Airplane Systems Flashcards
How are the various flight controls operated?
Rod or cable system
What type of trim system is installed in this airplane?
Elevator thru trim wheel
What are flaps, and what is their function?
Moveable panels on the inboard trailing edge of the wing; permit a lower airspeed and steeper angle of descent
Describe a typical wing flap system
Single-slot, electronically controlled, 15 amp circuit breaker
State some examples of leading edge lift devices
Slots - A slot on the leading edge directs air from under the wing to flow above the wing; delays airflow separation at higher AOA
Slats - Same function as slots but moveable either by pilot control or automatically by low air pressure
What are spoilers?
Devices located on the upper wing which spoil the airflow to reduce lift thereby typically used as air brakes
What instruments operate from the pitot/static system?
Altimeter, VSI, airspeed
Does this aircraft have an alternate static air system?
Yes; used when external static port block; manually activated
How does an altimeter work?
Seal aneroid wafers calibrated at sea level acting against the housing pressure via static air; wafer expands or contracts when pressure decreases or increases respectively which is used to indicate altitude; Kollsman window used to adjust for pressure altitude
A pressure altimeter is subject to what limitations?
Nonstandard pressure and temperatures
Warm day - indicates lower than actual; higher pressure level than standard day
Cold day - indicates higher than actual; lower pressure level than standard
Higher than standard pressure - indicates lower than actual
Lower than standard pressure - indicates higher than actual
Note: High to low/hot to cold, look out below
Define and state how you would determine the following altitudes
Indicated altitude - What is shown on the altimeter set to the current altimeter setting
Pressure altitude - Altitude when altimeter adjusted to 29.92 “Hg
True altitude - Vertical distance above seal level (MSL)
Density altitude - Pressure altitude adjusted for nonstandard temperature
Absolute altitude - Vertical distance above the terrain (AGL)
How does the airspeed indicator operate?
Measures the difference between static and ram air
What are the limitations of the airspeed indicator?
Subject to proper airflow into the pitot or static ports
The airspeed indicator is subject to what errors?
Positions error - Sensing erroneous static pressure due to slipstream; varies with flight configuration, airspeed, altitude
Density error - Changes in altitude and temperature not compensated
Compressibility error - Packing of air in the pitot tube at high speeds results in higher than normal indication
What are the different types of aircraft speeds?
IAS - Read of the airspeed indicator; no corrections applied
Calibrated airspeed (CAS) - airspeed corrected for position and instrument errors; CAS = TAS at sea level
Equivalent airspeed (EAS) - CAS corrected for adiabatic compressible flow for a particular altitude; EAS = CAS at sea level
True airspeed (TAS) - CAS corrected for altitude and nonstandard temperature; speed in relation to the air mass being flown thru
What airspeed limitations apply to the color-coded marking system of the airspeed indicator?
White arc - flap operating range
Bottom of the white arc - VS0
Top of the white arc - VFE
Green arc - normal operating range
Bottom green arc - VS1
Top of the green arc - VNO
Yellow arc - caution range (ops in smooth air only)
Red arc - VNE
What are some examples of important airspeed limitations that are not marked on the face of the airspeed indicator, but are found on placards and in the AFM/POH?
VA
VLO
VLE
Vx
Vy
How does the vertical speed indicator work?
Compares the difference in pressure of the housing chamber with a calibrated orifice and aneroid wafer via static air; expanding wafer indicates positive pressure aka climb while depressed wafer indicates negative pressure aka descend
What are the limitations of the vertical speed indicator?
Not accurate until aircraft stabilized; sudden or abrupt movements cause erroneous readings
Which instruments contain gyroscopes?
Turn coordinator, heading indicator, attitude indicator
What are two fundamental properties of a gyroscope?
Rigidity in space - Remains in a fixed position on the plane it is spinning
Precession - Any force applied to the gyro occurs 90 degrees beyond the direction of rotation
What are the various sources that may be used to power the gyroscopic instruments in an airplane?
Vacuum or electrically operated
How does the vacuum system operate?
