Cessna 177 Cardinal User manual

The following document was created by Charles Mount,
based on the 1968 Cessna Cardinal Pilot's O erating
Handbook. His story is as follows:
I built this manual as a challenge to myself as part
of one of those safety stand-downs, and typed it
word for word manually. I cleaned and inserted the
diagrams as best I could.
This may not be a page by page duplicate of the
original but is intended to be a word by word
duplicate. The TOC and index references are correct
for this document, not the original.
I've read through it a few times now and believe it
is word for word and correct, but the document can
always benefit from review by another set of eyes.
It really made me study my 8 owner’s manual and better understand my plane and its
systems. As I did the indexes, I even found some index errors in the original that I
corrected in the Word doc.
For legal reasons, you should always use Cessna provided documentation to determine
the limits, performance and proper operation of your aircraft. This document is
provided for research, study and non-flying use only.
If future readers of this document notice any errors please bring them to my attention.
Chuck Mount
[email protected]

THERE ARE MORE CESSNAS FLYING THAN ANY OTHER MAKE
WORLDS LARGEST PRODUCER OF GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT SINCE 1956
C
ESSNA
1968
OWNER’S MANUAL
MODEL
177
AND
CARDINAL

PERFORMANCE – SPECIFICATIONS
============================================= *Model 177 ==== *Cardinal ==
GROSS WEIGHT 2350 lbs. 2350 lbs.
SPEED:
To S eed at Sea Level 141 m h 144 m h
Cruise, 75% Power at 9000 ft. 130 m h 134 m h
RANGE:
Cruise, 75% Power at 9000 ft. 755 miles 780 miles
48 Gal. No Reserve 5.8 hours 5.8 hours
130 m h 134 m h
O timum Range at 10,000 ft. 825 miles 855 miles
48 Gal. No Reserve 7.6 hours 7.7 hours
108 m h 110 m h
RATE OF CLIMB AT SEA LEVEL 670 f m 670 f m
SERVICE CEILING 12,700 ft. 12,700 ft.
TAKE OFF:
Ground Run 845 ft. 845 ft.
Total Distance Over 50-Foot Obstacle 1575 ft. 1575 ft.
LANDING:
Landing Roll 400 ft. 400 ft.
Total Distance Over 50-Foot Obstacle 1135 ft. 1135 ft.
EMPTY WEIGHT (A roximate) 1340 lbs. 1415 lbs.
BAGGAGE 120 lbs. 120 lbs.
WING LOADING: Pounds/Sq. Foot 13.6 13.6
POWER LOADING: Pounds/HP 15.7 15.7
FUEL CAPACITY: Total 49 gal. 49 gal.
OIL CAPACITY 8qts 8qts
(One additional quart is required
when o tional oil filter is installed)
PROPELLER: Fixed Pitch (Diameter) 76 inches 76 inches
ENGINE:
Lycoming Engine O-320-E2D O-320-E2D
150 rated HP at 2700 RPM
* This manual covers o eration of the Model 177/Cardinal which is certificated
as Model 177 under FAA Ty e Certificate No. A13CE

i
CONGRATULATIONS…………….
Welcome to the ranks of Cessna Owners! Your Cessna has been designed and
constructed to give you the most in erformance, economy, and comfort. It is out
desire that you will find flying it, either for business or leasure, a leasant and
rofitable ex erience
This Owner’s Manual has been re ared as a guide to hel you get the most
leasure and utility from your Model 177/Cardinal. It contains information about
your Cessna’s equi ment, o erating rocedures, and erformance; and suggestions
for its servicing and care. We urge you to read it from cover to cover, and refer to it
frequently
Our interest in your flying leasure has not ceased with your urchase of a Cessna.
World-wide, the Cessna Dealer Organization backed by the Cessna Service
De artment stands ready to serve you. The following services are offered by most
Cessna Dealers:
FACTORY TRAINED PERSONNEL to rovide you with courteous ex ert
service.
FACTORY APPROVED SERVICE EQUIPMENT to rovide you with the
most efficient and accurate workmanshi ossible.
A STOCK OF GENUINE CESSNA SERVICE PARTS on hand when you need
them.
THE LATEST AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION FOR SERVICING
CESSNA AIROKANES, since Cessna Dealers have all of the Service Manuals
and Parts Catalogs, ke t current by Service Letters and Service News
Letters, ublished by Cessna Aircraft Com any.
We urge all Cessna owners to use the Cessna Dealer Organization to the fullest
A Current Cessna Dealer Directory accom anies your new air lane. The Directory
is revised frequently, and a current co y can be obtained from your Cessna Dealer.
Make your Directory on of your cross-country flight lanning aids; a work welcome
awaits you at every Cessna Dealer.

