Even though most airplanes are equipped with electric starters, it is helpful if a pilot is familiar with the procedures and dangers involved in starting an engine by turning the propeller by hand (hand propping)
Prior to starting jet, air intakes and the surrounding area shall be inspected to eliminate the possibility of Foreign Object Debris, or FOD
Whenever an engine is started, personnel with adequate fire extinguishing equipment, if available, shall be stationed in the immediate vicinity of the engine but safely clear of intakes or propellers
In starting an aircraft, all challenges and signals between the person operating the starting device and the person at the engine controls shall be clearly understood and so indicated by repetition before action is taken by either person
Where the engines are started entirely from the cockpit, the person at the engine controls should exchange signals with a person observing the engine from outside the aircraft
Hand Propping:
Hand propping enables pilots to start engines of aircraft that lack an electrical system
Even though most airplanes are equipped with electric starters, it is helpful if a pilot is familiar with the procedures and dangers involved in starting an engine by turning the propeller by hand (hand propping)
Due to the associated hazards, this method of starting should be used only when absolutely necessary and when proper precautions have been taken
An engine should not be hand propped unless two people (preferrably both pilots), both familiar with the airplane and hand propping techniques, are available to perform the procedure
Hand Propping Precautions:
The person pulling the propeller blades through directs all activity and is in charge of the procedure
The other person, thoroughly familiar with the controls, must be seated in the airplane with the brakes set
Both participants should discuss the procedure and agree on voice commands and expected action
As an additional precaution, chocks may be placed in front of the main wheels
If an additional person is unavailable to help, the airplane's tail may be securely tied (with slack removed)
When hand propping is necessary, the ground surface near the propeller should be stable and free of debris
Unless a firm footing is available, consider relocating the airplane
Loose gravel, wet grass, mud, oil, ice, or snow might cause the person pulling the propeller through to slip into the rotating blades as the engine starts
To begin the procedure, the fuel system and engine controls (tank selector, primer, pump, throttle, and mixture) are set for a normal start
The ignition magneto switch should be checked to be sure that it is OFF
Then the descending propeller blade should be rotated so that it assumes a position slightly above the horizontal
The person doing the hand propping should face the descending blade squarely and stand slightly less than one arm's length from the blade
Never allow a part of your body to enter the prop arc
If a stance too far away were assumed, it would be necessary to lean forward in an unbalanced condition to reach the blade
This may cause the person to fall forward into the rotating blades when the engine starts
The propeller is swung by forcing the blade downward rapidly, pushing with the palms of both hands
If the blade is gripped tightly with the fingers, the person's body may be drawn into the propeller blades should the engine misfire and rotate momentarily in the opposite direction
As the blade is pushed down, the person should step backward, away from the propeller
If the engine does not start, the propeller should not be repositioned for another attempt until it is certain the ignition/magneto switch is turned OFF
The words CONTACT (mags ON) and SWITCH OFF (mags OFF) are used because they are significantly different from each other
Under noisy conditions or high winds, the words CONTACT and SWITCH OFF are less likely to be misunderstood than SWITCH ON and SWITCH OFF
When removing the wheel chocks after the engine starts, it is essential that the pilot remember that the propeller is almost invisible
Incredible as it may seem, serious injuries and fatalities occur when people who have just started an engine walk or reach into the propeller arc to remove the chocks
Before the chocks are removed, the throttle should be set to idle and the chocks approached from the rear of the propeller
Never approach the chocks from the front or the side
The procedures for hand propping should always be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and checklist
Special starting procedures are used when the engine is already warm, very cold, or when flooded or vapor locked
There will also be a different starting procedure when an external power source is used
Hand Propping Procedure:
Person out front says, "GAS ON, SWITCH OFF, THROTTLE CLOSED, BRAKES SET"
Pilot seat occupant, after making sure the fuel is ON, mixture is RICH, magneto switch is OFF, throttle is CLOSED, and brakes SET, says, "GAS ON, SWITCH OFF, THROTTLE CLOSED, BRAKES SET"
Person out front, after pulling the propeller through to prime the engine says, "BRAKES AND CONTACT"
Pilot seat occupant checks the brakes SET and turns the ignition switch ON, then says, "BRAKES AND CONTACT"
Night Considerations:
After the pilot is seated in the cockpit and prior to starting the engine, all items and materials to be used on the flight should be arranged in such a manner that they will be readily available and convenient to use
Extra caution should be taken at night to assure the propeller area is clear
Turning the rotating beacon ON, or flashing the airplane position lights will serve to alert persons nearby to remain clear of the propeller
To avoid excessive drain of electrical current from the battery, it is recommended that unnecessary electrical equipment be turned OFF until after the engine has been started
