Cessna 172 Series 1973 User manual

c
essna.
MOREPEOPLEBUYAND
FLYCESSNAAIRPLANES
THAN ANY OTHER MAKE
1973
WORLDS LARGESTPRO-
DUCEROFGENERAL
AVIATIONAIRCRAFT
SINCE 1956
SRYHAWK
OWNER'S
MANUAL

PERFORMANCE - SPECIFICATIONS
Model172* Skyhawk*
GROSS WEIGHT 2300lbs2300 lbs
SPEED:
TopSpeed at Sea Level 139 mph 140 mph
Cruise, 75% Power at 9000 ft131 mph 132 mph
RANGE:
Cruise, 75% Power at 9000 ft615mi620mi
38 Gal., No Reserve 4.7 hrs 4.7 hrs
131mph132mph
Cruise, 75% Power at 9000 ft775mi780mi
48 Gal., No Reserve 5.9 hrs 5.9 hrs
131mph132mph
OptimumRange at 10, 000ft640mi655mi
38 Gal., No Reserve 5.5 hrs 5.5 hrs
117mph 118 mph
OptimumRange at 10, 000ft820mi830mi
48 Gal., No Reserve 7.0 hrs 7.0 hrs
117mph118mph
RATE OF CLIMB ATSEA LEVEL 645 fpm 645 fpm
SERVICECEILING 13,100ft13,100ft
TAKE-OFF:
Ground Run 865ft865ft
Total DistanceOver 50-Foot Obstacle . . . 1525 ft 1525 ft
LANDING:
GroundRoll 520ft520ft
Total DistanceOver 50-Foot Obstacle . . . 1250 ft 1250 ft
STALLSPEED:
Flaps Up, Power Off57 mph 57 mph
Flaps Down,Power Off49 mph 49 mph
EMPTY WEIGHT(Approximate) 1285lbs 1335lbs
USEFUL LOAD 1015 lbs965lbs
BAGGAGE 120 lbs 120lbs
WINGLOADING:Pounds/SqFoot 13.213.2
POWER LOADING:Pounds/HP 15.315.3
FUEL CAPACITY:Total
SUndard Tanks 42 gal. 42 gal.
OptionalLongRangeTanks 52 gal. 52 gal.
OIL CAPACITY:Total 8 qts8 qts
PROPELLER: FixedPitch(Diameter) 75 inches 75 inches
ENGINE:
LycomingEngine O-320-E2DO-320-E2D
150 rated HP at 2700RPM
• This manual covets operationoftheModel172/Skyhawkwhichiscertificated
asModel172MunderFAA Type CertificateNo3A12.Themanualalso covers
operationofthe Reims/Cessna Model fl72 whichiscettificatedasModelF172M
under French Type CertificateNo^25andFAA Type CertificateNo. A4EtJ
D964-13

CONGRATULATIONS
Welcome totheranksofCessnaowners I YourCessnahasbeendesignedandcon-
structedtogiveyouthe most inperformance, economy, andcomfort.Itisourde-
sire thatyou will findflyingit,eitherforbusinessorpleasure,a pleasantand
profitableexperience.
This Owner'sManualhasbeenpreparedasa guidetohelpyougetthe most pleasure
andutilityfromyour Model 172/Skyhawk.ItcontainsInformation about yourCessna's
equipment,operatingprocedures,andperformance;andsuggestionsforitsservicing
andcare.Weurgeyoutoreaditfromcovertocover,andtorefertoitfrequently.
Our interestinyourflyingpleasurehasnotceasedwithyourpurchaseofa Cessna.
World-wide,theCessnaDealerOrganizationbackedbytheCessnaServiceDepart-
ment standsreadytoserveyou.Thefollowingservicesare offered by most Cessna
Dealers:
THE CESSNAWARRANTY— Itisdesignedtoprovideyouwiththe most
comprehensivecoveragepossible:
a. Noexclusions
b.Coverageincludespartsandlabor
c. AvailableatCessnaDealersworldwide
d.Bestintheindustry
Specific benefitsandprovisionsofthewarrantyplusotherimportant
benefitsforyouarecontainedinyourCustomerCareProgram book
suppliedwithyouraircraft.Warrantyserviceisavailabletoyouat
anyauthorizedCessnaDealerthroughouttheworlduponpresentation
ofyourCustomerCare Card whichestablishesyoureligibilityunder
thewarranty.
FACTORY TRAINED PERSONNEL toprovideyouwithcourteousexpert
service.
FACTORY APPROVED SERVICE EQUIPMENTtoprovideyouwiththe
most efficientandaccurateworkmanshippossible.
ASTOCKOF GENUINE CESSNA SERVICE PARTSonhandwhenyou
needthem.
THE LATEST AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATIONFOR SERVICING
CESSNA AIRPLANES, sinceCessnaDealershavealloftheService
ManualsandPartsCatalogs,keptcurrentbyServiceLettersand
Service NewsLetters,publishedbyCessnaAircraftCompany.
WeurgeallCessnaownerstousetheCessnaDealerOrganizationtothefullest.
AcurrentCessnaDealerDirectoryaccompaniesyournewairplane.TheDirectory
is revisedfrequently,anda current copy canbeobtainedfromyourCessnaDealer.
MakeyourDirectoryoneofyourcross-countryflightplanningaids;a warm welcome
awaitsyouateveryCessnaDealer.

