MOUNTAIN SAR CHECKLIST
1. Sortie Preparation –
 Grid – DRAW (Roads, Lakes, Lines, Peaks, MEF, Rivers…)
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Grid – OVERLAY ON CURRENT SECTIONAL
Survival Gear – ON BOARD
CAPF104 – FILL COMPLETELY
Twilight – HIDES RIDGES
Search WX

2000-5
2. Rules --
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Do Not Fly Toward Rising Terrain
Search Area – OVERFLY PRIOR TO ENTRY @ 
MEF
Wall Separation Distance

PWR-OFF 180

DIAMETER
Max Search Altitude = 300 fpm VSI
Fly Shallower Slopes First
Turbulence – FLY Va
Upwind Ridge Xssing – 45 
ON CLEAR SIDE/READY FOR
135

CLIMBING TURN @Va + FULL POWER
Downwind Ridge Xssing – FLY PERPENDICULAR
Grid Entry Altitude – 2000 ARL or @Grid MEF
3. Crew Briefing --
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Rules – BRIEF
Grid Sketch -- REVIEW
Follow Terrain DOWNGRADIENT
V-speeds/TOLD – REVIEW (Vs1/Vr KIAS ARE DA-INDEP)
Vy, Vx --- KIAS VARY LINEARLY WITH DenAlt
Discuss Contingencies -- LOW VIS, LOW CLOUD, TURB
4. Modified Wing Over Manuever (Non-Aerobatic)--
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Pitch – NOSE UP ABOUT 30°
Rudder Turn --- Apply @70 KIAS (C172) + 90° TURN
Induced Bank – 30° to 45° BANK (light aileron)
Max Bank -- 45° (diameter

650 ft)
At 90° Point – RELEASE PITCH & RUDDER
Min Airspeed C172

70 KIAS (1.3 * Vs
0
)
Turn Coord
 
1 BALL OFF CENTER
Near Recip Hdg – AVOID OVERSPEEDING
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5. Steep Bank Turn –
 Flaps -- 20°
 Airspeed –- @Vx + TRADE FOR ALT IF FAST ENOUGH
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Entry -- STEEP TURN + 60° BANK + 75 KIAS + 20° FLAPS
Dia
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580 ft – THERE WILL BE LOSS OF ALTITUDE
5. Initial Entry Point –
 Survey – 2000 ft AGL or @MEF
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Search Plan -- HIGHEST RIDGE FIRST
Search Speed -- 90 KIAS + 10° FLAPS or ________________
Downdraft Escape – FULL POWER CLIMB @Va DownHill
Wind Direction --- CIRCLE 3 60° + NOTE MAX DRIFT DIR
Drainage Areas – LAST
6. Coves/Canyons --
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Most Dangerous -- SLOW AND NOT TOO CLOSE
Overfly – Determine 180 ° Turn Radius @Normal Bank
Downdrafts – ANTICIPATE
Fly On Upwind Side or Right Side if Traffic//Lights--ON
Fly Down-Terrain + TURN UPWIND
Pilot – Should be Steep Turn or Wing Over PROFICIENCY
Power Lines – WATCH!
Canyon Turn -- 1.5*Vs
0
+ Vs
1
Flaps + 60° Bank (WATCH
ALTITUDE LOSS)
7. Search Technique –
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Search Bank Angle
 30°
 45°
 60°
Estimate Xwind-- 10 kt X/W PER 6° CRAB @100KTAS
Pitot Heat -- AS NEEDED (
 40° F)
GX55 WPT – DB + ENTER + name + ENTER + LOG
 Initial Point – PRESET AS WPT
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 GPS Mode -- Bearing or LAT/LON
ELT ONLY / Route Search –
 GPS -- Store
 2 WPT’s
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Track Spacing -- S = 7 NM Then S= 2 NM
Expanding Circle – S = 5, 7, 14
Area Already Searched – MARK OFF
8. Reference Formulae --
 1 knot

100 fpm (1 NM = 6076 ft)
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KTAS = KIAS * (1 + 2%) / KFT of Altitude
WCA (

) = sin -1 [(U
X/W
(kt)/TAS]
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U
X/W
(kt) / TAS (NM min -1 )
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90 KTAS = 3/2 NM min -1
10 kt X/W per 6

@100KTAS
 DA = PA – 925[ALSET-29.92] + 66[T-{59-3.566E-3PA}]
Checklists\MTNSARBKW.DOC
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