FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2

NORMAL PROCEDURES

4.3 PREFLIGHT CHECK

4.3.1 General

The preflight check shall be accomplished in accordance with the flight manual, the mainte-
nance manual or the pilot’s checklist.
The preflight check is not a detailed mechanical inspection, but essentially a visual check of
the helicopter for correct condition.
This check shall be completed before each flight.
However, items not marked with an asterisk (L) need only be checked before the first flight
of the day or for aircraft on alert / on call status these items should be performed within
a 24 hours cycle.
When unusual local conditions dictate, the extent and/or frequency of this check shall be
increased as necessary to promote safe operation.

NOTE D The following list contains only check items for the standard configuration.

D In addition to these items, check antennas and all installed optional equipment.

D Make certain that all relevant intermediate and special inspections in accordance
with the maintenance manual have been complied with.

D For optional equipment check items, refer to the respective flight manual sup-
plement or to the relevant chapter of the maintenance manual.

4.3.2 Exterior check

The exterior check is laid out as a walk-around check, starting forward right at the pilot’s door,
proceeding clockwise to the tail boom, to the left hand side (including the upper and lower
areas of the helicopter) and is completed at the helicopter nose area.

NOTE D If possible, the helicopter should be headed into the wind before starting the
engines.

D The area around the helicopter should be clear of all foreign objects.

D To avoid excessive drain on the helicopter battery, particularly during cold weath-
er, all ground operations should be conducted using an external power unit
(EPU).

D When the battery is used, the operation of electrical equipment should be kept
to a minimum.

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 FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

5 2 3
BK117_WAH_1648_R

1. Fuselage – Right side

2. Cabin – Top
3. Tail boom – Aft area
4. Fuselage – Left side
5. Cabin – Front

Fig. 4-1 Exterior check sequence

Before exterior check

L Helicopter forms and documents – Check, complete
Weight, CG – Check
Fuel tanks – Drain (5 drain valves) (see sec.8, para
8.3)
Fuselage underside – Condition, no fuel leaks
L Covers and tie-downs – Removed
L Ice and snow (if any) – Removed
L Ground handling wheels – Removed
Equipment and cargo – Secured

L To be checked before each flight

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FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Fuselage – right side

NACA cockpit air intake – Clear

OAT sensors (2, ADC/CPDS) – Condition

Cockpit door – Condition, function
BAT MSTR sw – Check, OFF

Fabric glare shield (before night – Check installed

flights)
Pilot seat and safety belt – Condition

Sliding door – Condition, function

Landing gear and step – Condition

Battery (if located here) – Connected, condition, no electrolyte

spillage, security of mounting
L Battery door – Closed, secured
Battery drain port – Clear

Fuselage right side – Condition

Antennas on underside (if any) – Condition

Cabin top
Windshield, upper part – Condition,clean

Cabin air intake (if installed) – Condition

Antennas (if any) – Condition

Hydraulic system – Condition, no leakage, no foreign ob-

jects
Hydraulic reservoirs (2) – Condition, no leakage
Fluid level indicator 1, 2 – Check levels
Sight glasses 1, 2 – Check oil visible
Control rods – Condition
L Hydraulic access door – Closed, secured

L To be checked before each flight

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 FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Fuselage – right side (continued)

Hydraulic pump – Condition, no leakage

Oil cooler fan inlet screen – Clear

Oil cooler fan – Condition

Main transmission oil level – Check

Sliding door – Closed
L Transmission compartment – Condition, no leakage, no foreign ob-
jects
Scavenge oil filter clogging indicator – Check in
pin (if installed)
Oil cooler air inlet duct – Check, clear

Oil cooler block plate – Installed, if OAT below –30°C

– Removed, if OAT above +35°C
Oil cooler – Clear, condition

L Engine oil level – Check

Engine oil tank – Condition, no leakage, security of at-
tachment, filler cap closed and secured
Generator air intake – Clear

Engine air intake – Clear

Mixing lever assembly – Condition, secured

Main transmission – Condition

Main transmission struts – Condition, secured

Main transmission oil filter clogging – Check in

indicator pin
Main transmission oil filler cap – Secured, locked
Air opening in access door – Clear

L Transmission access door – Closed, secured

Swash plate and boot – Condition

L Rotating control rods – Condition, free movement

Rotating control rod spherical bear- – Check for smooth operation by moving
ings control rods by hand

L To be checked before each flight

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FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Fuselage – right side (continued)

L Main rotor head – Condition, oil level

Blade attachment bolts, driving link – Condition, secured

assembly
Rotor hub cap – Condition, secured

Vibration absorbers – Condition, free movement, no leakage

Rotor blades and trim tabs
PU Erosion protective film
(if fitted)
Static dischargers and bonding
jumper
Engine compartment
– Condition, rotate rotor by hand in direc-
tion of rotation and check for free
movement
– Condition, no seperation
– Condition
– No leakage, no foreign objects

Engine – Condition
Engine oil ducts – No leakage

Engine wiring, linkages and lines – Condition, no leakage, no chafing

Engine wash system (if installed) – Secure
Engine exhaust pipe (fwd part) – Condition, secured

