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Lesson Review

This was my first official lesson - so due to a combination of over-preparedness, excitement and a slight case of "first flight nerves", I showed up to the airport about an hour early - but that was just fine. I love to watch the traffic, listen to the radio chatter and just be around planes and pilots in general.
As I left work and headed toward the airport, everything thing felt fine - but by the time I arrived at the airport, I was starting to notice the wind - very gusty. As I was sitting around outside the FBO, I heard an incoming plane contact the KJEF tower, announcing that they were downwind of Runway 12. Since I fancy myself an aspiring aviator, I decided that I was going to spot this airplane ahead of it's final. I looked at the runway position (remembering that unless otherwise specified, it would be a left-hand traffic pattern), and determined that from where I was positioned, the airplane would appear on the opposite side of the runway, flying from my right to my left.
On paper, I might have been correct - but I didn't end up seeing that airplane until it was on final. I watched the plane muscle it's way through the wind gusts and onto the tarmac, lurching this way and that a bit, but for the most part a pretty uneventful landing. The pilot rolled to the taxiway hold line, paused for clearance, then taxied to the GA parking area. To my surprise, the first person to climb out of that little airplane was John Swan, my CFI. Later on, he bragged a bit about how good that landing actually was, considering the conditions.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that he had to fight to get that plane on the ground earlier, John decided that we wouldn't be getting in the air today - the wind was just too much. Since we were both at the airport and we had the time, John decided that we would go through a very thorough preflight. Not quite what I was expecting out of the day, but hey - it's a start!

Onboarding Documentation

John and I went over billing; the syllabus for the lesson plans; and he provided documentation for the school, airport and the airplane we would be using for the training: the Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II. We also discussed the Pre-flight Briefing, Abort Plan Briefing and Passenger Briefing.

Preflight Checklist

Approach

  • Our preflight checklist procedures began as we approached the plane. We looked for oil puddles, major structural issues - just anything that was obviously wrong. This is a unique vantage point during your preflight checks and gives you a great overall view of the aircraft.

Documentation

  • Enter the cabin and retrieve the checklist
  • Next, we checked for the required documentation using the AROW acronym
    • A: Airworthiness Certificate
      • This was on the back wall of the cabin
    • R: Registration Certificate
      • This was with the Airworthiness certificate on the back wall of the cabin
    • O: Operating Handbook (a.k.a.: Pilot's Operating Handbook / POH)
      • This was in the seat back compartment of the copilots seat.
    • W: Weight and Balance Information
      • This was in the POH binder

Electronics and Avionics

  • Toggle on the Master Switch and engage all lights
    • Beacon Light
    • Landing Light
    • Anti-collision Lights
    • Navigation Lights
    • Instrument Lights
  • Before exiting the cabin
    • Verify all instrument lights are lit
    • Verify fuel gauges are indicating fuel levels
  • Walk around the exterior of the aircraft anti-clockwise to visibly verify each of the lights are active, returning to original position
    • Rear Stabilizer
      • Beacon Light
        • Red, atop the vertical stabilizer
        • should be blinking or rotating
    • Right Wing
      • Navigation Light
        • Green, front wingtip
        • Should be solid
      • Anti-collision Strobe
        • White, mid-wingtip
        • Should be blinking
    • Front
      • Landing Light
        • Bright white light beneath spinner
        • Should be solid
    • Left Wing
      • Navigation Light
        • Red, front wingtip
        • Should be solid
      • Anti-collision Strobe
        • White, mid-wingtip
        • Should be blinking
    • Rear Stabilizer
      • Navigation Light
        • White, rear of stabilizer
  • Return to cabin and disengage all lights

