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PPL -AGK - Aircraft General knowledge > Engine > Flashcards

Engine Flashcards

1
Q

5 Engine Configurations

A 
Radial
In-line Upright
In-line Inverted
Horizontally Opposed
Vee
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2
Q

Parts of the Piston?

A 
The crown
Compression Rings
Oil Scraper Ring
Gudgeon Pin
Connecting Rod "Con-Rod"
Big-end Bearings (Connects to crank shaft)
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3
Q

How does the piston work?

A

Pistons move back and fourth in the cylinder where a mixture is burned .A crank shaft turns the linear motion to rotating motion to the propeller

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4
Q

The four-stroke engine cycle

A

Intake (Suck) - Fuel/air mixture sucked into cylinder

Compression (Squeeze) - Inlet valve + compression occurs

Power (Bang) - Spark plug ignites forcing piston back

Exhaust (Blow) - Remaining gasses forced out

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5
Q

What is the equation for compression ratio?

A

Total volume
——————
Clearance volume

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6
Q

Explain the ignition system?

A

A magneto (separate from normal electrical engine) is a high powered magnet that produces a high current to start a spark

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7
Q

Magneto failsafe

A

The right and left magneto connect to either side meaning that if one fails all the pistons will continue to ignite (loss of 100RPM = failed magneto)

Same side Down
Opposite Top

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8
Q

Impulse coupling

A

Slows down spark plug during low cranking RPM (When starting engine)

Accelerates the magnet momentarily to generate a high voltage

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9
Q

Exhaust system

A

Burned gases leave engine and are carried out to the atmosphere. Exhaust fumes leaking into the cabin can lead to carbon monoxide poising

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10
Q

The Carburettor

A

combines petrol wth oxygen. (1 part fuel/ 12 parts air by weight)

Rich = excess fuel
Lean = Shortage of fuel

Higher you climb = less oxygen to less fuel needed

The venturi controls throttle valve (butterfly valve)

Acceleration through venturi = decreased static pressure (Bernoulli’s principle)

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11
Q

Accelerator Pump

A

Will attempt to push more fuel into engine so it starts if throttle opened quickly - creates rich engine mixture

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12
Q

Idling System

A

Close throttle when plane is idle. small idling jet with inlet near butterfly valve to keep engine at low RPM

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13
Q

Fuel/Air Mixture control

A

To maintain correct mixture pilot must reduce the amount of fuel entering.

Excess fuel = Rich
Too little air = Lean

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14
Q

Detonation

A

Fuel nd air mixture prematurely ignited during compression stroke causing engine damage

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15
Q

What causes detonation

A

Low grade fuel
Heat
Incorrect mixture setting
Carbon particles in the combustion chamber

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16
Q

Carburettor icing

A

Usually formed at temps 10 to -20 degrees Celsius when relative humidity is high

High altitude - cold air, cold fuel = intake valve/throttle icing over

lead to rough running/Power loss

Apply carburettor heat before it happens

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17
Q

Fuel Injection System

A

No Carburettor. Fuel directly mixed into the induction manifold into cylinders

Venturi system still used for pressure differential coupled to a fuel control unit

separate fuel line carries fuel to the discharge nozzle in each cylinder head

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18
Q

Components of the Cylinder

A

Inlet/Outlet
Piston
Spark Plugs
Combustion Chamber

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19
Q

What is the Camshaft?

A

Opens + Closes inlet and exhaust valve

Connected to crankshaft so in relation moves at half speed

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20
Q

Basic description of the fuel tank

A

Fuel in tanks usually installed in wings
(Reduces stress on wings e.g. bending due to weight)

A sump and drain allows for heavy impurities to gather and be drained off
(E.g. water)

Tanks often contain baffles preventing fuel surging in flight

Top of fuel tank vented allow atmospheric pressure to be retained in tank as altitude changes/fuel used up

Fuel vents should checked in pre-flight

Overflow drain prevents excessive pressure build up if fuel volume increases due to pressure - (Expands with heat + vapour)

High-wing aircraft = gravity fed

Low-wing aircraft = pump fed

(By law tank should be left 2% empty to account for fuel expansion at high temps)

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21
Q

What is a baffle?

A

Helps hold the tank in place stopping the fuel from surging/sloshing around

Important for air-cooled aircraft engine - help direct air over cylinders - top to bottom.

22
Q 
Fuel Selection
(What pilot do, What if bad thing)
A

Pilot selects which tank to pull fuel from/shut fuel off

Loss of power, should suspect
Lack of fuel to engine
Carburettor icing

Fuel Gauges
ALWAYS DO VISUAL CHECK
DO NOT RELY ON GAUGE

23
Q

Fuel Labelling + Colour coding

A

Dictates what kind of fuel it is. Each colour represents a different type and indicates what the fuel should look like

Blue/Red - AVGAS 100LL
Blue/Grey/Red - AVGAS 100LL

Yellow/Red - MOGAS
Yellow/Grey/Red - MOGAS

Black/White/Black/White/Black - JET A1
Transparent
Black/White/Black/Grey/Black - JET A1

24
Q

Fuel/Oil Checks

A

Should be down first to see if any contaminates

(water denser than fuel so rests at bottom of tank)

