Airplane Systems Flashcards
The basic purpose of adjusting the fuel/air mixture at altitude is to
decrease the fuel flow in order to compensate for decreased air density.
The higher an aircraft climbs, the less air there is to mix with the available fuel. To maintain the correct ratio of fuel to air as an aircraft increases in altitude, the pilot adjusts the amount of fuel with the manual mixture control.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
What should be the indication on the magnetic compass as you roll into a standard rate turn to the right from a south heading in the Northern Hemisphere?
The compass will indicate a turn to the right, but at a faster rate than is actually occurring.
When making a turn from a southerly heading, the compass gives an indication of a turn in the correct direction, but leads the actual heading in the Northern hemisphere.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Carburetor ice is most likely to occur when temperatures are:
Below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and the relative humidity is above 80 percent.
Carburetor ice is most likely to occur when temperatures are below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or 21 degrees Celsius (°C) and the relative humidity is above 80 percent. Carb icing can occur even in outside air temperatures as high as 100 °F (38 °C).
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
(Refer to figure 7.) The proper adjustment to make on the attitude indicator during level flight is to align the
View Figure 7
miniature airplane to the horizon bar.
Normally, the miniature airplane is adjusted so that the wings overlap the horizon bar when the aircraft is in straight-and-level flight.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
Under what condition is pressure altitude and density altitude the same value?
At standard temperature.
Pressure altitude and density altitude are the same value in standard conditions.
Aviation Weather (AC 00-6) Ch. 3
How do variations in temperature affect the altimeter?
Pressure levels are raised on warm days and the indicated altitude is lower than true altitude.
On a warm day the atmosphere expands. An aircraft will actually be higher than the altimeter is indicating (higher pressure level). On a cold day the atmosphere contracts and an aircraft will be lower than the altimeter is indicating.
Which would most likely cause the cylinder head temperature and engine oil temperature gauges to exceed their normal operating ranges?
Using fuel that has a lower-than-specified fuel rating.
Fuel with a lower-than-specified rating can lead to detonation. Detonation produces extreme heat and leads to high operating temperatures.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
(Refer to figure 9, area C.) How should the flight controls be held while taxiing a tricycle-gear equipped airplane with a left quartering tailwind?
Left aileron down, elevator down.
When taxiing a tricycle-gear equipped airplane with a left quartering tailwind, use down aileron on the left hand wing and down elevator.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
(Refer to figure 4.) Which marking identifies the never-exceed speed?
The red radial line.
Never-exceed speed is indicated on the airspeed indicator with a red line. This is the maximum speed that an aircraft can be operated in smooth air.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 4.) What is the full flap operating range for the airplane?
55 to 100 KTS.
The white arc on the airspeed indicator represents the flap operating range for an aircraft. It extends from 55 to 100 knots.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
For internal cooling, reciprocating aircraft engines are especially dependent on
the circulation of lubricating oil.
Airflow over the cylinders and other parts of the engine provides some measure of cooling. Additional heat is absorbed by the oil and carried to the oil cooling system for dissipation.
If the engine oil temperature and cylinder head temperature gauges have exceeded their normal operating range, the pilot may have been operating with
too much power and with the mixture set too lean.
High power settings with a lean mixture may lead to overheating. The additional fuel of a richer mixture has a cooling effect.
(Refer to figure 4.) Which color identifies the power-off stalling speed with wing flaps and landing gear in the landing configuration?
Lower limit of the white arc.
The lower limit of the white arc represents power-off stalling speed with the wing flaps and landing gear in the landing position.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
A disconnected ground wire from a magneto to the ignition switch:
Could allow the engine to continue to run after the ignition switch is turned off.
Even with the ignition switch in the OFF position, if the ground wire between a magneto and the ignition switch becomes disconnected or broken, the engine could accidentally start if the propeller is moved with residual fuel in the cylinder. If this occurs, the only way to stop the engine is to move the mixture lever to the idle cutoff position.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
In the Northern Hemisphere, the magnetic compass will normally indicate a turn toward the south when
the aircraft is decelerated while on a west heading.
Acceleration / deceleration error is most pronounced on a heading of east or west. ANDS, Accelerate, North, Decelerate, South.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Under what condition is indicated altitude the same as true altitude?
When at sea level under standard conditions.
When the altimeter is at sea level under standard conditions, indicated altitude and true altitude are equal.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Detonation may occur at high-power settings when
the fuel mixture ignites instantaneously instead of burning progressively and evenly.
Detonation is a sudden explosion or shock to a small area of the piston top. Detonation may occur at high-power settings when the fuel mixture ignites instantaneously instead of burning progressively and evenly.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
Most of the heat caused by internal combustion is eliminated via:
The exhaust system.
The burning fuel within the cylinders produces intense heat, most of which is expelled through the exhaust system.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
The possibility of carburetor icing exists even when the ambient air temperature is as
high as 70 °F and the relative humidity is high.
Be alert for carburetor icing if the temperature is between 20° F and 70° F with visible moisture or high humidity.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
What is the purpose of the rudder on an airplane?
To control yaw.
