What It Looks Like

Nothing We Do When Piloting An Airplane Should Be Taken For Granted, But....

One of the most basic run-up checklist items is the control check. It's a simple exercise - simply pull back on the yoke and if it doesn't bind, it rates a "Check." Time to move on to the next item on the checklist. At least, that's the way many of us perform a control check - by taking it for granted, and therefore not doing a good job of it.

The objective of conducting a control check is to make sure that each flight control surface moves freely through its full range of travel. The control check also has a second objective - verifying that the control surfaces respond correctly to the control input. For example, when you turn the control yoke counterclockwise as if to initiate a left bank, the left aileron should deflect up (creating more drag on the outboard portion of the left wing and forcing it downward) and the right aileron down (creating more lift on the outboard portion of the right wing, causing it to rise).

A proper control check accomplishes both objectives quickly and efficiently. Next time you fly, try this method of checking the controls. First, grasp the yoke in your hands with your thumbs pointed straight up, gently push the yoke forward to the stop, and turn it counterclockwise. Then look out at the left aileron to see if it is deflected in the proper direction. Can't remember which is correct, up or down? Say "Thumbs up." Your thumbs should be pointing to the aileron deflected upward. That would be the left aileron.

After confirming that the left aileron is indeed deflected upward, look at the right aileron to make sure it is deflected downward. So far, so good.

With the yoke still cranked all the way left, pull back on it to the aft stop. As you do this you should be looking backward at the elevator to make sure it is deflecting upward.

When you've pulled the yoke all the way back and verified the position of the elevator, turn the yoke as far clockwise as possible and check for proper aileron deflection. (Remember, thumbs up - right aileron up, left one down.)

Then move the yoke forward all the way to the stop, looking back to ensure a down elevator position. When you reach the forward stop, push on the rudder pedals to wiggle the rudder. If you can crane your neck far enough around to visually check rudder movement, do so.

You've just completed a thorough check of control yoke, rudder pedal, and control surface travel and positioning using a simple box technique - forward, left, back, right, and forward with the yoke.

It's the way the pros do it, and when you adopt this simple, effective method you'll see why. The only thing left to do when you've completed the check is to say "Controls free and correct," and then move on to the next checklist item.