After starting and before taxiing, the taxi or landing light should be turned ON
Continuous use of the landing light with r.p.m. power settings normally used for taxiing may place an excessive drain on the airplane's electrical system
Also, overheating of the landing light could become a problem because of inadequate airflow to carry the heat away
Landing lights should be used as necessary while taxiing
When using landing lights, consideration should be given to not blinding other pilots
Taxi slowly, particularly in congested areas
If taxi lines are painted on the ramp or taxiway, these lines should be followed to ensure a proper path along the route
The before takeoff and run-up should be performed using the checklist
During the day, forward movement of the airplane can be detected easily
At night, the airplane could creep forward without being noticed unless the pilot is alert for this possibility
Hold or lock the brakes during the run-up and be alert for any forward movement
Aircraft Start-up Considerations:
Priming is helpful for many engines, but the amount of priming is dependent upon the density of the air
Warm air requires less priming, cold air requires more, potentially twice as much
When starting an engine, it is not necessary to advance the throttle far forward before start
Doing so may cause the engine to go from cold to an excessively high RPM on start
Often, a closed throttle is sufficient
Cold Temperature Engine Starting:
Starting an engine in the cold produces some challenges
Components like metals contract in the cold, impacting how the engine performs as compared to when warm
Low vapor pressure combined with reduced battery efficiency can make cold temperature start-ups more difficult
Carburetor engines are more likely to experience difficulty starting as compared to fuel-injection
Carbureted engines can benefit from a few pumps of primer during cold temperature operations
When engines fail to start, the chance of overpriming increases, and fuel may pool in the cylinders, disrupting the fuel/air ratio, posing a backfire or engine fire risk
Consider an external observer when starting engines in cold weather to provide advanced warning of fires
The aircraft's POH/PIM knows what is best for that specific aircraft but as a rule-of-thumb, cold weather starts can cause abnormal engine wear, reduced performance, and therefore decreased time between heavy maintenance like an overhaul
Some of this is due to metallurgy being out of tolerance, but also reduced oil flow
Cold engine temperatures can be mitigated by storing aircraft in heated hangars, or absent that, using a device that heats the engine before starting such as a pre-heater blowing hot air into the cowling, or an electronic engine-mounted heater
When using pre-heaters, follow the manufacturers guidance, to include your aircraft
Avoid excessive heat to non-metalic equipment
Do not leave the heater on for longer than recommended
Once complete with pre-heating, inspect the engine for any foreign objects, and once clear, start the engine before the aircraft's engine cools down again
Aircraft Engine Flooding:
An engine is considered flooded when too much fuel has entered the cylinder, thereby disturbing the fuel/air ratio
This can be caused by over priming or too many start attempts
Cold weather makes an engine particularly susceptible to flooding with engine pre-heat being a preventative measure
Aircraft manufacturers will have specific procedures to clear a flooded engine, but generally speaking, pilots may:
Reduce the mixture to idle and crank the engine (blowing fuel out of the exhaust)
Allow the aircraft to sit (for gas to evaporate)
Of course, extra fuel in the system carries at least some level of risk and so engine fire procedures should be reviewed just in case
Safety Considerations:
Pilots should always shout clear prop prior to starting the engine to not only make sure the prop area is clear of people, but that others around are not surprised when the engine starts
Surface Area Dangers:
Personnel must always be aware of the dangers associated with moving surfaces
Rotor wash created by the blades of a rotary-winged aircraft or thrust from the exhaust section of a fixed-winged aircraft may cause severe personnel injury
The proper safety equipment must always be worn when working on flight decks and flight lines
Starting An Aircraft:
Most aircraft have starters that automatically engage and disengage when operated, but some older aircraft have starters that are mechanically engaged by a lever actuated by the pilot
The starter engages the aircraft flywheel, rotating the engine at a speed that allows the engine to start and maintain operation
Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Typical Starting Circuit
Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Typical Starting Circuit
Electrical power for starting is usually supplied by an on-board battery, but can also be supplied by external power through an external power receptacle
When the battery switch is turned on, electricity is supplied to the main power bus bar through the battery solenoid
Both the starter and the starter switch draw current from the main bus bar, but the starter will not operate until the starting solenoid is energized by the starter switch being turned to the "start" position
When the starter switch is released from the "start" position, the solenoid removes power from the starter motor
The starter motor is protected from being driven by the engine through a clutch in the starter drive that allows the engine to run faster than the starter motor [Figure 4]
When starting an engine, the rules of safety and courtesy should be strictly observed
Clear the area visually and make a call, "Clear prop!"