ii

iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I
SECTION I SECTION I
SECTION I -
--
- OPERATING CHECK LIST
OPERATING CHECK LISTOPERATING CHECK LIST
OPERATING CHECK LIST .............................
..........................................................
............................. 1
11
1-
--
-1
11
1
SECTION II
SECTION II SECTION II
SECTION II -
--
- DESCRIPTION AND OPERATING DETAILS
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATING DETAILSDESCRIPTION AND OPERATING DETAILS
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATING DETAILS 2
22
2-
--
-
1
11
1
SECTION III
SECTION III SECTION III
SECTION III -
--
- OPERATING LIMITATIONS
OPERATING LIMITATIONSOPERATING LIMITATIONS
OPERATING LIMITATIONS ........................
................................................
........................ 3
33
3-
--
-1
11
1
SECTION IV
SECTION IV SECTION IV
SECTION IV -
--
- CARE OF THE AIRPLANE
CARE OF THE AIRPLANECARE OF THE AIRPLANE
CARE OF THE AIRPLANE ...........................
......................................................
........................... 4
44
4-
--
-1
11
1
OWNER FOLLOW
OWNER FOLLOWOWNER FOLLOW
OWNER FOLLOW-
--
-UP SYSTEM
UP SYSTEMUP SYSTEM
UP SYSTEM ................................
................................................................
.........................................
..................
......... 4
44
4-
--
-9
99
9
SECTION V
SECTION V SECTION V
SECTION V -
--
- OPERATIONAL DATA
OPERATIONAL DATAOPERATIONAL DATA
OPERATIONAL DATA ................................
................................................................
...................................
......
... 5
55
5-
--
-1
11
1
SECTION V
SECTION VSECTION V
SECTION VI
I I
I -
--
- OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS
OPERATIONAL SYSTEMSOPERATIONAL SYSTEMS
OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS ...........................
......................................................
........................... 6
66
6-
--
-1
11
1
ALPHABETICAL INDEX
ALPHABETICAL INDEXALPHABETICAL INDEX
ALPHABETICAL INDEX ................................
................................................................
..............................................
............................
..............Index
Index Index
Index -
--
- 7
77
7
This manual describes the o eration and erformance of both the Cessna Model 177
and the Cardinal. Equi ment described as “O tional” denotes that the subject
equi ment is o tional on the Model 177. Much of this equi ment is standard on the
Cardinal

iv
Figure 1-1.

1-1
Section I
Chapter 1 OPERATING CHECK LIST
One of the first ste s in obtaining the utmost erformance, service and flying
enjoyment from your Cessna is to familiarize yourself with your air lane's
equi ment, systems and controls. This can best be done by reviewing of this
equi ment while sitting in the air lane. Those items whose function and o eration
are not on the as our coverage in Section II.
Section I by lists, in Pilots Check List form, the ste s necessary to o erate your
air lane efficiently and safely. It is not a checklist in its true form as it is
considerably longer, but it does cover briefly all of the oints that you should know
for a ty ical flight.
With the flight and o erational characteristic of your air lane are normal in all
res ects. There are no "unconventional" characteristics or o erations that need to
be mastered. All controls res ond in the normal way within the entire range of
o eration. All their s eeds mentioned in Sections I and II are indicated in
airs eeds. Corres onding calibrated airs eed may be obtained from the Airs eed
Correction Table in Section V.
BEFORE ENTERING THE AIRPLANE
(1) Make an exterior ins ection in accordance with figure 1-1.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
(1) Seats and Seat Belts – Adjust and lock.
(2) Fuel Selector – “Both On.”
(3) Fuel Shut-Off Valve Knob – Check Safety wired to “ON” osition.
(4) Radios and Flashing Beacon – “OFF.”
(5) Brakes – Test and set.

1-2
STARTING THE ENGINE
(1) Mixture – Rich.
(2) Carburetor Heat – Cold.
(3) Master Switch – “ON.”
(4) Primer – 2 - 6 strokes (de ending on tem erature; none required when
engine is warm. Primer Locked
(5) Throttle – O en 1/8”.
(6) Pro eller Area – Clear
(7) Ignition Switch – “Start”.
(8) Release ignition switch to “BOTH” when engine starts
(9) Oil Pressure – Check.
(10) Radios – Turn on and set.
(11) Altimeter and Clock – Set.
BEFORE TAKE-OFF
(1) Parking Brake – Set.
(2) Cabin Doors – Closed and locked.
(3) Flight Controls – Check.
(4) Trim Tab – “TAKE-OFF” setting.
(5) Throttle Setting – 1700 RPM.
(6) Engine Instruments and Ammeter – Check.
(7) Carburetor Heat – Check o eration.
(8) Magnetos – Check (RPM dro should not exceed 125 RPM on either
magneto or 50 RPM differential between magnetos).
(9) Auxiliary Fuel Pum – Check o eration.
NOTE
Gravity feed will normally su ly a satisfactory fuel flow if the engine-driven
fuel um should fail. However, if the fuel ressure dro s below 2 PSI, use
the auxiliary fuel um .
(10) Suction Gage – Check (4.6 to 5.4 inches of mercury).
(11) Flight Instruments and Radios – Set.
(12) Wing Fla s – “UP” to “1/4.”
(13) Navigation Lights and Flashing Beacon – “ON”, as required.
(14) O tional Auto ilot or Wing Leveler – “OFF.”

1-3
TAKE-OFF
NORMAL TAKE-OFF
(1) Wing Fla s – “UP” to “1/4.”
(2) Carburetor Heat – Cold.
(3) Power – Full throttle (a lied smoothly).
(4) Air lane Attitude – Lift nose wheel at 60 MPH.
(5) Climb S eed – 90 MPH
(6) Retract fla s (if extended).
MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKE-OFF
(1) Wing Fla s – “1/4.”
(2) Carburetor Heat – Cold.
(3) Brakes – A ly.
(4) Power – Full throttle.
(5) Brakes – Release.
(6) Air lane Attitude – Slightly tail low.
(7) Climb S eed – 67 MPH until all obstacles are cleared, then set u climb
s eed as shown in “MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB” aragra h.
(8) Wing Fla s – Retract after obstacles are cleared.
CLIMB
NORMAL CLIMB
(1) Airs eed – 90 to 100 MPH.
(2) Power – Full throttle.
(3) Mixture – Full rich (mixture may be leaned above 5000 feet).
MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB
(1) Airs eed – 88 MPH at sea level to 95 MPH at 10,000 feet.
(2) Power – Full throttle.
(3) Mixture – Full rich (mixture may be leaned above 5000 feet).
CRUISING
(1) Power – 2200 to 2700 RPM