Note:
The Information provided in this booklet has been edited from a Piper 1973 Cherokee Cruiser Checklist. It is not to be used for commercial purposes and has been created as an example for the experimental aircraft for autonomous flight made from a Piper Cherokee, PA- 28-140, with the tail number N15726 for the Autonomous Cargo Aircraft Project at the
Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I do not claim rights not authorship to information provided for the manual flight specifications, designs, controls, manual procedures, or any information that can be directly quoted from the Piper 1973 Cherokee Cruiser Checklists.
Table of Contents Speeds for Normal Operation
Emergency Procedure
Disengaging Autonomous System Engine Failure During Takeoff
Engine Failure Immediately After Takeoff Engine Failure During Flight
Landing Without Engine Power Spins
Electrical Fire in Flight Engine Fire in Flight
Engine Fire During Start on Ground Preflight Inspection
Before Starting Engine Engine Start (Cold) Before Taxi
Before Take off Normal Take off Climb
Cruise
Before Landing After Landing
Shut Down, Securing Airplane Specifications
𝑉𝑥 74 MPH = Best Angle of Climb Speed 𝑉𝑦 85 MPH = Best Rate of Climb Speed 𝑉𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑙/𝑑 83 MPH = Best Glide (lift/drag)
𝑉𝑠 64 MPH = Stall Speed, Normal Configuration 𝑉𝑠𝑜 55 MPH = Stall Speed, Landing Configuration 𝑉𝑓𝑜 115 MPH = Maximum Flap Extension Speed 𝑉𝑎 129 MPH = Maneuvering Speed (at Gross Weight) 𝑉𝑛𝑜 140 MPH = Maximum Structural Cruising Speed 𝑉𝑛𝑒 171 MPH = Never Exceed Speed
100 MPH = Normal Climb Out
74 MPH = Short Field Take Off, Flaps 25˚ 85 MPH = Normal Landing Approach, Flaps Up 76 MPH = Normal Landing Approach, Flaps 40˚ 76 MPH = Short Field Approach, Flaps 40˚
Disengaging Autonomous System
1. Input to Safety Officer Board to disconnect all automatic systems 2. If Safety Officer Board Fails
a. Push Safety Officer Switch to BOTTOM b. Release to NEUTRAL
c. Pitch Override – pull string d. Roll Override – pull string e. Yaw Override – pull string f. Flaps – manual force g. Mixture – manual force h. Throttle – manual force i. Rudder Trim – manual force j. Stabilator Trim – manual force 3. If clutch removal fails
a. Pitch Override – pull gear pin b. Roll Override – pull gear pin c. Yaw Override – pull gear pin Engine Failure During Take Off
1. Disconnect automatic system 2. Throttle – IDLE
3. Brakes – APPLY
4. Mixture – IDLE CUT-OFF 5. Ignition Switch – OFF 6. Master Switch – OFF
Engine Failure Immediately After Takeoff 1. Disconnect automatic system
2. Airspeed - MAINTAIN SAFE AIRSPEED 3. Fuel Selector Valve - SWITCH TANK 4. Electric Fuel Pump - ON
5. Mixture - RICH 6. Carburetor Heat – ON Engine Failure During Flight
1. Disconnect automatic system 2. Airspeed – 83 MPH
3. Carburetor Heat – ON
4. Fuel Selector Valve – SWITCH TANKS 5. Mixture – RICH
6. Master Switch – ON 7. Auxiliary Fuel Pump – ON 8. Ignition Switch – BOTH
9. Primer – IN AND LOCKED
Note:
If engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion, power will not be regained after tanks are switched until empty fuel lines are filled, which may require up to ten seconds.
