Sample Oral Questions

Question 1

1. Recite the v-speeds

Answer 1

…

Question 2

2. What is the maximum demonstrated crosswind component?

Answer 2

17 knots

Question 3

3. Describe the PA-28-181 engine.
   A. How many cylinders?
   B. Who is the manufacturer?
   C. What is the horsepower rating?
   D. Does it have fuel injectors or a carburetor?
   E. Is the engine turbo-charged or normally aspirated?
   F. How are the cylinders arranged?
   G. How is ignition provided?
   H. What are the minimum and maximum oil capacities?

Answer 3

A. 4 cylinders
B. Lycoming
C. 180 horsepower @ 2,700 rpm (red line)
D. Carbureted
E. Normally Aspirated
F. Horizontally Opposed
G. 2 engine driven magnetos independent of electrical system and each other
H. min 6, max 8 quarts

Question 4

4. Describe the propeller system.
   A. Who makes the propellers?
   B. How is propeller RPM adjusted?
   C. Define fixed pitch.

Answer 4

A. Sensenich (two-bladed, fixed pitch, metal propeller - 76 in diameter)
B. Change the power setting
C. The angle of attack of a fixed pitch propeller is set at installation and cannot be changed during aircraft operation. The blade angle is a compromise between the optimum pitch for takeoff, climb and cruise.

Question 5

5. Describe the electrical system.

Answer 5

• 28 VDC electrical system and a 24 VDC lead acid batt
• Elect pwr supplied by a 70-amp, eng driven alternator
• Voltage regulator maintains 28-volt output

Question 6

6. What are the indications of a failed alternator?

Answer 6

An annunciator light “ALTERNATOR INOPERATIVE” and a zero indication on the ammeter

Question 7

7. Will the engine continue to run with the alternator and battery master switches turned off?

Answer 7

Yes, the magnetos are engine driven and not part of the electrical system and are independent of each other

Question 8

8. Describe the stall warning system.

Answer 8

An electric stall detector located on the leading edge of the left wing. The stall warning horn emits a continuous sound and is activated between 5 and 10 knots above stall speed.

Question 9

9. Describe the fuel system.

Answer 9

• Uses 100 (LL) low lead avgas (blue)
• (2) 25 gal fuel tanks. 1 gal is unusable in each tank
• 1 engine-driven and 1 electrically-driven fuel pump
• Electric engine priming system - to facilitate starting

Question 10

10. Explain how to change fuel tanks in cruise flight.

Answer 10

1. Electric fuel pump on
2. Fuel selector from “L” to “R” or from “R” to “L”
3. Check fuel pressure
4. Electric fuel pump off
5. Check fuel pressure

Question 11

11. Describe the landing gear system.
    A. How is steering accomplished on the ground?
    B. What is the range of travel on the nose wheel?

Answer 11

• Fixed, tricycle type gear, w/ oleo (air/oil) struts provide shock absorption for all three wheels
• Nose wheel contains a shimmy dampener (damps nose wheel vibrations during grnd ops and centers the nose wheel in the air)
• The nose wheel is linked to the rudder pedals by a steering mechanism which turns the nose wheel up to 20° each side of center

Question 12

12. What type of braking system is used by the Archer? Where is the brake fluid reservoir?

Answer 12

• Hydraulically actuated disc brakes on the MLG wheels
• Brake fluid reservoir on top left front face of the firewall - Toe/parking brake have separate brake cylinders, but share the hydraulic reservoir

Question 13

13. What type of flaps does the Archer have?

A. What are the flap settings on the Archer?

Answer 13

• Manual flap system

- Flap settings are 0°, 10°, 25°, and 40°, and are spring-loaded to return to the 0 ° position

Question 14

14. What are the maximum taxi, takeoff, and landing weights?

Answer 14

Max taxi = 2558lbs

Max TO/L = 2550lbs

Question 15

15. What is the maximum baggage capacity?

Answer 15

200lbs

Question 16

16. Define Vx and Vy.

Answer 16

Vx is the best angle of climb (64 KIAS)

Vy is the best rate of climb (76 KIAS)