The rudder controls the aircraft around the vertical or yaw axis.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 6
What is one of the advantages of an alternator over a generator in an airplane engine?
Alternators have several advantages over generators. Alternators produce sufficient current to operate the entire electrical system, even at slower engine speeds, by producing alternating current (AC), which is converted to DC. The electrical output of an alternator is more constant throughout a wide range of engine speeds.
The presence of carburetor ice in an aircraft equipped with a fixed-pitch propeller can be verified by applying carburetor heat and noting
a decrease in RPM and then a gradual increase in RPM.
The RPM will decrease with the application of carburetor heat due to the decreased air density of the warmer air. As the ice melts, the RPM will increase due to better fuel/air mixture flow. Some engine roughness may occur as the ice melts.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
If the grade of fuel used in an aircraft engine is lower than specified for the engine, it will most likely cause
detonation.
Detonation is the explosive burning of the fuel/air mixture. This phenomenon is often caused by the use of a lower than recommended grade of fuel.
The pitot system provides impact pressure for which instrument?
Airspeed indicator.
The pitot tube provides ram air to operate the airspeed indicator. It does not affect the other two pitot-static instruments.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Which aileron positions should a pilot generally use when taxiing in strong quartering headwinds?
Aileron up on the side from which the wind is blowing.
When taxiing in a strong quartering headwind, use an up aileron on the side from which the wind is blowing.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
During flight, when are the indications of a magnetic compass accurate?
Only in straight-and-level unaccelerated flight.
To reduce errors, the magnetic compass should be read only when the aircraft is flying straight and level and at a constant speed.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 9, area C.) How should the flight controls be held while taxiing a tailwheel airplane with a left quartering tailwind?
Left aileron down, elevator down.
When taxiing a tailwheel airplane with a left quartering tailwind, use down aileron on the left hand wing and down elevator.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 14
Which instrument(s) will become inoperative if the static vents become clogged?
Airspeed, altimeter, and vertical speed.
All three pitot-static instruments are affected by a clogged static vent.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 9, area A.) How should the flight controls be held while taxiing a tricycle-gear equipped airplane into a left quartering headwind?
Left aileron up, elevator neutral.
When taxiing a tricycle-gear equipped airplane into a left quartering headwind, use up aileron on the left hand wing and neutral elevator.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
Why would an aviation piston engine continue running after the ignition switched is placed in the OFF position?
The magneto’s grounding wire is broken.
Even with the ignition switch in the OFF position, if the ground wire between the magneto and the ignition switch becomes disconnected or broken, the only way to stop the engine is to move the mixture lever to the idle cutoff position, then have the system checked by a qualified AMT.
What is absolute altitude?
The vertical distance of the aircraft above the surface.
Absolute altitude is the vertical distance of an aircraft above the terrain.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
What is an important airspeed limitation that is not color coded on airspeed indicators?
Maneuvering speed.
Maneuvering speed is the maximum speed for abrupt maneuvers. It is also sometimes called the “rough air” speed.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
At the beginning of a turn from a northerly heading:
The compass will show a turn in the opposite direction.
When starting a turn from a northerly heading, the compass lags behind the turn by a slight turn in the opposite direction.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
When taxiing with strong quartering tailwinds, which aileron positions should be used?
Aileron down on the side from which the wind is blowing.
When taxiing with a strong quartering tailwind, use down aileron on the side from which the wind is blowing to keep the wind from pushing under the wing, and flipping the airplane.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
The angular difference between true north and magnetic north is
magnetic variation.
Magnetic variation is the angular difference between the true, or geographic, north pole and the magnetic north pole at a given point.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Detonation occurs in a reciprocating aircraft engine when
the unburned charge in the cylinders explodes instead of burning normally.
Detonation or knock is the explosive burning of the fuel/air mixture inside the cylinder.
An electrical system failure (battery and alternator) occurs during flight. In this situation, you would
experience avionics equipment failure.
A complete electrical system failure would result in the loss of the avionics equipment as well as most other electrical equipment.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
Which wind condition would be most critical when taxiing a nosewheel equipped high-wing airplane?
Quartering tailwind.
When taxiing a nosewheel equipped high-wing airplane the most critical wind position is a quartering tailwind because it could lift the tail and push the airplane over on its prop and far wingtip.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
Which condition would cause the altimeter to indicate a lower altitude than true altitude?
Air temperature warmer than standard.
When air is warmer than average, the aircraft is higher than the altimeter indicates. Therefore, the altimeter will read lower than the aircraft’s actual altitude.
Aviation Weather (AC 00-6) Ch. 3
The common heading indicator requires periodic adjustment. It is important to check its indications frequently against the:
Magnetic compass.
The magnetic compass provides an indication of the magnetic heading. When setting the gyroscopic heading indicator to agree with the magnetic compass, use the average indication between the swings.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Should it become necessary to handprop an airplane engine, it is extremely important that a competent pilot
be at the controls in the cockpit.
It is extremely important that a competent pilot be at the controls in the cockpit because of the hazards involved in hand propping.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
With regard to carburetor ice, float-type carburetor systems in comparison to fuel injection systems are generally considered to be
more susceptible to icing.