Rear bearing oil ducts – No leakage

Engine mounts – Condition, secured

Fire detectors (3) – Condition

L Engine access door – Closed, secured

L Maintenance steps (5) – Closed

Bleed air heater screen – Clear
Circuit breaker for EPU – Check in

L EPU access door – Closed, secured

L To be checked before each flight

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 FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Fuselage – right side (continued)

L Fuselage – right side – Condition

L Static ports (2) – Clear

Battery (if located here) – Connected, condition, no electrolyte
spillage, security of mounting
L Battery door – Closed, secured
Aft engine cowling – Secured
Engine exhaust pipe (rear part) – Condition

L Fire ext sys discharge indicator (red – Check present and undamaged
disk)
Fire ext bottle pressure indicators – Check according to the pressure–tem-
(2) perature table
NOTE Engine must be cold for pressure–temperature table to be valid.
Clam shell doors – Condition, function

First aid kit – On board

Avionic rack – Condition, secured
L Clam shell doors – Closed, secured

Tail boom
L Tail boom – right side – Condition
Antenna(s) (if installed) – Condition

L RH horizontal and vertical stabilizer, – Condition

position light
Vertical fin and cowling – Condition, secured

Position light, anti-collision light – Condition

(strobe light / IR flasher, if installed)
Tail skid – Condition

L Tail rotor gearbox – Oil level, no leakage, filler cap secured

NOTE Verification of oil level may be easier when tail skid is shaken briefly

L To be checked before each flight

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FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Tail boom (continued)

Tail rotor head, shaft, bellow – Condition

L Pitch links – Condition

Blade attachment bolts, balance – Condition, secured

masses, dynamic masses
L Tail rotor blades – Condition

Vertical fin and cowling – Condition, secured

L Intermediate gear box – Oil level, no leakage
NOTE Verification of oil level may be easier when tail skid is shaken briefly

Intermediate gear box – Filler cap and drain plug secured

L Vertical fin access door – Closed, secured

L LH horizontal and vertical stabilizer, – Condition

position light
L Tail boom – left side – Condition

Antenna box – Condition

Antennas (if installed) – Condition
Clam shell door windows (if installed) – Condition, clear

Fuselage – left side

Static ports (2) – Clear

Bleed air heater screen – Clear

Aft engine cowling – Secured
Engine exhaust pipe (rear part) – Condition

Engine compartment – No leakage, no foreign objects

Fire detectors (3) – Condition

Engine mounts – Condition, secured

Rear bearing oil ducts – No leakage

Engine exhaust pipe (forward part) – Condition, secured

L To be checked before each flight

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 FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Fuselage – left side (continued)

Engine wash system (if installed) – Secure

Engine wiring, linkages and lines – Condition, no leakage, no chafing

Engine oil ducts – No leakage
Engine – Condition

L Engine access door – Closed, secured

L Transmission compartment – Condition, no leakage, no foreign ob-
jects
Scavenge oil filter clogging indicator – Check in
pin (if installed)
Generator air intake – Clear

Engine air intake – Clear

Mixing lever assembly – Condition, secured
Main transmission – Condition

Main transmission struts – Condition, secured

Main transmission oil filter clogging – Check in
indicator pin
L Engine oil level – Check
Engine oil tank – Condition, no leakage, security of at-
tachment, filler cap closed and secured
Oil cooler – Clear, condition
Oil cooler block plate – Installed, if OAT below –30°C
– Removed if OAT above +35°C
Oil cooler inlet duct – Check clear
L Transmission access door – Closed, secured
Air opening in access door – Clear

L Maintenance steps (3) – Closed

Oil cooler fan inlet screen – Clear

Oil cooler fan – Condition

Hydraulic pump – Condition, no leakage

L To be checked before each flight

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FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Fuselage – left side (continued)

L Hydraulic compartment door – Closed, secured

Cockpit windshields, upper part – Condition, clean

Landing gear and step – Condition
L Fuel filler cap – Secured, locked

L Fuel filler access door – Closed

Vents and drainports (5) – Clear

Antennas (if any) – Condition

L Fuselage – left side – Condition

Sliding door – Condition, function

Cockpit door – Condition , function
Copilot seat and safety belt – Condition

L If copilot seat is unoccupied: – Fastened, secured

Copilot’s safety belts
OAT sensors (2, ADC/VAR NR) – Condition

NACA Cockpit air intake – Clear

Antennas on underside (if installed) – Condition

Cabin – Nose area

Windshields, front and lower part – Condition, clean

L Pitot tubes (2) – Clear, condition

Windshield wipers – Condition

L Pedal areas – No foreign objects

Landing lights – Condition, retracted

L Fuselage bottom – Condition

4.3.3 L Interior check

Baggage, cargo, loose items – Stowed, secured

Before flights in low temperature/high humidity conditions (effective defogging of
windshields by means of bleed air heating required):
Air outlets aft cabin area – Fully closed

L To be checked before each flight

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 FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