Landing Without Engine Power
1. Disconnect automatic system 2. Airspeed – 83 MPH
3. Radio – MAYDAY on 121.5 MHz 4. Mixture – IDLE CUT-OFF
5. Fuel Selector Valve – OFF 6. Ignition Switch - OFF 7. Master Switch – OFF 8. Door – OPEN
Touchdown should be made at lowest possible airspeed with full flaps. Spins
1. Disconnect automatic System 2. Throttle - IDLE
3. Rudder – FULL OPPOSITE TO ROTATION 4. Control Wheel – FULL FORWARD
5. Rudder – NEUTRAL WHEN ROTATION STOPS 6. Control Wheel – REGAIN LEVEL FLIGHT Electrical Fire in Flight
1. Disconnect automatic system 2. Master Switch - OFF
3. Vents – OPEN
4. Cabin Heat and Air – OFF
5. Land – AS SOON AS POSSIBLE Engine Fire in Flight
1. Disconnect Automatic System 2. Fuel Selector Valve – OFF 3. Throttle – CLOSED 4. Mixture – IDLE CUT-OFF 5. Cabin Heat and Air – OFF 6. Defroster – OFF
7. Forced Landing – EXECUTE Engine Fire During Start on Ground
1. Cranking – CONTINUE If Engine Starts
1. Power – 1800 RPM for a few minutes 2. Engine – SHUTDOWN AND INSPECT 3. Fuel Selector – OFF
4. Master Switch – OFF 5. Ignition Switch – OFF If Engine Fails to Start
1. Passengers – EVACUATE 2. Engine –SECURE
3. Mixture – IDLE CUT-OFF 4. Master Switch – OFF 5. Ignition Switch – OFF 6. Fuel Selector Valve – OFF 7. Fire – EXTINGUISH
Preflight Inspection
Cockpit
1. Required Documents – AVAILABLE 2. Control Lock – RELEASE
3. Flight Controls – FREE AND CORRECT 4. Mixture and Throttle – IDLE CUT OFF 5. Master Switch – ON
6. Fuel Quantity Gauges – CHECK 7. Lights – ON
8. Stall Warning – CHECK 9. Master Switch – OFF 10. Ignition Switch – OFF 11. Flaps – DOWN Right Wing
1. Flap – SECURE AND UNDAMAGED 2. Aileron – FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 3. Wing Tip and Light – UNDAMAGED 4. Aileron Counterweight – UNOBSTRUCTED 5. Tiedown – REMOVED
6. Fuel Tank – CHECK LEVEL, CAP SECURE 7. Tank Drain – DRAIN – SECURE
9. Landing Gear – UNDAMAGED 10. Tire – PROPERLY INFLATED 11. Chocks – REMOVED
Nose
1. Windshield – CLEAN AND UNDAMAGED 2. Engine Oil Level – 2 QTS MIN, 8 QTS MAX 3. Engine Oil Dipstick – SECURED
4. Propeller and Spinner – SECURE AND UNDAMAGED 5. Cowling – SECURE AND UNDAMAGED
6. Landing Light – SECURE AND UNDAMAGED 7. Nose Gear – UNDAMAGED
8. Tire – PROPERLY INFLATED
9. Tow Bar – REMOVED AND STOWED 10. Chocks – REMOVED
11. Alternator Belt – PROPER TENSION 12. Fuel Sump Drain – DRAIN, SECURE
Left Wing
1. Fuel Tank – CHECK LEVEL, CAP SECURE 2. Tank Drain – DRAIN, SECURE
3. Fuel – PROPER COLOR
4. Landing Gear – UNDAMAGED 5. Tire – PROPERLY INFLATED 6. Chocks – REMOVED
7. Wing Tip and Light – UNDAMAGED 8. Aileron Counterweight – UNOBSTRUCTED 9. Tiedown – REMOVED
10. Pitot Mast – UNDAMAGED
11. Aileron – FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 12. Flap – SECURE AND UNDAMAGED Empennage
1. Elevators – FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 2. Rudder – FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 3. Trim Tabs- SECURE, UNDAMAGED
4. Tail Cone and Light – SECURE, UNDAMAGED 5. Tie Down- REMOVED
1. Preflight Inspection – COMPLETE 2. Flaps – UP
3. Seat Belts, Shoulder Harness – ADJUSTED, LOCKED 4. Door – LATCHED
5. Radio, Autopilot, Electrical Equipment – OFF 6. Parking Brake – SET
7. Fuel Selector Valve – FULLEST TANK 8. Controls – CHECK
9. Circuit Breakers – CHECK
Engine Start (Cold)
Manual in All Cases
