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