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After parking at the FBO, the proper engine shutdown sequence (most piston aircraft) is

Choices

magnetos OFF, mixture cut-off, master OFF.
Magnetos-off-then-mixture leaves fuel in cylinders.
✓ set parking brake, throttle to idle, run engine at idle for 30-60 seconds.correct
Shutdown sequence: set the parking brake, throttle to idle, and run the engine at idle for 30-60 seconds (allows turbo to spool down or just cools cylinders), MIXTURE to IDLE CUT-OFF (engine stops from fuel starvation, not by killing mags. leaves mags untimed), then magnetos OFF, master OFF. Standard shutdown: idle 30-60 sec to cool, MIXTURE TO CUT-OFF (engine starves of fuel and stops cleanly), then mags OFF, master OFF. Cutting mags with fuel still in cylinders means raw fuel remains — risk of accidental fire if engine 'ticks over' on a hot cylinder. Mixture-shutdown is the proper sequence per virtually all GA POHs.
magnetos OFF first to be safe.
Mags-off without mixture cutoff is the wrong sequence.
shut master off first to save battery.
Master off with engine running cuts electrical loads but not engine.

Why

Shutdown sequence: set the parking brake, throttle to idle, and run the engine at idle for 30-60 seconds (allows turbo to spool down or just cools cylinders), MIXTURE to IDLE CUT-OFF (engine stops from fuel starvation, not by killing mags. leaves mags untimed), then magnetos OFF, master OFF. Standard shutdown: idle 30-60 sec to cool, MIXTURE TO CUT-OFF (engine starves of fuel and stops cleanly), then mags OFF, master OFF. Cutting mags with fuel still in cylinders means raw fuel remains — risk of accidental fire if engine 'ticks over' on a hot cylinder. Mixture-shutdown is the proper sequence per virtually all GA POHs.

FAA source: POH; POH Engine Shutdownbrowse the reference library →

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Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question. Reviewed by a panel of three CFIs + AI review.