Exterior and Fuel

  • Retrieve Fuel Sampler
  • Lower Flaps
  • Open pilot window flap
  • Working your way around the airplane anti-clockwise, check the following
    • Right Wing
      • Flap
        • Down
        • Firm
        • Linkages have play, but are not too loose
        • Hinges are in good condition and do not have major gaps
        • Same is true of underside
      • Aileron
        • Moves freely
        • Verify yoke movement
        • Verify opposite aileron inverse movement
        • Linkages have play, but are not too loose
        • Hinges are in good condition and do not have major gaps
        • Same is true of underside
      • Wing Tip
        • Ensure that navigation lights and anti-collision strobes are securely fastened
      • Wing Surface
        • No major dents
        • No missing screws or rivets
        • No blocked air inlets
      • Fuel
        • Use the fuel sampler on the fuel sump points beneath the wing, checking for the following:
          • Light blue color
            • Check against the white color of the fuselage
          • Water
            • Water will sink to the bottom of the tester and should "bubble"
            • If present, dispose of the fuel
          • Particulates
            • Agitate the tester to cause any particulates to show up
            • If present, dispose of the fuel
        • Open the fuel filler cap to visually inspect the fuel tank
          • Verify that fuel level is at "tabs" or above
    • Right Landing Gear Assembly
      • Inspect tire for inflation and wear
      • Inspect brake pads, rotors and lines
      • Verify a few inches of strut are visible
    • Right Front Fuselage
      • Look for any warped panels or missing screws / rivets
      • Check windscreen for cleanliness and damage
    • Right Engine Compartment
      • Look for any liquids, frayed wires or evidence that an animal has taken up residence
      • Check engine oil level, ensuring that the dipsticks indicates 8 quarts
      • Close the compartment, ensuring that both clasps are securely fastened
    • Front
      • Ensure that the landing light is securely fastened
      • Look for any missing screws/rivets on cowling and on the spinner
      • Inspect air inlets for evidence of animals
    • Left Engine Compartment
      • Look for any liquids, frayed wires or evidence that an animal has taken up residence
      • Close the compartment, ensuring that both clasps are securely fastened
    • Left Front Fuselage
      • Look for any warped panels or missing screws / rivets
      • Check windscreen for cleanliness and damage
      • Use fuel sampler on the fuel sump point, checking for the following:
        • Light blue color
          • Check against the white color of the fuselage
        • Water
          • Water will sink to the bottom of the tester and should "bubble"
          • If present, dispose of the fuel
        • Particulates
          • Agitate the tester to cause any particulates to show up
          • If present, dispose of the fuel
    • Left Landing Gear Assembly
      • Inspect tire for inflation and wear
      • Inspect brake pads, rotors and lines
      • Verify a few inches of strut are visible
    • Left Wing
      • Wing Surface
        • No major dents
        • No missing screws or rivets
        • No blocked air inlets
      • Pitot Static System
        • Inspect all ports are clear of obstruction
      • Fuel
        • Use the fuel sampler on the fuel sump points beneath the wing, checking for the following:
          • Light blue color
            • Check against the white color of the fuselage
          • Water
            • Water will sink to the bottom of the tester and should "bubble"
            • If present, dispose of the fuel
          • Particulates
            • Agitate the tester to cause any particulates to show up
            • If present, dispose of the fuel
        • Open the fuel filler cap to visually inspect the fuel tank
          • Verify that fuel level is at "tabs" or above
      • Stall Horn
        • Lift the flap on the stall indicator and listen for the horn form the cabin
      • Wing Tip
        • Ensure that navigation lights and anti-collision strobes are securely fastened
      • Aileron
        • Moves freely
        • Verify yoke movement
        • Verify opposite aileron inverse movement
        • Linkages have play, but are not too loose
        • Hinges are in good condition and do not have major gaps
        • Same is true of underside
      • Flap
        • Down
        • Firm
        • Linkages have play, but are not too loose
        • Hinges are in good condition and do not have major gaps
        • Same is true of underside
    • Left Rear Fuselage
      • Look for any warped panels or missing screws / rivets
    • Empennage
      • Vertical Stabilizer
        • Check for dents
      • Stabilator
        • Check for smooth Elevator movement
        • Verify yoke movement
          • Elevator Up / Yoke Back
          • Elevator Down / Yoke Down
        • Check for trim tab movement
          • Should be more exaggerated than the elevator
        • Verify linkages have play put are not too loose
    • Right Rear Fuselage
      • Look for any warped panels or missing screws / rivets
    • Baggage Compartment
      • Verify contents
      • Verify securely fastened and locked
    • Return to cabin
    • Replace fuel sampler and checklist
    • Close Pilot Window Flap
    • Raise flaps

Instrument Basics

John and I walked through the standard 6-pack, reviewing the use of each instrument and the redundant use of each.

Wrap-up

John and I walked through the FBO and I learned about the filing system, where the various offices were and a few people's names. At the end of all of my questions and a quick discussions about the weather, John added the FAA endorsement to my logbook and logged 1.5 hours of Ground Training.

Last Thoughts

As disappointing as it was to not be able to fly today, there was still a lot of great information for me to review and absorb. My next scheduled flight day is in two days, but from what the forecasts are saying, I'll be sitting that one out as well.