assembly interruption a dangerous thing

I use a written assembly check list, laminated and attached to a
clipboard. I check off each step with a red grease pencil. *If by
chance I'm interrupted, I have a written record of the assembly
progress and know exactly where I left off and what steps remain.

Rich Kiray-

I like this approach. As I've noted here before, I have a written
checklist, two columns of items in various stages from "assembly" to
"grid" to "pre-launch", with a separate section for contest-specific
items (task sheet, retrieve number, etc.). They're organized so I can
start in the wing carrythrough area then move to the instruments then
under the fuselage to the right wing, tail, left wing., etc. I shared
it with ex F-14 Navy pilot Bif Huss in Cordele last week and he had
some good suggestions from his own checklists based on military pilot
practices. I'm waiting to get his consolidated version back.
Checklists are deceptively simple stuff but there are so many things
that have to be attended to before we fly that I haven't trusted my
memory in many years.

During a contest, I actually check each item off: a vertical mark one
day, then a horizontal mark the next, a circle the next, etc. (uses
less paper that way; a laminated card and grease pencil would be
better, but I keep adding to the checklist). Just so I can see at a
glance what I've missed. That gives me the comfort of stopping in the
middle of the sequence to do something else (including chatting) or
skipping past an item knowing I'll see it later and come back to it.
For local flights, I'm more inclined to eyeball each item. Every
glider is different and pilots have different requiremnents, but
here's my list in plain text format. Please post your additions/
comments. It's been a while since we did this on RAS.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA

ASSEMBLY ( * Critical Assembly Check)
___ * Main Pins Safetied
___ ELT Armed
___ Main Battery Installed/Checked
___ Tail Battery Installed/Checked
___ Radio Checked
___ LNAV Checked
___ GPS-NAV Installed/Checked
___ Pocket NAV Installed w/ Flash Card
___ Garmin GPS Receiver Installed/Cleared
___ Extra Batteries
___ Altimeter Set
___ Drinking Water Loaded
___ Parachute/Lumbar Cushion In
___ Relief System OK
___ Tire Pressure 35 psi
___ Landing Gear Doors/Springs OK
___ Tow Release Checked
___ Left Wing: Wing Root Taped
___ * Winglet Installed
___ Zig-zag Tape OK
___ Mylar Seals OK
___ Aileron Drive OK
___ Rear Static Ports Clear
___ Multi Probe Installed
___ * Tail Bolt Installed
___ Tail Taped
___ Tail Wheel 35 psi
___ Elevator/Rudder: Mylar Seals OK
___ Zig-zag Tape OK
___ Rudder Cable Attachments OK
___ Right Wing: Zig-zag Tape OK
___ Mylar Seals OK
___ Aileron Drive OK
___ * Winglet Installed
___ Wing Root Taped
___ Wings Washed
___ Fuselage/Tail Washed
___ Canopy Clean
___ Water Ballast Filled/Valves OK
___ Oxygen Bottle Filled/Installed
___ Oxygen Canula Installed

GRID
___ Sunglasses (dark)
___ Sunglasses (light)
___ Glasses
___ Glasses - Reading
___ Map
___ Food
___ External Catheter
___ Cell Phone
___ Hat
___ Wallet Stowed in Cockpit
___ Final Glide Calculator
___ Pencil/Pen
___ Cleaning Cloth
___ Flying Glove
___ Flying Clothes/Boots
___ Landout Jacket Stowed
___ Telephone Coins
___ Tie Down Stakes/Ropes
___ TOST Adapter/Rope
___ Survival Kit & Flashlight

TASK CHECK
___ Task Sheet
___ Turnpoint List
___ Radio Frequencies Stored in Radio Memory
___ Landing Card with Contest Phone Number
___ Map (with course marked)
Pocket NAV
___ Altitude set
___ Task set

PRE TAKEOFF
___ * POSITIVE CONTROL CHECK
___ Tail Dolly Off
___ Radio On
___ LNAV/GPS-NAV On
___ Pocket NAV On
___ Garmin GPS On
___ Wind Direction Checked
___ Air Vents Adjusted
___ Oxygen: Connected/Valve Open

IN COCKPIT
___ Altimeter Set
___ Belts Fastened
___ Cable
___ Controls Checked Positively
___ Canopy Down and Locked
___ Dive Brakes Closed and Locked
(Dive Brakes Out for Takeoff)

_______________________________

LANDOUT
___ GPS-NAV trace transferred
___ LNAV/GPS-NAV/Pocket NAV Off
___ Pocket NAV in pocket
___ Garmin GPS in pocket
___ ELT Off
___ Wallet In Pocket
___ Lat./Long.
___ Retrieve Telephone Number
___ Cell Phone in Pocket
___ Glider Secured
___ Static Ports Taped (loosely!)
___ Multi Probe Stowed/Port Taped
___ Landing Card Filled Out
___ Retrieve Directions
___ REMOVE PROBE/PORT TAPE

TRAILER HOOK UP
___ Wingstands Loaded
___ Top Latched and Safetied
___ Tie Down Ropes Removed
___ Front Door Latched Securely
___ Hitch Locked on 2" (NOT 1 7/8") Ball/Checked
___ Dolly Wheel Stowed
___ Safety Chain Connected
___ Breakaway Wire Connected
___ Lights Connected and Checked
___ HAND BRAKE OFF ! ! !
___ Tires OK
___ Watch Out For Tie Down Stakes !

I was always taught that if you're interupted in any check list type
of activity to go back to the beginning and start over until you get
to a proper finish. If it is already assembled, you just need to check
that it is complete and correct.

My flying group is a very talkative and helpful group so we often
interupted in assembly or disassembly, so this technique works quite
well.

Also on our 1-26's only the pilot installs and fastens the Turtle deck
so he can check that all 10 pins are installed and locked before
flight.

JayWalker