In addition, the wheels should be chocked and the brakes set, to avoid hazards caused by unintentional movement
When using a starter, don't hold the started for more than a few seconds or it can burn out due to excessive heat
To avoid damage to the propeller and property, the aircraft should be in an area where the propeller will not stir up gravel or dust
Engine Run-up:
Aircraft Positioning:
When present, aircraft utilize designated run-up areas
These areas allow pilots to conduct systems checks without impeding airport taxi operations
Run-up areas can be identified by reviewing chart supplements or airport diagrams
Aircraft should position themselves in a location where they can leave the run-up area, have sufficient space to get back onto the taxiway centerline, and conduct a visual check of potential traffic on final approach
Before conducting a run-up before takeoff, it is generally a good idea to point the aircraft into the wind, and if able, while still able to see final
Doing so will allow you to monitor airport traffic and allow airflow over the engine during the run-up
Care must be taken to position the aircraft so higher power settings do not kick up debris into other aircraft, vehicles, structures, etc.
Setting Up Avionics:
After the electrical system has been energized and is functioning, avionics may be set up
Ensure all test modes are run on avionics, as appropriate
Set up any navigation equipment with the associated flight plan, initial headings/NAVAIDs, etc.
This includes setting the CDI/HSI for the initial course expected with the appropriate navigation source selected (GPS, VOR, etc.), as appropriate
Use of the heading bug to reflect the wind may be useful to determine crosswind component on takeoff, but may negatively impact navigation - depending on the aircraft set-up
Set navigation maps to the appropriate location with appropriate zoom
Set the frequncy you expect to talk on first with the next anticipated in the backup
It is helpful to set up avionics such that you can perform a radio check on all radios in the aircraft prior to take off (i.e., use COMM 1 for ground, COMM 2 for tower
Confirm transponder codes
Aircraft Run-up Considerations:
When advancing the throttle, pay attention to engine smoothness and consistency in operation
Checking magnetos not only ensures smoothness of operation on a single magneto, but verifies proper timing and unfouled magnetos
Checking propeller systems, if appropriate, verifies the functionality of the propeller system and the integrity of the lubrication system
Checking carburetor heat verifies functionality should the flight experience or suspect icing conditions
Confirming suction gauge reads properly verifies the vacuum system operation is healthy to provide accurate instrument readings for those instruments that require
When retarding the throttles, pay attention to engine smoothness and consistency in operation
Be mindful of surface conditions, such as ice, that could cause the aircraft to slide when at a high power setting
Throughout the entirety of the run-up, pay attention to unusual noises or inconsistencies throughout all checks
Private Pilot (Airplane) Engine Starting Airman Certification Standards:
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Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with recommended engine starting procedures
Potential powerplant failure during takeoff or other malfunction considering operational factors such as airplane characteristics, runway/takeoff path length, surface conditions, environmental conditions, and obstructions.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Before Takeoff Check Skills:
Divide attention inside and outside the flight deck.
PA.II.F.S5:
Verify that engine parameters and airplane configuration are suitable.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Engine Starting Airman Certification Standards:
Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with recommended engine starting procedures
