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HomeTAP Pre-Flight Checklist

TAP Pre-Flight Checklist

This is the information that the TAP member will be checking for in determining the applicability of signing off on a level 3 certification review.

General

  • Is this member known to the TAP reviewer?
  • Does this member have the appropriate Certification Level or will this be a Certification Flight?
  • Does the proposed launch site and date have the appropriate recovery area and launch set-up for this flight?
  • Does the Prefect require TAP Review?

Rocket Review - General

  • Are there attachments to the Pre-Flight Data Capture?
  • Drawings: airframe; structures; payloads, etc.
  • Schematics: avionics, ignition systems, payloads, etc.
  • Performance calculations: Center of Pressure; Center of Gravity, motor type, altitude, velocity, etc.

Rocket Review - Airframe

  • Is the design generally suitable for the application?
  • Is the airframe material suitable for this rocket?
  • Is the fin material/attachment sound?
  • Is the motor mount sound?
  • Is the nosecone suitable?
  • Is it a clustered motor rocket?
  • What are the most probable airframe faults and corrective actions?
  • What are the safety implications of an airframe failure?
  • Are there any design change recommendations?

Rocket Review - Recovery System

  • Is the recovery system attachment secure/suitable?
  • Does the recovery system have sufficient capacity for a safe descent?
  • What is the deployment system?
  • What are the most probable deployment system faults and corrective actions?
  • What are the safety implications of a recovery system failure?
  • Are there any design change recommendations?

Rocket Review - Avionics Description

  • Commercial or unique design?
  • What are the functions of the avionics components?
  • Are the avionics appropriate to the application?
  • Do the avionics have flight safety implications?
  • Can the avionics and inhibits be accessible from outside the vehicle?
  • Are there safeing/arming indicators?
  • Are any of the systems redundant?
  • What are the most probable avionics system faults and corrective actions?
  • What are the safety implications of an avionics system failure?
  • Are there any design change recommendations?

Rocket Review - Motor

  • Is the motor (or motors) suitable for the rocket?
  • Are the motors Tripoli Certified?
  • Is the motor ignition suitable?
  • What are the most probable motor faults and corrective actions?
  • What are the safety implications of a motor failure?
  • Are there any design change recommendations?

Launch System

  • Is the launcher suitable for the rocket?
  • Is the launch lug, or rail guide suitable for the rocket?
  • What will the launch angle be?
  • Are there any special launch control requirements?
  • What are the most probable faults with the launcher?
  • What are the safety implications of a launcher failure?
  • Are there any design change recommendations?

Performance

  • How were the performance calculations done?
  • Were the calculations done manually?
  • Are the algorithms used correct?
  • Were the calculations accomplished correctly?
  • Was a computer used?
  • What is the source of the software?
  • Is the software suitable for this rocket?
  • Are there printouts?
  • Should the calculations be independently run?
  • What are the safety implications of poor performance data?
  • Are there any changes or recommendations?

Operations

  • Is there a pre-flight checklist?
  • Which operations does it cover?
  • Are each the operations sufficiently documented?
  • Are hazardous operations flagged?
  • What are the safety implications of poor checklists?
  • Are there any changes or recommendations?


Tripoli  Rocketry Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 87, Bellevue, NE, 68005
HQ@Tripoli.org
(402) 884-9530 - phone  /  (402) 884-9531 - fax

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