NCHF Ground School — One-Pager
Area II · Preflight Procedures · print-friendly
🖨️ Print this page
Quick-reference memory items — carry this to the cockpit.
One-Pager — Area II Preflight Procedures (Lessons 09–11)
Preflight inspection & risk (Lesson 09)
Run the
POH preflight checklist
— same path every time; no distractions. If interrupted, back up several items.
Check rotor blades, controls/linkages & hardware, drive/belts, fluids (oil + gearboxes), fuel sumped, airframe/skids.
PAVE
risk buckets: Pilot · Aircraft · enVironment · External pressures — identify
and mitigate
.
Flight-deck management & passenger briefing (Lesson 10)
Secure loose items (nothing near the controls); checklist & charts reachable; harnesses/doors set.
SAFETY
brief: Seatbelts · Air/environment · Fire/exits · Emergency/equipment · Traffic/talking · Your questions.
Rotor safety (critical):
approach/depart front or sides in pilot's view —
never the rear
(tail rotor); stay low, nothing overhead; downslope side on slopes.
Brief on the ground, engine off. Set “sterile” times (takeoff/approach).
Engine start, rotor engagement & before-takeoff (Lesson 11)
Always the
POH Section 4 checklist
, never memory. Call
“CLEAR”
and check the area before start/engagement.
After start: confirm
oil pressure rises promptly
; engage clutch smoothly, watch the clutch light and rotor.
Before takeoff:
governor
holds RPM in the green ·
hydraulic check
done · gauges in limits · controls free & correct · area clear · briefing complete.
Any abnormal gauge, light, or noise = shut down and investigate, not “watch and go.”
✍️ Your aircraft (N-________) — fill in & confirm with your CFI
Key limit / speed:
Key limit / speed:
R44 POH section:
Look these up in your R44 POH and confirm with your CFI before flight — leave blank until verified.