Chapter 2: Airplane Instruments, Engines, & Systems Flashcards
When is the magnetic compass considered accurate?
During straight & level flight & unaccelerated flight
What is magnetic deviation?
Magnetic fields by radios/avionics/metals/electrical accessories that can disturb the compass needles
What is ANDS
Acceleration
North
Deceleration
South
- on a East/West heading
- these errors do not occur on a North/South heading
What happens when you’re on a North/South heading and you make a turn?
When you make a turn to the east/west on a North heading; it’ll indicate the opposite direction at first and then switch back
When you make a turn to the east/west on a South heading; it’ll indicate a faster rate of turn in the correct direction then actual
- you do not get turning errors on a East/West heading
What does the pitot-static consist of?
Airspeed, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator
What is the pitot tube
It provides ram/impact pressure for airspeed indicator
What happens when the static is clogged, pitot is clogged, and when both are clogged?
Static is clogged: all three read inaccurate (airspeed, altimeter, vertical speed indicator)
Pitot is clogged: just airspeed will read inaccurate
Is both are clogged: all three read inaccurate (airspeed, altimeter, vertical sped indicator)
What are the V speeds in the Airspeed Indicator and what does it look like?
Vso = power off stalling speed with wing flaps and landing gear in the landing configuration (dirty) / lower white arc
Vs1 = power off stalling speed with no flaps/landing gear in a specified configuration (clean) / lower green arc
Vfe = max full flaps extended speed / upper white arc
Vno = max structural cruising speed / upper green arc
Vne = never exceed speed / red radial line
White arc = full flap operating range
Green arc = normal operating range
Yellow arc = caution range / safe in smooth air only
Red = never exceed
What V Speed is not indicated on the airspeed but it’s important?
Va= maneuvering speed
The speed where you can move a flight control one time in smooth air to its full deflection, for one axis of rotation only, without risk of damage.
- max speed for turbulent air, to be stalled safely, & depends on weight
What do the three hands on the altimeter look like and stand for?
Short needle - 10000 ft
Medium needle - 1000 ft
Long needle - 100 ft
What is absolute altitude?
Altitude above the surface AGL
What is true altitude
Actual distance above MSL
True altitude is the same as indicated altitude when standard conditions exist and the altimeter is calibrated properly
True altitude and pressure are the same when standard conditions exist
What is density altitude
Pressure altitude corrected for non standard temperatures
Density altitude is the same as Pressure altitude at standard conditions
What is pressure altitude
Height above the standard datum plane of 29.92 Hg
Pressure and density altitude are the same at standard temperature
Pressure and true are the same when standard atmospheric conditions exist
What happens to the indicated altitude on the altimeter when it increases/decreases?
Increases when you change the altimeter setting to a higher pressure
Decreases when you change the altimeter to a lower pressure
What is the indicated altitude change of rate
1000ft for 1inch of pressure change
What is the relationship with altimeter on cold/warm days
Lower than indicated altitude at colder than standard
Lower then actual altitude on warm days
High to low, look out below
Low to high, clear the sky
- applies to temperature and pressure
What are the gyroscopic instruments
Attitude indicator, turn coordinator, heading indicator
Heading indicator
Principle of Rigidity in space for operation
Must be periodically realigned with magnetic compass
Aka directional gyro
Turn coordinator
Shows the roll & yaw movement of the airplane
Inclinometer to show coordinated flight (little ball in middle)
Attitude indicator
Miniature aircraft and horizontal bar
Aka artificial horizon
Shows pitch, bank
EFD
Electronic flight display
Designed to decrease pilot workload, enhance situational awareness, and increase safety margin
PFD
primary function display: displays flight instruments & type of EFD
MFD
Multi function display: can show instruments but its mostly moving maps (location, terrain, weather) a type of EFD
MFD
Multi function display: can show instruments but its mostly moving maps (location, terrain, weather) a type of EFD
ADC
Air data computer receives pitot and static inputs and computes the difference between the total pressure and the static pressure
AHRS
Attitude and Heading Reference System: replaces free spinning gyros with solid state laser systems that are capable of flight in any attitude without tumbling, sends info to PFD
What will happen if you have an excessively heat engine temperature?
Loss of power, excessive oil consumption, and excessive wear on the internal engine
How do you cool the engine?
Aircraft: Airflow over cylinders, circulated coolant/oil
You: reduce power, increase airspeed, higher octane fuel, enriching mixture
- cooling fins if they have
How can the engine oil and cylinder head temperatures exceed their normal operating ranges?
Too much power, climbing too steeply, using fuel that has a lower than specified octane rating, too lean mixture, oil level too low
What is the advantage of a constant speed propeller
“Controllable-pitch” is that it permits the pilot to select the blade angle for the most efficient performance
What does the constant propeller have control of
Throttle which controls power output and registered on manifold pressure gauge
Propeller control regulates RPM and registered on the tachometer
How does the constant speed avoid over stressing the cylinders
Do not use an excessively high manifold pressure with low RPM settings
What are the two main purpose for a dual ignition system
Improve engine performance and increase safety
What happens if there are loose/broken wires in the ignition system
Can cause problems like the magneto may continue to fire if ignition switch ground wire is disconnected
What is the operating principle of float type carburetors
The difference in air pressure between the Venturi throat and the air inlet
- more susceptible to icing
What is the first indication of icing on a float type carburetor?
when is it likely to happen?
What do you do to eliminate ice?
Loss of rpm
20-70 F and as high as 100 and high humidity
Apply carb heat and will further decrease rpm then gradually increase as the ice melts
What does carb heat do
Enriches the fuel mixture
Decreases engine output
Increases operating temperature
What is detonation
When fuel/air mixture explodes instead of burning evenly
- usually caused by using lower octane, overly lean mixture, excessive engine temperature
What is preignition
Uncontrollable firing of the fuel/air change in advance of the normal spark ignition
What are good practices to do after the flight
Make sure you top off with a higher than specified octane to help prevent moisture condensation (eliminating airspace) and all fuel strainer drains and fuel tank sumps should be drained each flight to make sure there is no water/sediments
What should you keep an extra eye on while in cold conditions during preflight
The crankcase breather lines may be clogged with ice (bc vapor cools)
What should be one of the first things you do when you start the engine
Throttle should be adjusted for proper RPM and the engine gauges
How many volts does a typical aircraft have
14 or 28
Alternators
Supply electrical current to the electrical system and maintain an electrical charge on the battery
- voltage output needs to be slightly higher than battery to be able to charge it
- provide more electrical power at lower engine RPM then generators do
Ammeter
Shows if the alternator is producing an adequate supply of electrical power and indicates where the battery is receiving an electrical charge.
Positive means there is a rate of charge on the battery
Negative means current is being drawn
What happens when there’s an electrical system failure
Avionics system failure