1. Parking Break – SET 2. Carburetor Heat – OFF
3. Fuel Selector Valve – FULLEST TANK Manual Start
1. Master Switch - ON 2. Electric Fuel Pump ON 3. Mixture - FULL RICH 4. Fuel Pressure - CHECK 5. Prime – AS REQUIRED 6. Throttle-OPEN ¼ INCH 7. Propeller – CLEAR 8. Ignition Switch – START 9. Oil Pressure – CHECK
10. Engine – WARM UP 1000 RPM 11. Radios – ON
12. Transponder – STANDBY Automatic Start
1. Ensure magneto safety switches are grounded 2. Master Battery switch - ON
3. Junction Box main power - ON
4. Check circuit breakers on Junction Box 5. Power up the computer
6. Safety ignition switch - ON
7. Monitor gauges and systems as computer begins the process of completing items found on the manual checklist for a Normal Start
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Brakes – TEST
3. Lights – AS REQUIRED 4. Radios – ON, CHECKED
Before Take Off
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Lights – AS REQUIRED 3. Flight Instruments – SET
4. Flight Controls – FREE AND CORRECT 5. Throttle – 2000 RPM
6. Magnetos – CHECK
7. Carburetor Heat – ON, CHECK, OFF 8. Engine Instruments – IN GREEN ARC 9. Vacuum Gauge – 4.9-5.1
10. Throttle – 1000 RPM 11. Trim Tab – SET 12. Mixture – FULL RICH
13. Auxiliary Fuel Pump – OFF, CHECK, ON 14. Parking Brake – RELEASE
15. Transponder – ON-ALT
Normal Take Off
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Flaps – UP
3. Carburetor Heat – OFF 4. Auxiliary Fuel Pump – ON 5. Throttle – FULL OPEN 6. Rotate – 50-60 MPH 7. Climb Speed – 85 MPH Short Field Take Off, Obstacle Clearance
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Flaps - 25˚ (second notch) 3. Carburetor Heat – OFF 4. Auxiliary Fuel Pump – ON 5. Brakes - HOLD
6. Throttle – FULL OPEN 7. Brakes – RELEASE
8. Rotate – 55-60 MPH
9. Initial Climb Speed – 74 MPH
Climb
Normal Climb
𝑉𝑥 74 MPH = Best Angle of Climb Speed 𝑉𝑦 85 MPH = Best Rate of Climb Speed
Cruise
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Electric Fuel Pump – OFF 3. Power – 2200-2600 RPM 4. Trim Tab – SET
5. Mixture – ADJUST
6. Fuel Selector – SWITCH AS NEEDED, THIS IS MANUAL
Before Landing
1. Seats, Belts, Shoulder Harnesses – ADJUST, LOCK 2. Fuel Selector – FULLEST TANK
3. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
4. Mixture – FULL RICH 5. Auxiliary Fuel Pump – ON 6. Parking Brake – OFF
7. Flaps – AS REQUIRED, BELOW 115 MPH 8. Airspeed – 85 MPH
9. Landing Light – ON
After Landing
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Flaps – UP
3. Auxiliary Fuel Pump – OFF 4. Mixture – LEAN MAX RPM
5. Landing Light – OFF 6. Carburetor Heat – OFF 7. Transponder – STANDBY
Shut Down, Securing Airplane
1. Monitor Autonomous system as it performs the following (may also be done manually)
2. Electrical Equipment – OFF 3. Mixture – IDLE CUT OFF 4. Throttle -
5. Ignition – OFF 6. Master Switch – OFF
7. Parking Brake – SET (IF REQUIRED) 8. Chocks/Tiedowns – INSTALLED 9. Parking Brake – OFF
Specifications
2150 lbs = Maximum Gross Weight 1490 lbs = Basic Empty Weight
444 lbs = Payload With Standard Fuel 8.4 gph = Fuel Flow @ 75% Power
50 gal = Total Fuel Capacity 36 gal = Standard Fuel Capacity 100LL = Fuel Octane Rating (Blue) 8 qts = Oil Sump Capacity
2 qts = Minimum Oil Quantity
150 hp = Lycoming O-320 12 V = Battery
3.8g = Positive Limit Load Factor 0g = Negative Limit Load Factor