Chapter 3 Engines Flashcards
Most general aviation airplane engines are of the ___ opposed variety.
Horizontally
Horizontally opposed cylinder arrangements pack a lot of engine into a ___ amount of space. Less space used by the engine means less overall ___.
Small, Drag
Name the four cycles of an airplane engine:
Intake, compression, power, exhaust
While the piston is in its downward journey, the ___ valve opens, and a mixture of fuel and air rushes in.
Intake
The ___ cycle occurs when the intake valve closes and the piston rises.
Compression
Just before the cylinder hits the top of its return journey, the ___ ___ fire.
Spark Plugs
The burning mixture pushes the piston downward. This is the ___ stroke.
Power
One purpose of the dual ignition system on an aircraft engine is to provide for …
improved engine performance
Magnetos contain spinnable magnets, housed in metal cases. When the internal magnets are spun, they generate electricity for the ___ ___.
Spark Plugs
What’s particularly interesting about magnetos is that they are self-contained spark generators and require no outside source of electrical energy to work other than the ___ motion of the airplane engine.
Turning
What is the purpose of the magneto’s impulse coupling?
To provide extra spin energy for the magneto’s internal magnets
Normally, airplanes are operated with the magneto switch in the ___ position.
Both
Is it permissible to operate the engine on one magneto?
yes. If one magneto goes bad, it’s permissible to switch to a single magneto
In many cases we’re concerned not only with the RPM drop on each magneto, but with the ___ in RPM between each mag drop.
Difference
Selecting the right or left magneto ___ the other mag by grounding it to the air frame.
Deactivates
The mag is grounded to the air frame via a wire called the …
P-lead
Mechanics (and flight instructors) sometimes recommend doing a P-lead security check just before shutting down. With the engine idling, quickly turn the mag switch from ___ to off, then immediately back to ___ again.
both, both
Exhaust gases sometimes have an afterlife. They can be put to use spinning a ___ or indirectly heating the ___ or cabin.
Turbocharger, carburetor
The ___, ___ and ___ manifold (pipes connected to each cylinder) make up the induction system on carburetor equipped airplanes.
air filter, carburetor, intake
Airplane carburetors located underneath the engine are called ___ type carburetors because air and fuel must be drawn upward toward each cylinder.
Updraft
The operating principle of float-type carburetors is based on the…
difference in air pressure at the venturi throat and the air inlet
The ___ jet is that portion of the carburetor that allows the engine to run when the throttle is pulled full aft.
Idling
Why doesn’t the engine quit or falter when the throttle is opened abruptly?
The accelerator pump supplies a shot of fuel into the throat of the carburetor along with the inrushing air.
Assuming the airplane has an updraft carburetor with an accelerator pump, what happens when the engine isn’t running and the throttle is pumped?
Fuel may fall to the bottom of the carburetor and soak the air filter, creating an opportunity for an engine fire.