Hand fire extinguisher – On board, check pressure

Hand lamp – On board
Passengers – Briefed

Seat and pedals – Adjust

Safety belts – Fasten, adjust

Overhead panel
All circuit breakers – In

All switches – OFF or NORM, priority NORM

Switch guards – Closed
Instrument panel

Instruments – Check
Clock – Check and set

All switches – OFF or NORM, priority NORM

Center console

Static pressure switch – Secured

Collective pitch levers

All switches – OFF or NORM, priority NORM;

guarded if possible
Both twist grips – In OFF position

L To be checked before each flight

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FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

4.3.4L Pre-start check

CAUTION AFTER BAT MASTER SW SWITCHED ON, THE LOW ROTOR RPM AU-
DIO TONE APPEARS. DO NOT PRESS RESET PB (CYCLIC) UNTIL THE
END OF CPDS TEST. PRESSING THE RESET PB LEADS TO AN AUTO-
MATIC DELETION OF A POSSIBLE INP FAIL CAUTION.

BAT MSTR switch – ON and ENGAGE; CPDS test starts

NOTE Do not switch CPDS off during or after flight. However, if it was switched off:
1. CAD OFF pb – Press
2. VEMD OFF 1&2 pb – Press each in turn

NR/N2 instrument – Check full deflection

CAD – Check no INPUT FAIL message

NOTE If INP FAIL appears in conjunction with the appropriate caution(s), this cau-
tion(s) will not be provided during flight. Abort pre-start check. Maintenance ac-
tion is required.

Low NR–RPM audio tone and CAD – Check and reset

Lighting (position, anti collision, – Function
strobe and landing lights)
Before night flights
Instrument and utility lights – Function
Hand lamp – Function
TEST/DSPLY sw – W/U

Warning panel – All warning lights and single gong must

come on.
If test has been successfully completed
gong will cease automatically and RPM
audio warning will be heard.
If test was not successful single gong
will continue.
CAD – F PUMP JET must come on

TEST/DSPLY sw – CPDS
Display test image – Check
MASTER caution lights – Check flashing
L To be checked before each flight

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 FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

L Pre-start check (continued)

TEST FIRE 1 switch – EXT
CAD – FIRE EXT (sys 1 and sys 2) must
come on; indicates the availability of
bottle 1 and bottle 2 for engine 1
TEST FIRE 1 switch – EXT WRN
Warning panel – FIRE (EMER OFF SW 1) must come
on; BOT 1, BOT 2 and EXT of sys 1
come on
Headset – Aural warning signal must be heard

CAD – FIRE EXT (sys 1 and sys 2) must go off

– FIRE E TST (sys 1 and sys 2) must
come on; indicates the activating test
of bottle 1 and 2 for engine 1
TEST FIRE 1 switch – OFF
Repeat above fire ext test, system 2 using TEST FIRE 2 switch.

EMER SHED BUS sw (only for bat- – ON

tery start)

BAT HOR/EXIT sw – TEST

EMER BAT LED – Check green.
The green LED can change to red dur-
ing the test, if the red LED is immedi-
ately on, the battery is empty and must
be replaced.
CAD – Check HOR BAT caution indication on
Emer exit lights – Check on

FUEL PUMPS XFER (A and F) – ON, check caution (F PUMP AFT /

FWD) off
FUEL PUMPS XFER (A and F) – OFF, check caution (F PUMP AFT /
FWD) on
EMER SHED BUS sw – NORM and guarded

L To be checked before each flight

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FLIGHT MANUAL BK 117 C-2
NORMAL PROCEDURES

L Pre-start check (continued)

FUEL PRIME PUMPS (1 and 2) – ON, PRIME PUMP (sys1/sys2) caution
indication come on and both FUEL
PRESS caution indications go off
NOTE Operate prime pumps a minimum of 10 seconds before starting engines.

ACOL sw – ON
Instrument panel

OVSP FAIL (sys1/sys2) caution indi- – Check on

cations
CAD & VEMD brightness – Adjust as required
CPDS – Check units

VEMD – DC voltage – minimum 23.5 V

– IAS displayed in VNE field
– Select actual gross mass range for
correct VNE–table selection

CAD fuel indication – Check quantity

Instruments – Check

CAUTION WHEN MAIN TRANSMISSION OIL TEMPERATURE IS BELOW –30_C THE

FOLLOWING FLIGHT CONTROLS CHECK MUST BE PERFORMED
AFTER FIRST PERFORMING AN ENGINE GROUND RUN UNTIL THE
MINIMUM MAIN TRANSMISSION OIL TEMPERATURE IS REACHED
FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN (SEE PARA 4.4.2.1 OR 4.4.2.2)
OTHERWISE THE MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS
THROUGHOUT FULL TRAVEL MAY CAUSE FLIGHT CONTROL DAMAGE.

Flight controls – Check free movement throughout full

travel
Pedals – Parallel

Collective lever – Lock

FORCE TRIM REL sw – Press while making small cyclic inputs
in all four directions. Check that no
spring forces are present
Cyclic stick position – Centered

Twist grips – Check free movement throughout

normal range (from IDLE to FLIGHT)
including IDLE stop function, then
set each twist grip in 0° position
L To be checked before each flight

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