when to run up and check the prop

I fly some high performance, complex singles like Saratogas, Lances, C182RG,
C206, and the like. Typical flying days have multiple hops while seeing
customers. On one hand I know pilots who say that you should do a full run
up and prop check before every take off, because the checklist says to. On
the other hand, I know pilots, mostly owners of similar aircraft, who only
do a full runup and prop check on the first flight of the day. Their
rationale is that doing it four or five times a day is unnecessarily hard on
the engine and when its been flown in the last few hours there's no need to
cycle the prop more. They argue if there's a new problem during the day
like a mag, its easy to detect upon first throttle up as you take off. You
would hear and feel the engine roughness and see its not developing full
power.

Are there any good arguments out there based in science and fact and not old
wives tales to support only doing a run up and prop check on the first
flight of the day ? I'm talking about a situation where you're flying
multiple flights a day and the engine never completely cools off.

I'd only run up and check the prop when the engine's not running. You can
get hurt otherwise :-)

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

Bob Chilcoat wrote:
I'd only run up and check the prop when the engine's not running.
You can
get hurt otherwise :-)

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

sissy

\
dan

Bob Chilcoat wrote:
I'd only run up and check the prop when the engine's not running.
You can
get hurt otherwise :-)

For some corny reason, this made me burst out laughing at work. How
embarassing.

Charles.
-N8385U

Bob Chilcoat wrote:
I'd only run up and check the prop when the engine's not running. You can
get hurt otherwise :-)

Booooooo!!!!!

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.

"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
I'd only run up and check the prop when the engine's not running. You can
get hurt otherwise :-)

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

C'mon, Bob...we're trying to be serious here...

Are there any good arguments out there based in science and fact and not
old
wives tales to support only doing a run up and prop check on the first
flight of the day ?

How about lowering the risk of an engine failure in the air by inducing any
impending failures while on the ground?

Friendly Skies wrote:
snip
Their
rationale is that doing it four or five times a day is unnecessarily
hard on
the engine and when its been flown in the last few hours there's no
need to
cycle the prop more.

I don't see why a runup or a short prop cycle should be unnecessarily
hard on the engine. If they're stopping that many times a day, they'll
get the procedure down to a few seconds.

In the backcountry, where there is often no place to runup without
sucking rocks into the prop, we often do the mag check early in the
takeoff roll. It's an extra step during a critical phase, but I
always feel more comfortable rolling towards the trees and rocks at the
end of the runway when I know all of the plugs are firing on time.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

"John Galban" wrote in message
oups.com...

Friendly Skies wrote:
snip
Their
rationale is that doing it four or five times a day is unnecessarily
hard on
the engine and when its been flown in the last few hours there's no
need to
cycle the prop more.

I don't see why a runup or a short prop cycle should be unnecessarily
hard on the engine. If they're stopping that many times a day, they'll
get the procedure down to a few seconds.

In the backcountry, where there is often no place to runup without
sucking rocks into the prop, we often do the mag check early in the
takeoff roll. It's an extra step during a critical phase, but I
always feel more comfortable rolling towards the trees and rocks at the
end of the runway when I know all of the plugs are firing on time.


Not exactly a match, but http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182082-1.html
offers some good, helpful basics that might answer some peripheral
questions.

same thing happens on floats and a water take off..

"John Galban" wrote in message
oups.com...

Friendly Skies wrote:
snip
Their
rationale is that doing it four or five times a day is unnecessarily
hard on
the engine and when its been flown in the last few hours there's no
need to
cycle the prop more.

I don't see why a runup or a short prop cycle should be unnecessarily
hard on the engine. If they're stopping that many times a day, they'll
get the procedure down to a few seconds.

In the backcountry, where there is often no place to runup without
sucking rocks into the prop, we often do the mag check early in the
takeoff roll. It's an extra step during a critical phase, but I
always feel more comfortable rolling towards the trees and rocks at the
end of the runway when I know all of the plugs are firing on time.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)