Aircraft Systems Flashcards
AVP 141
Should it become necessary to handprop an airplane engine, it is extremely important that a competent pilot
Be at the controls in the cockpit.
What should be the first action after starting an aircraft engine?
-Adjust for proper RPM -Check for desired indications on the engine gauges
What is one purpose for using reciprocating engines?
-Relatively simple -Inexpensive to operate
One purpose of the dual ignition system on an aircraft engine is to provide for
improved engine performance
a self-contained source of electrical energy, so even if an aircraft loses total electrical power, the engine will continue to run
magneto
Most small airplanes are powered by ______ engines
reciprocating
The two main advantages of the dual ignition system are
-increased safety -improved engine performance
An electrical system failure (battery and alternator) occurs during flight. In this situation, you would
Experience avionics equipment failure
If the ground wire between the magneto and the ignition switch becomes disconnected, the most noticeable result will be that the engine
cannot be shut down by turning the switch to the OFF position
One purpose of the dual ignition system on a two-cycle engine is to provide for
system redundancy in the ignition system
an electrical system failure (battery and alternator) occurs in a magneto equipped aircraft during flight. In this situation, you would
Experience avionics equipment failure
Concerning the advantages of an aircraft generator or alternator, select the true statement
An alternator provides more electrical power at lower engine RPM than a generator
Most light airplane engines use either a carburetor or a fuel injection system to deliver
air/fuel mixture to the cylinders
The operating principle of float-type carburetors is based on the
Difference in air pressure at the venturi throat and the air inlet.
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
While cruising at 9,500 feet MSL, the fuel/air mixture is properly adjusted. What will occur if a descent to 4,500 feet MSL is made without readjusting the mixture?
The fuel/air mixture may become excessively lean
The fuel and air are mixed just prior to entering the combustion chamber. No carburetor is used.
fuel injection system
Preheats the air before it enters the carburetor and either prevents carburetor ice from forming or melts any ice which may have formed
Carburetor heat
During the run-up at a high-elevation airport, a pilot notes a slight engine roughness that is not affected by the magneto check but grows worse during the carburetor heat check. Under these circumstances, what would be the most logical initial action?
Check the results obtained with a leaner setting of the mixture
If an aircraft is equipped with a fixed-pitch propeller and a float-type carburetor, the first indication of carburetor ice would most likely be
Loss of RPM
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
Which condition is most favorable to the development of carburetor icing?
Temperature between 20 and 70°F and high humidity.
The possibility of carburetor icing exists even when the ambient air temperature is as
high as 70°F and the relative humidity is high.
Carburetor icing can occur with an OAT as high as
20°C and high relative humidity
Applying carburetor heat will
Enrich the fuel/air mixture
What change occurs in the fuel/air mixture when carburetor heat is applied?
The fuel/air mixture becomes richer
Generally speaking, the use of carburetor heat tends to
decrease engine performance
With regard to carburetor ice, float-type carburetor systems in comparison to fuel injection systems are generally considered to be
more susceptible to icing
Which condition is most favorable to the development of carburetor icing?
Temperature between 20 and 70°F and high humidity.
Fuel does two things for the engine
-agent for combustion -agent for cooling
The use of low-grade fuel or an air/fuel mixture which is too lean may cause
Detonation
the premature burning of the air/fuel mixture
Preignition
On aircraft equipped with fuel pumps, when is the auxiliary electric driven pump used?
In the event engine-driven fuel pump fails
If the grade of fuel used in an aircraft engine is lower than specified for the engine, it will most likely cause
detonation
Detonation may occur at high-power settings when
the fuel mixture ignites instantaneously instead of burning progressively and evenly
Detonation occurs in a reciprocating aircraft engine when
The spark plugs are fouled or shorted out or the wiring is defective
The uncontrolled firing of the fuel/air charge in advance of normal spark ignition is known as
pre-ignition
What type fuel can be substituted for an aircraft if the recommended octane is not available?
The next higher octane aviation gas.
Filling the fuel tanks after the last flight of the day is considered a good operating procedure because this will
prevent moisture condensation by eliminating airspace in the tanks.
To properly purge water from the fuel system of an aircraft equipped with fuel tank sumps and a fuel strainer quick drain, it is necessary to drain fuel from the
fuel strainer drain and the fuel tank sumps.
During preflight in cold weather, crankcase breather lines should receive special attention because they are susceptible to being clogged by
ice from crankcase vapors that have condensed and subsequently frozen.
prevents direct metal-to-metal contact of moving parts, it also absorbs and dissipates some of the engine heat produced by internal combustion
Engine lubricating oil
If a pilot suspects that the engine (with a fixed-pitch propeller) is detonating during climb-out after takeoff, the initial corrective action to take would be to
lower the nose slightly to increase airspeed
Excessively high engine temperatures will
Cause loss of power, excessive oil consumption, and possible permanent internal engine damage
Excessively high engine temperatures, either in the air or on the ground, will
cause loss of power, excessive oil consumption, and possible permanent internal engine damage.
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.
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.
For internal cooling, reciprocating aircraft engines are especially dependent on
the circulation of lubricating oil
Which is true regarding preheating an aircraft during cold weather operations?
The cabin area as well as the engine should be preheated
An abnormally high engine oil temperature indication may be caused by
the oil level being too low
What action can a pilot take to aid in cooling an engine that is overheating during a climb?
Reduce rate of climb and increase airspeed.
What is one procedure to aid in cooling an engine that is overheating?
Enrichen the fuel mixture
The most important rule to remember in the event of a power failure after becoming airborne is to
immediately establish the proper gliding attitude and airspeed
This type of propeller allows the pilot to select the most efficient propeller blade angle for each phase of flight
Constant-speed propeller
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.
What is an advantage of a constant-speed propeller?
Permits the pilot to select the blade angle for the most efficient performance
A precaution for the operation of an engine equipped with a constant-speed propeller is to
avoid high manifold pressure settings with low RPM
A propeller rotating in a clockwise direction (as seen from the rear) produces a force which tends to roll the airplane in a counterclockwise direction
Reactive force
a combination of four forces: namely, reactive force, spiraling slipstream, gyroscopic precession, and P-factor
torque
the reaction of the air to a rotating propeller
Spiraling slipstream
the result of a deflective force applied to a rotating body
Gyroscopic precession
caused by the downward moving blade on the right side of the propeller having a higher angle of attack, a greater action and reaction, and therefore a higher thrust than the upward moving opposite blade
P-factor
In what flight condition is torque effect the greatest in a single-engine airplane?
Low airspeed, high power, high angle of attack
The left turning tendency of an airplane caused by P-factor is the result of the
propeller blade descending on the right, producing more thrust than the ascending blade on the left
When does P-factor cause the airplane to yaw to the left?
When at high angles of attack
should be performed on an aircraft to help ensure that the aircraft is prepared for safe flight and should be a thorough and systematic means by which the pilot determines the airplane is ready for safe flight
Preflight inspection
During the preflight inspection who is responsible for determining the aircraft is safe for flight?
The pilot in command
How should an aircraft preflight inspection be accomplished for the first flight of the day?
Thorough and systematic means recommended by the manufacturer.
Who is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in airworthy condition?
Owner or operator