TABLE OFCONTENTS
^========^===========:==========^=== Page:
SECTIONI - OPERATING CHECK LIST 1-1
SECTIONII- DESCRIPTIONAND
OPERATING DETAILS 2-1
SECTIONIII- EMERGENCYPROCEDURES3-1
SECTIONIV- OPERATING LIMITATIONS 4-1
SECTIONV - CARE OFTHEAIRPLANE5-1
OWNERFOLLOW-UP SYSTEM 5-11
SECTIONVI- OPERATIONALDATA.6-1
SECTIONVII-OPTIONAL SYSTEMS 7-1
This maniial describesthe operation and performance of
both theCessna Model 172and Skyhawk.Equipment des-
cribed as "Optional" denotes that the subjecteqviipment
is optional onthe Model 172. Much of this eqmpment is
standard onthe Skyhawkmodel.
Ill

Sect ion I
OPERATING CHECK LIST
Oneofthe first steps inobtainingtheutmostperformance,service,
and flying enjoymentfromyour Cessna istofamiliarizeyourself with
youraircraft'sequipment,systems,andcontrols.Thiscan best be done
byreviewing this equipmentwhile sitting intheaircraft. Those items
whose functionandoperationarenot obvious are covered inSection II.
SectionI lists, inPilot's Check List form,the steps necessary to
operateyouraircraftefficientlyandsafely.Itisnota check list inits
true formasitisconsiderablylonger,butit does cover brieflyallofthe
points that youshouldknowfora typical flight. Anabbreviated check list
coveringthe"BeforeTake-Off"and"BeforeLanding" phases ofaircraft
operationisprovidedona plasticcardandnormallystowedinthemap
compartment.Thisabbreviated check list isa convenient reference of
keyitemstobe rechecked immediatelypriorto taxiing intopositionfor
take-offand before enteringthe final approachforlanding.
The flight andoperationalcharacteristicsofyouraircraftarenormal
in all respects. Thereareno"ucnconventional"characteristicsoropera-
tions that need tobemastered.Allcontrolsrespondinthenormalway
within theentirerangeofoperation.All airspeeds mentionedin Sections
I, IIandinareindicatedairspeeds.Correspondingcalibratedairspeed
maybeobtainedfromtheAirspeedCorrectionTableinSectionVI.
BEFORE ENTERING THE AIRPLANE.
(1)Makeanexteriorinspectionin accordance with figure1-1.
1-1

EXTERIOR INSPECTION
Note
© a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Visually check aircraft forgeneralcondition during walk-
around inspection.Incoldweather,removeevensmall
accumulationsoffrost,iceor snow fromwing, tail and
control surfaces.Also,makesure that controlsurfaces
contain no internal accumulationsoficeordebris.If
night flight isplanned, check operationofall lights, and
makesurea flashlightisavailable.
Remove controlwheellock.
Check ignition switchOFF.
Turn onmasterswitchand check fuel quantity indicators;then
turn offmasterswitch.
CheckfuelselectorvalvehandleonBOTH.
Check baggage door forsecurity.Lock with keyifchildrenare
to occupy child'sseat.
^^^^^^•^"'••i^^"^^^^^^™""^^^^^^^^^^™'Figure
1-2

