Taking a careful look at the pressure in each of the tires before taking off is standard for any good preflight. But do you just take a glance at the wheels to see if they appear to be inflated? Using a pressure gauge once in a while to make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure recommended in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook will reduce your likelihood of a mishap.
Use a Tire Pressure Gauge
Key Takeaways:
- Standard preflight checks for aircraft tires should involve using a pressure gauge to ensure recommended inflation, rather than relying solely on visual inspection.
- The author experienced a flat tire during preflight, which a visual check failed to detect, underscoring the inadequacy of appearance-based assessment.
- The incident reinforced the author's commitment to regularly use a tire pressure gauge for more thorough preflight checks in the future.
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