Aircraft performance and emergency procedures Flashcards
What is induced drag?
Induced drag is created by those parts of the aeroplane that create lift—the wings and the horizontal tail surface; induced drag is said to be the by-product or cost of lift—that is, the greater the angle of, attack, the greater the induced drag. Induced drag does not increase with speed; instead, as speed decreases induced drag increases.
Induced drag is associated with difference in pressure that exists above and below a wing surface—as airspeed decreases, an airfoil must produce an increased low pressure above the wing, and an increased high pressure below the wing. At the wingtip these disparate pressures meet in the form of a vortex as the high pressure flow around the wingtip is sucked into the low pressure above the wing; the greater the pressure differences (such as in the case in slower flight), the greater the vortices are at each wing tip, and the greater the drag caused by these vortices.1
Induced drag is a by-product of
lift
Induced drag is highest at ____ and ______.
Low airspeeds and high angle of attack.
How can one change induced drag?
Change airspeed, angle of attack, or weight of aircraft.
How does increasing the weight of an airplane affect rate of climb and peak climb rate?
Weight has a very pronounced effect on aircraft performance. If weight is added to an aircraft, it must fly at a higher angle of attack (AOA) to maintain a given altitude and speed. This increases the induced drag of the wings, as well as the parasite drag of the aircraft. Increased drag means that additional thrust is needed to overcome it, which in turn means that less reserve thrust is available for climbing. Aircraft designers go to great effort to minimize the weight since it has such a marked effect on the factors pertaining to performance.
A change in an aircraft’s weight produces a twofold effect on climb performance. First, a change in weight will change the drag and the power required. This alters the reserve power available, which in turn, affects both the climb angle and the climb rate. Secondly, an increase in weight will reduce the maximum rate of climb, but the aircraft must be operated at a higher climb speed to achieve the smaller peak climb rate.
Alternator failure….
1) Switch off individual devices to check whether there is an excessive draw somewhere;
2) Check circuit breaker or popped switch
3) Reset overvoltage relay by switching off ALT for one second, then back on;
4) Switch off all non-essential electronics, and go for landing
High oil temperature….
1) Check that it isn’t a gauge issue (ie, if oil pressure is normal, might just be a gauge problem)
2) Land ASAP.
Loss of fuel pressure….
1) Switch on electric fuel pump;
2) Check that on proper tank and that tank has fuel;
3) Land ASAP.
Engine fire in flight…
1) Shut off fuel selector;
2) Mixture to cutoff;
3) Fuel pump off;
4) Turn off cabin heat and other non-essential electronics;
5) Power off landing.
Electrical fire, smoke in cabin….
1) Turn off master switch, cabin heat, and defrosters;
2) Open vents to clear cabin;
Point to remember: without electricity, stall warning won’t work.
Fire during starting aircraft…
1) Continue cranking engine;
2) Mixture to cut-off;
3) Throttle to open;
4) Electric fuel pump off;
5) Fuel tank selector to off;
6) If none of this works, abandon aircraft
Procedures if engine failure in flight…
1) Pitch to 70 kts;
2) “Hail mary” = primer in, fuel tank selector OK, full rich, throttle OK, carb heat off, fuel pump on, mags on, master switch on.
3) Prepare for power off landing;
4) If time permits, try L and R mags, different throttle settings, mixture settings.
Engine loss on takeoff, not airborne…
1) Throttle off;
2) Brake hard!
Engine loss but not sufficient runway remaining…
1) Throttle off;
2) Brake hard
3) Mixture to idle;
4) Fuel selector to off;
5) Master to off;
6) Magnetos off.
Engine loss, just after takeoff…
1) If possible, lower nose and do normal landing;
2) If not possible, maintain airspeed so no stalling, and,
3) Throttle off;
4) Mixture to idle;
5) Fuel selector off;
6) Master switch off;
7) Magnetos off;
8) If altitude permits restart, try proper fuel tank, fuel pump on, mixture rich, carb heat on
