Engine & System Operation Flashcards
What documents are required onboard an aircraft prior to flight?
ARROW
A- Airworthiness certificate
R- Registration certificate
R- Radio Station License
O- Operations Limitation
W- Weight and Balance data
What privileges and limitations apply to a private pilot?
+No person who holds a PPL may not :
- Act as PIC of an a/c that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire, nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as PIC of an a/c
+ They may:
- Act as PIC in connection w/ a business or employment if it is only incidental to that business/employer and does not carry passengers/property for compensation or hire
- May not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight w/ passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees
- Act as PIC of charitable/nonprofit/community event described in 14CFR 91.146 as long as sponsor and pilot comply with said CFR
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Explain pro rata share:
- It means proportional share of the flights operating expenses (i.e. fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees)
What are the 4 main control surfaces and what are their functions?
- Elevators: Control the “pitch” of the aircraft
- Ailerons: Control the “roll” of an aircraft
- Rudders: Control the “yaw” of the aircraft
- Trim: Are labor-saving devices that enable the pilot to release manual pressure on the primary control
What are the flaps, and what are their function?
- The flaps are a moveable panel, that extends downwards on a hinge.
- They interrupt the air flow below the wing and provide both lift and drag. Their purpose is to provide a steeper angle of descent and slower airspeed during a landing approach.
- They may, in some instances, be used for short-field takeoff
Describe the landing gear system on this airplane?
- The landing gear system is a tricycle-type system utilizing two main wheels and a steerable nose-wheel
- Tubular spring steel provide the two main gears with shock absorption, while the nose-wheel is composed of an air/oil type of shock absorption system.
How are the flight controls operated?
- The flight control surfaces are manually actuated through use of either a rod or cable system.
- A control wheel actuates the ailerons and elevator, and rudder/brake pedals actuate the rudder.
Describe the brake system of this aircraft?
- The brake system is a hydraulic brake system and operate through a series of hydraulic pressure actuated when the toe brakes are applied.
- Brake fluid is fed through the system via brake lines from the brake master cylinder, which are connected to both pilots’ rudder pedals.
What type of hydraulic fluid does your aircraft use?
- A mineral based hydraulic fluid (MIL-H-5606) is the most widely used for small a/c. It has an odor similar to penetrating oil, and is dyed red.
- A newer, fire resistant fluid (MIL-H-83282) is also used in small a/c and is dyed red.
How is steering accomplished on the ground?
- Through a series of spring-loaded bungee (push-pull rod) when a rudder pedal is depressed, the pivotal portion of the nose-wheel strut will turn the nose-wheel.
What type of engine does your a/c have?
- 4 cylinder
- Overhead-valve
- Air-cooled
- Carbureted engine
- The engine is manufactured by Lycoming and rated @110hp
What are the four stages in a four stroke engine?
- Intake
- Compression
- Power
- Exhaust
What happens on the intake stroke of a four stroke engine?
- The valve opens, and the piston moves down the cylinder, allowing fuel/air mixture into the chamber
What occurs during the compression stroke in a 4 stroke engine?
The piston moves back to the top of the cylinder compressing the fuel/air mixture as the valve is closed, this allows for a greater power output once the mixture is ignited.
What occurs during the power stroke of a four stroke engine?
- The mixture in the cylinder is ignited and forces the piston down in the cylinder, in turn, turning the crankshaft.
During the exhaust stroke of a four stroke engine?
The cylinder is purged of burned gases as the piston moves back towards the cylinder head again
What does the carburetor do?
Carburetion is the process of mixing fuel and air in the correct proportions in order to form a combustible mixture.
The carburetor vaporizes liquid fuel into small particles & then mixes air with it. It measures the air flow and meters fuel accordingly.
How does carburetor heat work?
A carburetor heat valve, controlled by the pilot, allows unfiltered, heated air from a shroud located around the exhaust riser or muffler to be directed into the induction air manifold prior to the carburetor. Carb heat should be used anytime suspected or known carb icing conditions exist.
What does the mixture control do?
- Regulates the fuel-to-air ratio. This prevents the mixture from becoming too rich at high altitudes, due to decreasing air density. It’s also used to lean the mixture during cross-country flights to conserve fuel and provide optimum power.
What change occurs to the fuel/air mixture when applying carburetor heat?
Normally, the introduction of heated air into the carburetor will result in a richer mixture. Warm air is less dense, resulting in less air for the same amount of fuel. Use of carb heat can cause a decrease in engine power of up to 15%.
Describe a fuel injection system installed in some aircraft.