Question 17

17. What aircraft equipment checks are required under FAR Part 91?

Answer 17

• VOR every 30 days
• Transponders every 24 calendar months
• Pitot Static every 24 calendar months
• ELT every 12 months or after half of the battery life or after 1 cumulative use
• Current 100hr and annual insp

Question 18

18. What documents are required to be on the aircraft?

Answer 18

A. Airworthiness Certificate
R. Registration Certificate
O. Operating Limitations (POH), placards, markings, etc.
W. Weight & Balance

Question 19

19. Explain lost communications procedures.

Answer 19

VFR - squawk 7600, remain VFR and land as soon as practicable.

IFR - squawk 7600 and fly:
- Route (First that applies), Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed…
- Altitude (Whichever is highest until descent is required for landing), Minimum IFR Altitude, Expected,
Assigned

Question 20

20. Explain the pitot-static system.
    A. Does the PA-28 have an alternate static source? If so, how is it activated and what actions are necessary to acquire the most accurate reading?
    B. What instruments are pitot-static?
    C. Where is the pitot-static port located?

Answer 20

A. Yes, Alternate source located inside cabin under left side of the instrument panel
- Activated in static port blockage
- Storm window and cabin vents closed with cabin heater and defroster on for most accurate reading (reduces the pressure differential between the cockpit and atmosphere, reducing pitot-static error)
B. Pitot-static instruments: airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator.
C. Primary pitot/static press port from the pitot head (bottom/left wing)

Question 21

21. What is the fuel capacity? How many gallons are unusable?

Answer 21

• 50 gallons (25 per tank)

- 2 gallons unusable (1 gallon per tank)

Question 22

22. What grade fuel is to be used in the PA-28?

Answer 22

100 LL (low lead) avgas (blue)

Question 23

23. How many fuel pumps are on the aircraft?

Answer 23

2: 1 engine driven and 1 electrically driven

Question 24

24. When is the electric fuel pump to be used?

Answer 24

All takeoffs, landings and when switching fuel tanks

Question 25

25. What are the various positions on the fuel selector control?

Answer 25

“L”, “R”, and “OFF”

Question 26

26. In the event of an electrical failure, what pilot actions are necessary to ensure continued operation of the standby attitude indicator?

Answer 26

Within 60 seconds while an amber blinking LED prompts you...press the “STBY PWR” button

Question 27

27. If the standby power button on the attitude indicator is not pressed within one minute of electrical failure, what will happen?

Answer 27

If the pilot fails to activate the standby battery within 60 seconds, the STBY PWR button can still be pressed to activate the standby battery; however, the gyro may not be oriented to the airplane depending on the time elapsed prior to pressing the STBY PWR button.

Question 28

28. How do you determine a standard rate turn on an aircraft with a G500 system?

Answer 28

Use the reference lines and the magenta line that appears above the heading indicator to identify a standard rate or half-standard rate turn.

Question 29

29. In the event of an AHRS failure, which indications will no longer be displayed on the PFD? Which indications will still be visible on the PFD?

Answer 29

``` No longer visible: - Heading indicator (compass rose and ground track still available supplied by GPS) - Turn Coordinator - Attitude Direction Indicator Visible: - Airspeed - Altitude - Vertical Speed ```

Question 30

30. Which approaches can be accomplished with an AHRS failure?

Answer 30

Any precision (ILS) or non-precision (GPS) approach is available using the HSI on the PFD.

Question 31

31. What instrument approaches are available with the PFD inoperative? With the MFD inoperative? With a total PFD/MFD failure?

Answer 31

PFD inop: Only non-precision (GPS) approaches can be accomplished. MFD inop: all approaches are available for use. Both inop: Only GPS approach

Question 32

32. How long does the internal battery last when providing power to the standby attitude indicator? With the loss of the ADC, which lost instrument does not have a backup? What should you do to compensate for the lack of information?

Answer 32

- 1 hour - There is no backup for the VSI - Use stby instr's, known pitch attitudes using the attitude indicator, power settings, and airspeeds produce consistent rates for VSI