A thorough preflight inspection is one of the most important habits a pilot can develop.
It's easy to get comfortable with an airplane, especially one you fly regularly, but familiarity should never replace diligence. A good preflight is methodical, deliberate, and consistent. At AKS, we encourage pilots to develop a repeatable inspection flow using the aircraft's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) as a guide. Think of your flow as the process and your checklist as the verification. Having a consistent routine helps prevent missed items, reduces distractions, and makes the entire process considerably more efficient.
Here's a look at Chief Flight Instructor Scott Settle’s approach to building a thorough preflight flow:
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Before starting your exterior inspection, remove any control locks, tiedown chains, chocks, cowl plugs, pitot socks, or aircraft covers. Check the Hobbs meter and tachometer to verify beginning times in FSP, and confirm the required ARROW documents are on board. Next, perform electrical checks. This is a good opportunity to verify that lights, flaps, pitot heat, and other electrical systems are functioning properly.
Once your electrical checks are complete, turn the electrical system OFF. Don't leave it running throughout the remainder of your preflight. Now head back outside the aircraft.
1. START AT THE WHEEL
Beginning on the PIC-side of the aircraft, work your way down to the landing gear.
Inspect the wheel, strut, brakes, and tire, paying particular attention to:
Brake lines: Look for signs of fluid leakage or damage.
Brake calipers: Check that they're secure and that the brake pads have adequate material remaining. Scott uses approximately two credit cards' worth of brake pad as a visual rule of thumb, while also looking for cracks, breaks, or other damage. Always defer to the aircraft's applicable maintenance limits.
Tires: Check inflation, tread condition, and any cuts, bulges, or unusual wear.
Wheel bearings: Look for grease leaking from the outside of the wheel, which may indicate a bearing issue.
As you move around the airplane, take advantage of each opportunity to sump the appropriate fuel tanks and inspect the samples for water, sediment, or other contamination.
2. WORK YOUR WAY ALONG THE EMPENNAGE
Continue along the tail, paying close attention to the airplane's exterior surfaces and control components.
Look for wrinkles, missing rivets, loose screws, and anything that appears out of place. Significant surface wrinkles deserve particular attention, as they may indicate missing rivets, corrosion, or damage to the underlying structure.
Make sure all screws are present, especially in high-stress or high-airflow areas.
Inspect the elevator or stabilator and any exposed control cables. Check hinges and linkages, paying special attention to hardware. If a connection uses a castellated nut and cotter pin, make sure both are present and properly installed.
Continue around the other side of the empennage, inspecting the tail, as well as the belly of the aircraft. Look for antennas, including VOR, ELT, communications, and GPS antennas, and check that they're secure and undamaged.
Don't forget about inspection plates! Ensure each plate is present and that its retaining screws are accounted for. A missing inspection plate or screw is easy to overlook if you're moving too quickly.
3. CHECK HINGES, FLAPS, AND CONTROL LINKAGES
As you work toward the wing, inspect the flap tracks and pushrods for obstructions, damage, missing rollers, or anything that could cause unnecessary rubbing or friction. Check for chips, cracks, and missing pieces. On applicable Cessna models, you'll also find three flat metal weights along the underside of the flap, near the upper wing surface. These should be present and properly secured.
Pushrods should have the appropriate freedom of movement without excessive play. For example, Scott looks for a small amount of side-to-side movement without unwanted fore-and-aft movement. Always verify acceptable movement against the aircraft's maintenance guidance.
Continue toward the outboard portion of the wing, making sure that hardware is present and properly secured. (You will repeat these steps on the other wing later).
4. INSPECT THE LEADING EDGE AND FUEL SYSTEM
Move around to the front of the wing and inspect the leading edge. Look for dents, bird strikes, or any other evidence of physical impact. Even minor damage deserves a closer look.
Check the side of the cowling and ensure the static ports are clear of debris. On most Cessna models, the exhaust stack should be secure and should not move. This is also a convenient time to check the fuel system. Inspect the fuel caps for worn or damaged rubber seals, and make sure the fuel vent openings are clear. On applicable Cessna fuel caps, pay particular attention to the small vent hole on top.
When checking fuel quantity, dip the tanks to establish the actual fuel level rather than relying solely on the fuel gauges. Continue sampling fuel as you work around the airplane, following the appropriate procedures for each tank.
5. DON'T FORGET THE BELLY AND LANDING GEAR
Take a moment to get down and look underneath the aircraft.
Look for fresh oil, fuel stains, or other evidence of significant leakage. A quick glance from standing height isn't always enough!
Inspect the landing gear scissor truss, checking that castellated nuts and cotter pins are present and properly secured.
Check the strut extension against the aircraft's specified limits. Scott uses a two-to-three-finger-width visual reference as a general reminder, but the manufacturer's specifications should always determine whether the extension is acceptable.
Finally, inspect the shimmy damper. This is the piston-like component that protrudes from the lower portion of the landing gear. Make sure it's present and appears properly secured.
6. MOVE TO THE FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT
Now it's time to inspect the engine compartment and propeller.
Before inspecting the propeller and underside of the cowling, check the engine oil. When removing and replacing the dipstick, be careful not to overtighten it. Excessive force can damage the oil filler tube or stretch and break the safety wire designed to prevent the dipstick assembly from rotating.
Next, inspect the alternator belt for appropriate tension and condition. A useful visual check is to ensure the belt doesn't rotate more than approximately 90 degrees under the applicable checking method, but always follow the manufacturer's specified inspection procedure.
Check the propeller for nicks, dings, and other damage. Pay particular attention to imperfections that catch your fingernail or are otherwise significant to the eye.
Before moving on, make sure all cowling screws and spinner screws are present and secure.
7. FINISH THE OTHER WING
Continue around the opposite side of the airplane, repeating the wing inspection process.
Check the static port, if present, and inspect the pitot tube. Ensure the pitot opening and drain hole are clear of debris.
Test the stall warning indicator according to the aircraft's POH and applicable procedures.
Continue along the wing, inspecting the leading edge, control surfaces, hinges, hardware, tires, brakes, and fuel system as you work your way back toward your starting point.
By now, you should have completed a full circuit of the aircraft without skipping any major components.
8. THE FINAL WALK-AROUND
Before climbing into the cockpit, take one last look at the airplane.
Stand in front of it and simply look. Does anything seem out of place? Is anything hanging, missing, loose, or unusual? Take a moment to compare what you're seeing with your checklist and verify that nothing has been overlooked.
This final pause is particularly important when you're flying with passengers.
Whenever possible, have your passengers loaded and settled before completing this final aircraft preparation. It gives you a moment to concentrate without being interrupted by questions, conversations, or the general excitement of getting ready to fly. And remember: flying is not driving a car. The consequences of overlooking something during your preflight can be considerably more serious.
A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS
Develop a consistent flow, use your checklist as verification, and never allow familiarity or time/passenger pressure to compromise your inspection. If something doesn't look right, don't dismiss it. Stop, investigate, and ask your instructor or maintenance personnel when necessary.
Every airplane is different, so always follow the aircraft-specific POH, checklist, and applicable maintenance requirements. The techniques discussed here are intended to help build a systematic inspection habit, not replace the manufacturer's procedures or establish universal airworthiness limits.
The few extra minutes you spend on the ground can make all the difference once you're in the air!