The fuel injection system injects fuel directly into the cylinders, or just ahead of the intake valve.
It’s components are:
1. Engine-Driven Fuel Pump: Provides fuel under pressure from the fuel tank to the fuel/air control unit.
- Fuel/Air Control Unit: Meters fuel based on the mixture control setting and sends it to the fuel manifold valve at a rate controlled by the throttle.
- Fuel Manifold Valve:Distributes fuel to the individual fuel discharge nozzles.
- Discharge Nozzles: Located in each cylinder head, these inject the fuel/air mixture at the precise time for each cylinder directly into each cylinder intake port.
- Auxiliary Fuel Pump: Provides fuel under pressure to the fuel/air control unit. Used for engine starting and/or emergency use if the engine-fuel pump fails.
- Fuel Pressure/Flow Indicators: Measures metered fuel pressure/flow
What type of ignition system does your airplane have?
- The engine is provided by 2 engine-driven magnetos, and 2 spark plugs per cylinder.
- The ignition system is completely independent of the a/c electrical system.
- The magnetos are engine driven self-contained units supplying electrical current without using an external source of current. However, must be actuated by the a/c battery during startup.
- The battery, with the starter and a series of gears, rotate the engine crankshaft which actuates the magnetos.
- Once the engine starts, the starter system is disengaged, and the battery no longer contributes to the actual operation of the engine.
What are 2 main advantages of a dual ignition system?
- Increased safety: In case one system fails the engine may be operated on the other until a landing is safely made.
- An even and complete combustion in the chamber. The cylinder is ignited on both sides of the cylinder and burn down towards the center of the cylinder.
What type of fuel system does your a/c have?
- The fuel system is a “gravity fed” system. Using gravity, the fuel flows from two wing fuel tanks to a fuel shutoff valve which, in the “on” position, fuel is fed through a strainer then to the carburetor. From there, the fuel is mixed with air and then fed into the cylinders via the intake manifold.
What purpose do fuel tank vents have?
When fuel goes down (due to the gravity fed system) a vacuum is created. Without the fuel tank vent, the fuel tank would encounter a decrease in fuel flow due to the vacuum and in turn the engine would shut down.
Fuel tank vents provide outside air to fill the void of fuel leaving the tank, thus preventing the vacuum forming.
Does your aircraft have a fuel pump?
No. Fuel is gravity fed, and this is happens only due to the location of the tank in regards to the carburetor. It is constantly under positive pressure to do so.
However, there are instances where some a/c do not have this ability, or more pressure is needed than a gravity fed cannot supply. In this instance a auxiliary and an engine driven fuel pump would be needed.
What type of fuel does your a/c take?
100LL and it has a blue color dye to it
Can other grades of fuel be used if I do not have the appropriate grade available?
It is possible, but not desirable to use the next HIGHER grade as a substitute. The AFM/POH should be referenced.
Can auto gas be used to replace a specific fuel grade?
Auto gas should never be used in aircraft engines unless the aircraft has been modified with an FAA-issued Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
What color of dye is added to 80, 100, 100LL, Turbine?
Red = 80 (Obsolete)
Green = 100 (Obsolete)
Blue = 100LL
Jet A = Colorless or Straw
If a non-turbine piston engine powered airplane is accidentally fueled with JET-A fuel, will it start?
Yes. Reciprocating engines may run briefly on jet fuel, but detonation and overheating will soon cause power failure.
There may be a small amount of Avgas remaining in the aircraft’s fuel system. This may allow and engine to taxi, perform runup, and possibly takeoff before experiencing an engine failure.
How can you tell the difference between Avgas (100LL blue) and Jet A fuel grade?
Other than the kerosene smell and oily feel when rubbed between the fingers, it can be very difficult to visually identify an accidental mixture of 100LL Avgas and Jet A
What is the function of the manual primer, and how does it operate?
The manual primer’s main function is to provide assistance in starting the engine. The primer draws fuel from the fuel strainer and injects it directly into the cylinder intake ports. This results in a quicker, more efficient engine start.
Describe the electrical system of your aircraft?
Electrical energy is provided by a 28-volt DC system powered by an engine-driven 60 amp alternator and a 24-volt battery
How are the circuits for the various electrical accessories within the aircraft protected?
Electrical accessories are protected with circuit breakers, and through fuses (if equipped). Circuit breakers perform the same function as fuses except that when an overload occurs, a circuit breaker can be reset.
The electrical system provides power for what equipment in an airplane?