Air drawn by an engine-driven vacuum pump thru a filter then moves thru the various instruments causing the gyros within to spin then expelled or used in other systems, relief value prevent system from exceeding limits
How does the attitude indicator work?
Gyro mounted on the horizontal plane while aircraft moves about its axis
Discuss the limits of an attitude indicator
Instrument tumbles when limitations exceed until reset
Bank - 100 to 110 degrees
Pitch - 60 to 70 degrees
Note: See POH for actual limits
The attitude indicator is subject to what errors?
Pitch up or nose down during rapid accelerated or deceleration
Bank angle or pitch error after 180 degree turn
All errors will self correct after some time in straight and level flight
How does the heading indicator operate?
Mounted on the vertical plane while aircraft moves about its axis
What are the limitations of the heading indicator?
Same as the attitude indicator
Bank - 100 to 110
Pitch - 60 to 70
Tumbles when limitations exceeded until reset
What error is the heading indicator subject to?
Will drift due to precession caused mainly by friction, will need to rematch with the magnetic compass manually every so often
How does the turn coordinator operate?
Uses precession to indicate turn direction and approximate rate of turn
Liquid fill tube with ball reacts to centrifugal force and gravity to show slip/skid
What information does the turn coordinator provide?
Shows the yaw and roll
Miniature airplane indicates the direction of turn as well as the rate of turn, aligned with the index indicates standard rate of turn (3 degrees per second)
Inclinometer indicates the coordination of aileron and rudder
What will the turn indicator indicate when the aircraft is in a skidding or slipping turn?
Skid - ball on the outside of turn
Slip - ball on the inside of the turn
How does the magnetic compass work?
Magnetized needle in a float assembly
What limitations does the magnetic compass have?
Erratic and unpredictable at steep bank angles (>18 degrees)
What are the various compass erorrs?
Oscillation error - Erratic movement caused by turbulence or rough control
Deviation error - Electrical and magnetic disturbances in aircraft
Variation error - Angular difference between true and magnetic north; reference magenta lines
Dip error
Acceleration error - East/West heading accelerating shows a turn to the North while decelerating shows a turn to the South (ANDS)
Northerly turning error - Compass leads in the south half of a turn and lags in the north half (UNOS)
What equipment would be considered hydraulic on this aircraft?
Brakes
What provides hydraulic power to the landing gear system?
Electrically driven hydraulic power pack
Describe hydraulic power pack operation
Controlled by landing gear lever, activates power pack and selector valve mechanically rotates to the corresponding configuration, hydraulic pressure is applied to the actuator cylinders to move the landing gear; if down the power pack will continue to cycle the system to until 1,000 to 1,500 psi
Describe the landing gear system on this airplane
Tricycle, steerable nose wheel; tubular spring steel main gear strut and air/oil shock strut for the nose gear
How is the landing gear extended and retracted?
Hydraulic actuator powered by electronic power pack; pressure switch starts or stops operation
How is the gear locked in the down position?
Mechanical locks
How is the gear locked in the up position?
Up pressure is maintained by the hydraulic power pack; system cycles to maintain a psi of 1,000 to 1,500
How is accidental gear retraction prevented on the ground?
Squat switch electronically prevents system from operating
How is the landing gear position indicated in the cockpit?
Amber and green indicator lights
Note: System is designed to swap bulbs between other positions in flight in case of burnt bulb
What is the normal length of time necessary for landing gear retraction or extension?
5 to 7 seconds
What type of landing gear warning system is used?
If configured for landing without gear locked down a warning tone will be heard; see POH for specific condition
Can the landing gear be retracted with the hand operated pump?
No
Describe the braking system on this aircraft?
Hydraulically actuated disc type brakes for each main wheel; hydraulic line connects each brake to a master cylinder located on each pilot’s rudder pedal
How is steering accomplished on the ground?
Nosewheel steering thru mechanical linkages connected to the rudder pedals
What are the landing gear tire pressures?
Nose - 43 psi
Main - 45 psi