Float-type carburetors are more prone to carburetor ice than fuel injection systems. In a fuel injected system, mixing of the fuel & air occurs just prior to the intake valve or in the cylinder. The cooling effect of fuel vaporization has less influence.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
What is pressure altitude?
The altitude indicated when the barometric pressure scale is set to 29.92.
Pressure altitude is indicated when the altimeter setting window (barometric scale) is adjusted to 29.92” Hg.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 3.) Which altimeter(s) indicate(s) more than 10,000 feet?
1 and 2 only.
The shortest hand indicates tens of thousands of feet. The middle length hand represents thousands of feet and the longest hand indicates hundreds of feet. The shortest hand is past 10,000’ on altimeters 1 & 2.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
How is engine operation controlled on an engine equipped with a constant-speed propeller?
The throttle controls power output as registered on the manifold pressure gauge and the propeller control regulates engine RPM.
On an engine equipped with a constant-speed propeller, throttle controls the power output registered on a manifold pressure gauge and the propeller control regulates the engine RPM.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
What is one procedure to aid in cooling an engine that is overheating?
Enrichen the fuel mixture.
A rich mixture will usually tend to cool the engine. Leftover fuel, caused by a rich mixture, absorbs some heat from the cylinders, resulting in a cooler engine.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
As altitude increases, the indicated airspeed at which a given airplane stalls in a particular configuration will
remain the same regardless of altitude.
Indicated airspeed is dependent on the amount of ram air pressure entering the pitot tube. Regardless of an aircraft’s altitude, the indicated airspeed for a particular maneuver remains the same.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
One of the main functions of flaps during approach and landing is to
increase the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.
Flaps increase lift (with an increase in induced drag) enabling the pilot to make steeper approaches without an increase in airspeed.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 6
On aircraft equipped with fuel pumps, when is the auxiliary electric driven pump used?
In the event engine-driven fuel pump fails.
The auxiliary or “boost” pump is used as a backup for the engine-driven pump.
Why are reciprocating engines preferred over other types for small aircraft.
They are less expensive to operate and they are simple in design.
Most small aircraft are designed with reciprocating engines. reciprocating engine technology has improved dramatically over the past two decades.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
(Refer to figure 4.) Which color identifies the power-off stalling speed in a specified configuration?
Lower limit of the green arc.
The lower limit of the green arc represents the aircraft’s power-off stalling speed.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
What is true altitude?
The vertical distance of the aircraft above sea level.
True altitude is the true vertical distance of the aircraft above sea level. It is the actual altitude of the aircraft.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
Which factor would tend to increase the density altitude at a given airport?
An increase in ambient temperature.
The primary factor that would tend to increase density altitude at a given airport is an increase in ambient temperature. The hotter the air temperature, the less dense the air. This is equivalent to increasing density altitude.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 10
Aviation Weather (AC 00-6) Ch. 3
(Refer to figure 4.) The maximum speed at which the airplane can be operated in smooth air is
208 knots.
Never-exceed speed is indicated on the airspeed indicator with a red line. This is the maximum speed that an aircraft can be operated in smooth air.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 4.) Which color identifies the normal flap operating range?
The white arc.
The white arc on the airspeed indicator represents the flap operating range for an aircraft. It extends from 55 to 100 knots.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 4.) What is the maximum flaps-extended speed?
100 knots.
The upper limit of the white arc represents the aircraft’s maximum flap extension speed, or 100 knots in this example.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 3.) Altimeter 1 indicates
10,500 feet.
The shortest hand indicates tens of thousands of feet. The middle length hand represents thousands of feet and the longest hand indicates hundreds of feet. The shortest hand is just past 10,000’. The hands read 10,500’.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 4.) What is the caution range of the airplane?
165 to 208 knots.
The caution range of an aircraft is resented by the yellow arc on the airspeed indicator. It extends from 165 to 208 knots.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 9, area B.) How should the flight controls be held while taxiing a tailwheel airplane into a right quartering headwind?
Right aileron up, elevator up.
When taxiing a tailwheel airplane into a right quartering headwind, use up aileron on the right hand wing and up elevator.
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 2
Airplane Flying Handbook Ch. 14
(Refer to figure 3) Altimeter 2 indicates
14,500 feet.
The smallest hand represents 10s of thousands of feet. Here the smallest hand is beyond the 10,000 foot mark. The next smallest hand, the 1,000 foot pointer, is past the 4,000 foot mark and the largest hand, the 100 foot pointer, is on 500 feet—14,500 feet.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
(Refer to figure 7.) How should a pilot determine the direction of bank from an attitude indicator such as the one illustrated?
By the relationship of the miniature airplane (C) to the deflected horizon bar (B).
The relationship of the miniature airplane to the horizon bar is the same as the relationship of the real aircraft to the actual horizon.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 7
(Refer to figure 4.) What is the maximum structural cruising speed?
165 knots.
The upper limit of the green arc represents the maximum structural cruising speed of the aircraft, or 165 knots.
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Ch. 8