Check oil cooler is free from insects, bird nests any oil leakage/fatigue cracks

(Pilots operating handbook usually shows oil grade as SAE rating)

25
Typical Lubrication system
> It reduces friction > Cools hot section of the engine > Carries away contaminants (Cleans) > Provides a seal - (OIl makes it tighter) (Oil must have correct properties)
26
Oil properties
Must be sufficiently viscous over operating temp range of engine Have high flash point = will not vaporise excessively or catch fire Must be chemically stable/not change state or characteristics
27
Oil properties | Sump, pump and filters
Wet sump engine has sump to store oil (Own oil) - most light aircraft Dry-sump engine has SCAVENGE pumps - scavenge oil from somewhere else (Where ever it can find it) Oil filters/screens placed in the system to remove foreign material (dust, carbon particles)
28
Malfunctions in the Oil/Lubrication System
Oil type - incorrect oil = poor lubrication, poor cooling + engine damage Oil temp + Pressure may be abnormal Oil Quantity - Should be checked prior to flight, as it gradually decreses due to = burning mixture in cylinders, loss as mist through air breather, leaks
29
Faulty Oil Pressure Gauge
(Gauges can develop faults and give false readings) High Oil pressure - Pressure relief valve in system should stop oil from reaching high pressure Low/Fluctuating pressure - Associated with a rise in oil temp while in flight - land as soon as possible Gradual Loss of oil - Oil temp rises as less oil does same amount of work
30
The cooling system | Risk of not having one/the standard
High enginge temps should be avoided they: Reduce efficiency of lubrication system Adversely affect combustion - "detonation" Weaken engine components + shorten engines life Most modern = Engines cooled by exposing cylinders to air - cooling fins increase surface area Burning fuel = heat (Around 750 degrees) 2 types of cooling systems Air cooling + liquid cooling (Most use air) Pilot must check fins in pre-flight for debris
31
Fixed Cowl Outlet +Variable Cowl Flaps
lets air out during circulation Fixed - More air can escape Variable - controlled by pilot
32
The electrical system
Require system for: Cabin lights, landing lights, inst lights, starter motors, electric flaps, radar, radio, pilot heaters, fuel gauges, fuel boost pumps, retractable undercarriage etc Modern us DC Bus Bar Distribution centre of electrical system. It is a metal bar allowing electrical current to be supplied to various circuits/units The Battery Light aircraft = lead acid battery creates current via chemical reaction. Classified according to voltage
33
Series + Parallel Battery Connections
Series = increases volts amp hours remain the same Parallel = volt remains the same increase amp hours
34
Alternator + Generator
Most craft run by Alternator have to be converted from AC to DC via rectifier Adv Lighter than generator Produces relatively constant voltage Easier to maintain Dis Requires intial current from battery to work. Needs to "excite" alternator
35
Typical Charging System
Ammeter tells Pilot if electricty is flowing from or to charging unit If current flowing from the battery the ammeter shows a discharge Current flowing to battery ammeter shows charge
36
Master Switch
Must be on for any other electrical system to receive power. Recharged when engine runs Split into two in craft with alternator (No alternator = 30 mins for power)
37
Landing gear
Allows for movement on ground Connected via either: String spring leaf of steel/fibre glass Struts + braces Oleo-pneumatic unit
38
The Oleo Unit
Act as suspension system. Filled with nitrogen gas (Shock absorber) and hydraulic oil (stops excessive rebound)
39
Torque Link
Align nose wheel to airframe
40
Shimmy Damper
Prevents Oscillation of wheel on ground | shimmy shimmy yah
41
Creep Marks + Tyre Pressure
Tyre pressure wrong = tyre creep Normal operation stresses can lead tyre creep - inner tube may suffer - valve may be unusable + break
42
Typical Hydraulic Braking System
Fluid goes down break line pushing pads slowing down disc break
43
Parking Brake
Holds pressure on wheel brakes and can be used when plane is parked ``` Pre-flight checks: No leaks in hydraulic system brake disc are not corroded Pads not worn Brake assembly firmly attached ```
44
Instruments - Airspeed indicator
Colour codes relate to specific speed mins/limits Vs0 - stalling speed flaps/gears down Vs1 - Stalling speed flaps/gears up Vfe - Max speed permitted flaps down Va - Design manoeuvring speed Vno - Normal operating speed Vne - NEVER EXCEED SPEED
45
Instrument Altimeter + static vent
Altimeter - measures pressure outside to get height. Can tell height via amount of pressure (less = higher) Static vent - Measures static pressure
46
Vertical speed indicator
VSI - Converts rate of change of altitude and expresses it in ft per minute (Using the fact pressure decreases with altitude)
47
Turn co-ordinator, Turn indicator, Balance indicators
Instruments indicate aircrafts rate of turn
48
Attitude Indicator
Shows pitch + bank angle | Nothing on performance of craft
49
Direction indicator
DI - Gyroscopic instrument aligned with magnetic compass periodically in flight Can be known as Heading indicator (HI) or Directional Gyro (DG)
50
Magnetic compass
Primary source of direction indicates magnetic heading
51
T.V.M.D.C. W.E. | True Virgins Make Dull Company +Whiskey, -Ethics
True / Variation / Magnetic heading / Deviation Compass

PPL -AGK - Aircraft General knowledge (2 decks)

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