Top 10 Things To Check Before Taking Off | The Mini Powered Parachute Preflight | Easy Flight

This is my Top 10 list of things I like to inspect before I take off.
Learn more about powered parachuting at easyflight.com!
1. Fuel level. Flights of any duration will consume fuel and two-stroke oil. So obviously that is the first thing to check. You do not need to necessarily fill the fuel tank, but you do need to know that you have enough fuel and oil in order to complete the next period of flying. Gas is easier to get hold of than two-stroke oil if you're away from your base of operations. So some pilots will carry extra two-stroke oil with them.
2. Fuel filter. You'll see in this list that a lot of the things I believe need to be checked have to do with your fuel system. Most engine problems are issues having to do with fuel and air. Fortunately, air is plentiful and easy to get into the engine. However, fuel requires plumbing and precise metering in order for your engine to operate properly.
If there are nasty things in your fuel, they will end up in your fuel filter. That is certainly a better place for them than inside your engine. But too many nasty things in your fuel filter will prevent the fuel from flowing. So making that effort to bend over and look at that fuel filter is worth it.
3. Fuel lines. Your fuel lines are of course critical because they get the fuel from your fuel tank into your carburetors. However, they are relatively fragile. They are made out of rubber or plastic tubing and are easily pulled away from fittings, constricted, worn, and damaged by heat.
4. Carburetor and Air Filter. Visually checking all of the connections is a good place to start, but grabbing and trying to move the air filter is just as important. If the air filter and carbs can't take a little manhandling then they won't be able to take the rigors of the engine running without falling off!
While you are looking at the carburetors it is also a good time to look at your air filter. Depending upon your conditions, your air filter may get full of dirt. That will certainly reduce the efficiency and power of your engine.
5. Throttle lever. Your throttle lever has built into it a connection between the lever itself and a relatively fine control cable. The control cable can be attached to the throttle lever in a few different ways, but a lot of throttles use a set screw that mechanically pinches the cable. The combination of the cable being pinched along with the movement of the throttle can sometimes fray and damage the cable right at that set screw. If you see a strand of cable that seems broken, that means that your throttle system is beginning to fail.
6. Fluids. Your engine may have liquid coolant, two-stroke oil, gearbox oil and other fluids. Each time you land is a good opportunity to see if anything is leaking. Check the entire area around the engine as well as the fittings for the various hoses.
7. Landing gear. Check for landing gear security. Some landings are rougher than other landings. Those are the landings that deserve extra landing gear scrutiny. Check for dents, fastener security and wheel condition. Really hard landings have actually cracked wheels. If you're near a hard surface, you may want to check your wheel bearings by rolling the machine forward and back and listening for any kind of grinding sound indicating bearing failure.
8. Propeller. Don't forget to check the leading edge of your propeller blades. Propellers can be damaged just by taxiing to your takeoff point. Tall grass, weeds, and gravel can all do serious damage to your propeller. And if you flew in some rain, even the raindrops can do damage to those leading edges. Check the leading edge tape for security, the propeller blades themselves for cracking or chipping, and the propeller hub for security.
9. Caps. You have all kinds of caps to check on and make sure they are secure. This is especially true if you have added fuel or two-stroke oil to your powered parachute.
10. Parachute and lines. Of course parachute layout should be a standard thing for you. Whatever combination of training and equipment-specific techniques you have learned should be adhered to. But if somehow you landed and the parachute lines got anywhere near your exhaust system, you need to check to see that they are left undamaged. You should do that while the lines are still over the engine area so that you can focus on the ones more likely to be damaged. Damage is checked for by running the strings between your finger and thumb so you can feel for hard, smooth spots in the lines. Those kinds of spots indicate melting. And a line that has been damaged by heat is far weaker than an undamaged line. In fact, if you have such a line you should mark it and not fly that wing until it is repaired.
If you have landed on a surface that has thorns or crop residue that can snag a seam in your parachute, then you want to inspect your parachute carefully also.

[@MeatTheBible]

Sad to say I have not been checking my fuel filter as part of preflight. We sure do learn a lot from you. Thanks for your hard work.

[@EasyFlight]

Thanks for writing! It's amazing what can get into the fuel filter in short order.

[@dogeman2486]

I've recently started training to get my sports pilot license and I enjoy your videos. I find them informative and helpful.

[@EasyFlight]

Thank you very much! Good luck with your training!

[@clerissonmesquita]

Thank you so much for your invaluable information, highly appreciate it, have a great day, keep it up the outstanding job.

[@EasyFlight]

Thank you!

[@The_Real_Indiana_Joe]

Things I have discovered on pre-flight inspections: cracked prop (from rocks being kicked up during transport). Cracked tube connector (from stress of 100s of landings). Chaffed radiator hose. Twisted lines (easily solved by flipping chute in opposite direction). And I found a clogged fuel filter by a clear sealant from sealing instruments onto the fuel tank by manufacturer (this was found after an emergency landing because of engine failure). PPCs have the advantage of being very easy to inspect, there's are not many hidden areas. Might as well take advantage of it.

[@EasyFlight]

Nice additions! Thanks!

[@robertgary3561]

Can you do one on wing layout? I was taught a hybrid of stack and inverted. Would be good to see pros/cons other than just what the FAA mentions.

[@martinpoleski1204]

Whenever I add fuel or oil I always lay the cap on the seat. That way if I forget to replace the cap I will see it on the seat before I go anywhere.

[@EasyFlight]

That's right! You will see it. And if you don't see it, you'll feel it... 😀

[@b.atwater3904]

I have a habit of always checking the starter recoil for proper tension and any fraying of the cording. I also be sure to start the machine from the seated position after the warm up to make sure there is no binding of the starter rope or handle.

[@EasyFlight]

That's a great tip for the pull start guys!

[@donshields4470]

Great video......on my situation...just had to purchase a tractor for my business. Will kinda push my flight training out another year. Thanks for your hard work.

[@EasyFlight]

Thanks! I hate it when life gets in the way of fun, though! Hope to fly with you sometime soon!

[@robertgary3561]

Question? Why don't we sump fuel in PPCs? Every other category (other than gliders) we always sump fuel.

[@gymshoedecoyco.5842]

How did u get that last 8 min of footage from that frontal angle.?

[@patkaczmarek7362]

1. Don't take off. 2. If still confused, refer back to step 1. 3. When no longer confused and reading this step, give yourself a slap.