radar vector, direct to fix or airway
4. If no assigned route, then expected route
or route as filed on flight plan.
5. Altitude-the highest of either:
last assigned altitude, MEA, or expected
6. Leave hold at either EFC time or if expect
approach cl time received, leave in time
to arrive over fix at that time. If ahead
of ETA hold at fix until ETA. All approaches
are protected.
7. Begin descent from enroute altitude at fix,
but not before the EAC time or ETA
IFR CHECKLIST 11
WEATHER & FLIGHT PLAN
WEIGHT & BAL TAKE OFF DISTANCE
1. File flight plan before preflight
2. ATIS on #1 radio
3. Altimeter to field elevation
4. VOR's test logged
5. VSI, Pitot heat, marker beacon
6. DG, A/I, and ADF
7. Altern. static source test and closed
8. Clock and timer
9. Circuit breakers
10. Auto pilot, set heading bug
11. Suction gauge
12. Flight controls free, trim to take off
13. Call Clearance Delivery for IFR Clearance
14. Call GND on #2 radio, if complicated ask
for progressive taxi instructions.
15. Taxi to ramp. Check Compass, T/B, D/G
16. Radios on tower and departure control
17. TAKE OFF: Record time
Transponder on
FAA FLIGHT PLAN
1. VFR, IFR, DVFR 9. DESTINATION AIRPORT
2. A/C N NUMBER 10. TIME ENROUTE HR:MIN
3. A/C TYPE, EQUIP 11. REMARKS NO SIDS/STARS
4. TRUE AIRSPEED 12. FUEL HRS:MIN
5. DEPARTURE PT 13. ALTERNATE AIRPORT
6. DEPART TIME Z 14. PILOT NAME, ADDRESS
7. CRUISE ALTITUDE PHONE, A/C HOMEBASE
8. ROUTE OF FLIGHT 15. NUMBER OF PERSONS
16. COLOR OF AIRCRAFT
FLIGHT PLANNING 12
FUEL CONSUMPTION AT 4000 FEET
(2400 RPM) power fuel gph
Fuel consumption 55% 13.4
leaned to best 65% 15.2
economy 75% 17.2
4000 feet with no reserves
RPM MP TAS(MPH)
55% power 1000 miles 2400 19.4 160
65% power 970 miles 2400 21.6 175
75% power 920 miles 2400 23.7 187
8000 feet with no reserves
RPM MP TAS(MPH)
55% power 1025 miles 2400 18.4 164
65% power 1000 miles 2400 20.5 180
75% power 950 miles 2400 22.5 194
RADIO FREQUENCIES
EMERGENCY 121.5
FLIGHT WATCH 122.0 Say your location
SERVICE DATA
Oil capacity 8 quarts
Fuel capacity 90 gallons
Air pressure nose and mains 42 PSI
DO NOT PRACTISE POWER ON STALLS ABOVE 2100 RPM
POWER SETTING ON THE PROPS, DUE TO EXCESSIVE
TORQUE ON THE SHAFT EXTENSION ON THE PROPELLERS