- Radio Equipment
- Turn coordinator
- Fuel Gauges
- Pitot Heat
- Landing Light
- Taxi Light
- Strobe Light
- Interior Light
- Instrument Light
- Position Light
- Flaps
- Stall warning system
- Oil temperature gauge
- Electrical fuel Pump
What does the ammeter indicate?
It indicates the flow of current, in amperes, from:
1. The alternator to the battery
or
2. From the battery to the electrical system
With the engine running and master switch on:
The ammeter will indicate the charging rate to the battery.
What occurs when the alternator has gone off, and is no longer functioning, or if the electrical load exceeds the output of the alternator?
The ammeter will indicate a discharge rate of the battery (Needle in the negative side of the charging rate)
When the engine is running and master switch on, the ammeter will indicate:
A charging rate to the battery
What function does a voltage regulator have?
The voltage regulator is a device which monitors system voltage, detects changes, and makes the required adjustments in the output of the alternator to maintain a constant regulated system voltage. It must do this at low RPM and high RPM settings. In a 28-volt system, it will maintain 28 volts +/- 0.5 volts
Why is the generator/alternator voltage output slightly higher than the battery voltage?
The difference in voltage keeps the battery charged. Example: 12-volt battery would be supplied with 14 volts.
How does aircraft cabin heat work?
Fresh air, heated by the exhaust shroud, is directed to the cabin through a series of ducts.
5 basic functions of engine oil
- Lubricates: the engine’s moving parts
- Cools: The engine by reducing friction
- Removes: Heat from the cylinders
- Seals: Provides a seal between the cylinder walls and pistons
- Cleans: By carrying off metal and carbon particles and other oil contaminants.
What causes carb icing, and what are the first indications of its presence?
The vaporization of fuel, combined with the expansion of air as it passes through the carburetor, causes a sudden cooling of the mixture.
The temp of air passing through the carb my drop as much as 60f within a fraction of a second. Water vapor is squeezed out by this cooling, and if the temps in the carb reaches 32f or below, the moisture will be deposit as frost or ice inside the carb
Aircrafts with fixed-pitch propeller, the first indication of carb icing is loss of RPM.
Aircrafts with controllable-pitch propellers, the first sign of icing is a drop in manifold pressure.
What method is used to determine that carb ice has been eliminated?
Fixed Propeller Aircraft: When heat is first applied, there will be a drop in RPM
Controllable Pitch Propeller: A drop in manifold pressure
- If ice is present there will be a rise in RPM or manifold pressure after the initial drop (followed by engine roughness
- When carb heat is turned off, the RPM or manifold pressure, will rise to a setting higher than before the application of the heat. The engine should run smoothly after ice has been removed.
What conditions are favorable for carb icing?
Most likely to occur when temps are below 70f (21c) and relative humidity is above 80%.
Due to how fast cooling takes place in the carburetor, temps as high as 100f (38c) and humidity as low as 50% can happen as well.
Define the terms anti-icing and deicing equipment and state several examples of each.
Anti-icing Equipment: Prevents ice from forming on certain protected surfaces.
Examples: Pitot tube, heated windshield, carb heat, heated fuel vents, static ports, propeller blades with electro-thermal boots etc.
Deicing Equipment: Removes ice that has already formed on protected surfaces. It is generally limited to pneumatic boots on the wing and tail leading edges.
Describe how an aircraft deicing system works?
Upon pilot actuation, boots attached to the wing leading edges inflated with air from a pneumatic pump(s) to break off accumulated ice. After a few seconds of inflation, they are deflated back to their normal position with vacuum assistance. The pilot monitors the buildup of ice and cycles the boots as directed in the AFM/POH
If an airplane has anti-icing and/or deicing equipment installed, can it be flown into icing conditions?
Even though it may appear elaborate and complete, the presence of anti-icing and deicing equipment does not necessarily mean an airplane is approved for flight in icing conditions. The AFM/POH, placards, and even the manufacturer should be consulted for specific determination of approvals and limitations.
What is detonation?
An uncontrolled, explosive ignition of the fuel/air mixture within the cylinder’s combustion chamber. It causes excessive temperature and pressure, which, if not corrected can quickly lead to failure of the pison, cylinder, or valves. In less severe cases, detonation causes engine overheating, roughness, or loss of power. Detonation is characterized by high cylinder head temps, and is most likely to occur when operating at high power settings.
What are some of the most common operational causes of detonation?
- Using a lower grade fuel than specified by the manufacturer
- Operating with extremely high manifold pressures in conjunction with low RPM
- Operating the engine at high power settings with an excessively lean mixture.
- Extended ground operations or steep climbs where cylinder cooling is reduced
