How To Begin The Engine
Starting the engine is not as simple as starting your car. Before starting the engine, there are precautions that must be followed to ensure the safety of everyone inside and around the airplane. To accomplish this task, there are procedures and a checklist to follow once the pre-flight inspection and ramp out procedures have been completed. Continue with the before start checklist. The procedure for the before start checklist begins with announcing before start checklist. First, the crew and any passengers should be briefed using the outline located on the Weight and Balance datasheet. Next, review the airport diagram, making sure to find your current location, pertinent norms and the location of runway incursion hotspots and complex intersections. Keep this diagram easily accessible for future use. Now onto the instrument panel. Ensure the fuel selector valve is on both, which provides fuel to the engine from both tanks. Then verify the fuel shutoff valve as in the ON position. This means the red knob is in the full forward position. Check that the mixture control is in the idle cutoff or full aft position.
Then transition over to the standby battery switch. Hold the switch in the test position for ten seconds. While you're testing the battery, you must ensure the green light stays lit the entire time. If you look away, you could potentially miss the light dim, which would be a failure of the test at the completion of the ten seconds, move the switch up to the armed position and wait for the G1000 system to power on. Once the primary flight display turns on, check that all the engine indicators are working. Make sure that the cabin power switch is turned off and all the circuit breakers are in. Finally, double check that the parking brake is set and make sure all occupants have their seat belts on.
Now that you've run through all the items using the checklist. Verify that all items are complete. Then say before start checklist, complete!!
Now that the airplane is configured, the engine start checklist can be initiated. Announce engine start checklist. Before beginning first turn the master switch on to allow electrical power to be supplied to the rest of the electrical system. Then check the engine oil temperature to determine if a hot or cold start procedure should be used. If the engine oil temperature is below 100 and 20 degrees, a cold start should be performed, which involves priming the engine first turn on the fuel pump. Then while pushing the mixture control full forward look at the fuel flow gauge to see a rise in fuel pressure. This should take about three to five seconds. When this has happened, return the mixture to idle by first pressing the button on the mixture control and then pulling the mixture all the way out. Finally turn the fuel pump off. If the engine oil temperature is at or above 100 and 20 degrees and the engine has been off for less than 30 minutes, no priming should be necessary. If it has been longer than 30 minutes, a short one or two second prime should help the engine start.
Set the throttle in a quarter inch from idle. The pilot should ensure the area around the propeller and engine is clear and free of any debris. Do not start the airplane with a tail pointing into an open hanger, parked cars, or groups of people. The blast of air from the turning propeller is powerful and could cause injury or damage. In addition, do not start the aircraft if a fuel truck is in the process of fueling an airplane adjacent to your aircraft. Visually check the area around for potential hazards and yell Clear prop out the window.
If no response is heard, you may start the engine. At this point, the key should be placed into the ignition, turning it. Three clicks to the right will set the ignition to both. One additional click will take it to start. The engine can start immediately or it can take a few rotations of the propeller. Regardless, you need to be ready for it because once it starts you need to smoothly move the mixture control to fall forward and release the starter key.
Check that the oil pressure is within the green operating range. Check the load meter to verify that amps are positive, which means the batteries are charging. The engine start checklist is complete so the pilot should announce engine start checklist complete.
Then transition over to the standby battery switch. Hold the switch in the test position for ten seconds. While you're testing the battery, you must ensure the green light stays lit the entire time. If you look away, you could potentially miss the light dim, which would be a failure of the test at the completion of the ten seconds, move the switch up to the armed position and wait for the G1000 system to power on. Once the primary flight display turns on, check that all the engine indicators are working. Make sure that the cabin power switch is turned off and all the circuit breakers are in. Finally, double check that the parking brake is set and make sure all occupants have their seat belts on.
Now that you've run through all the items using the checklist. Verify that all items are complete. Then say before start checklist, complete!!
Now that the airplane is configured, the engine start checklist can be initiated. Announce engine start checklist. Before beginning first turn the master switch on to allow electrical power to be supplied to the rest of the electrical system. Then check the engine oil temperature to determine if a hot or cold start procedure should be used. If the engine oil temperature is below 100 and 20 degrees, a cold start should be performed, which involves priming the engine first turn on the fuel pump. Then while pushing the mixture control full forward look at the fuel flow gauge to see a rise in fuel pressure. This should take about three to five seconds. When this has happened, return the mixture to idle by first pressing the button on the mixture control and then pulling the mixture all the way out. Finally turn the fuel pump off. If the engine oil temperature is at or above 100 and 20 degrees and the engine has been off for less than 30 minutes, no priming should be necessary. If it has been longer than 30 minutes, a short one or two second prime should help the engine start.
Set the throttle in a quarter inch from idle. The pilot should ensure the area around the propeller and engine is clear and free of any debris. Do not start the airplane with a tail pointing into an open hanger, parked cars, or groups of people. The blast of air from the turning propeller is powerful and could cause injury or damage. In addition, do not start the aircraft if a fuel truck is in the process of fueling an airplane adjacent to your aircraft. Visually check the area around for potential hazards and yell Clear prop out the window.
If no response is heard, you may start the engine. At this point, the key should be placed into the ignition, turning it. Three clicks to the right will set the ignition to both. One additional click will take it to start. The engine can start immediately or it can take a few rotations of the propeller. Regardless, you need to be ready for it because once it starts you need to smoothly move the mixture control to fall forward and release the starter key.
Check that the oil pressure is within the green operating range. Check the load meter to verify that amps are positive, which means the batteries are charging. The engine start checklist is complete so the pilot should announce engine start checklist complete.