(2)a. Remove ruddergustlock,if installed.
b. Disconnect tail tie-down.
c.Check control surfacesforfreedomofmovementandsecurity.
(3)a.Check aileron forfreedomofmovementandsecurity.
(4)a.Disconnect wing tie-down.
b. Check main wheel tire forproper inflation.
c. Visually check fuel quantity; then check fuel filler capsecure.
^(5)a.Checkoil level. Donotoperate with less than six quarts. Fill
to eight quarts forextended flights,
b. Before first flight ofdayand after each refueling, pull out
—1^ strainer drain knobforaboutfour seconds toclear fuel
strainer ofpossiblewaterandsediment.Check strainer
drain closed.Ifwaterisobserved,thereisa possibility
that the fuel tank sumpscontain water. Thus,the fuel tank
1^ sump drain plugsand fuel selectorvalve drain plug should
beremovedtocheckforthe presence of water.
^c.Checkpropellerandspinnerfornicksandsecurity.
d. Check landing light forconditionandcleanliness.
e.Checkcarbiu-etorair filter for restrictions bydustorother
foreign matter.
f.Check nose wheel strut and tire forproper inflation.
.g.Disconnecttie-downrope.
h. Inspect flight instrument static sourceopeningonsideof
\fuselageforstoppage (left side only).
n
(6)a.Check main wheel tire forproper inflation.
b. Visually check fuel quantity, then check fuel filler capsecure.
® ^
Remove pilot tubecover,if installed, andcheck pilot tube
opening forstoppage.
^b.Check fuel tank ventopeningforstoppage.
c.Check stall warning ventopeningforstoppage.
d. Disconnect wing tie-down.
r 1-1-
(s) a.Check aileron forfreedomofmovementandsecurity.
1-3

BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE.
(1) Seats, Seat BeltsandShoulderHarnesses--Adjustandlock.
(2)Fuel Selector Valve— BOTH.
(3)Brakes--Testandset.
(4) Radios andElectricalEquipment--OFF.
STARTING THE ENGINE.
(1) Mixture --Rich.
(2)CarburetorHeat— Cold.
(3)Primer--2-6strokesasrequired (none ifengineiswarm).
Close andlockprimer.
(4)Throttle— Open1/8".
(5)MasterSwitch— ON.
(6)PropellerArea--Clear.
(7) Ignition Switch--START (release whenenginestarts).
(8)OilPressure-- Check.
BEFORE TAKE-OFF.
(1)ParkingBrake--Set.
(2) Flight Controls— Check forfreeandcorrectmovement.
(3)Fuel Selector Valve--BOTH.
(4)Elevator Trim ControlWheel— TAKE-OFFsetting.
(5)ThrottleSetting--1700RPM.
(6)EngineInstrumentsandAmmeter-- Check.
(7)Suction Gage -- Check (4.6to5.4inchesofmercury).
(8)Magnetos-- Check (RPMdropshovddnot exceed 125RPMon
either magnetoor50RPMdifferentialbetweenmagnetos).
(9)CarburetorHeat-- Check operation.
(10) Flight Instrumentsand Radios --Set.
(11)OptionalAutopilotorWingLeveler--Off.
(12)Cabin Doors andWindow-- Closed andlocked.
TAKE-OFF.
NORMAL TAKE-OFF.
(1)WingFlaps— 0°.
(2)CarburetorHeat — Cold.

(3) Power -- Full throttle.
(4)ElevatorControl-- Lift nose wheelat60MPH.
(5)Climb Speed --75to85MPH.
MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKE-OFF.
(1)WingFlaps--0°.
(2)CarburetorHeat--Cold.
(3)Brakes--Apply.
(4) Power -- Full throttle.
(5)Brakes-- Release.
(6)AirplaneAttitude--Slightly tail low.
(7)Climb Speed --68MPH until all obstacles arecleared.
CLIMB.
(1)Airspeed--80to90MPH.
NOTE
If a maximumperformanceclimbis necessary, use
speeds shownintheMaximumRate-Of-ClimbData
chart inSectionVI.
•(2) Power -- Full throttle,
(3)Mixture-- Full rich (mixturemaybeleaned above 3000 feet).
CRUISING.
(1) Power -- 2200 to 2700 RPM.
NOTE
Maximum cruiseRPMvaries with altitude.Fordetails,
refertoSectionTV.
(2)Elevator Trim ControlWheel--Adjust.
(3)Mixture--LeanformaximumRPM.
1-5