Flight Controls Flashcards
Which spoilers are acting as ground spoilers?
Spoilers 1 to 4 act as ground spoilers. When the ground spoiler surface on one wing fails the symmetric ground spoiler surface on the other wing is inhibited.
What happens if you release the stick at 40 degrees of bank in normal law?
The aircraft rolls back to 33° and resumes flight path stability.
How does the elevator actuation work?
Two electrically controlled hydraulic servojacks drive each elevator. Each servojack has three control modes (active damping centering). In normal operation is one jack active the other jack is in the damping mode. Some maneuvers cause the second jack to become active.
The message WING TIP BRK ON appears on the E/WD. What does it mean?
A hydraulic device locks the flaps in their present position.
Can the crew make a flight control input that will overstress the airplane in direct law?
Yes there are no protections provided in direct law.
What are the lift devices on each wing?
Each wing has two flaps and five slat surfaces.
Is there a mechanical control for the THS available?
Mechanical control of the THS is available from the pitch trim wheel at any time if either the green or yellow hydraulic system is functioning.
Which altitude limitation is associated with high lift devices?
20,000ft
What are the levels of reconfiguration with failures in the flight control system?
Alternate law (two levels: with and without reduced protections) direct law and mechanical backup.
The speedbrakes are actually spoilers …
2 3 and 4.
Which hydraulic system drives the flaps and slats?
A power control unit (PCU) with two independent hydraulic motors and a differential gear box for the flaps (with green and yellow hydraulic power) and the slats (with green and blue hydraulic power).
What kind of flight control computers exist in the A320 family?
2 ELACs (Elevator Aileron Computer) 3 SECs (Spoiler Elevator Computer) and 2 FACs (Flight Augmentation Computer) and in addition two Flight Control Data Concentrators (FCDC).
What is the maximum elevator deflection?
The maximum elevator deflection is 30° nose up and 17° nose down.
How many flight control computers are available?
Seven flight control computers process pilot and autopilot inputs according to normal alternate or direct flight control laws.
Which computer controls the ailerons in normal operation?
The ELAC 1 controls the ailerons in normal operation. If the ELAC 1 fails the system automatically transfers aileron control to ELAC 2.
What control surfaces do the FADEC’s control?
The rudder.
What is the function of the Flight Control Data Concentrators (FCDC)?
The Flight Control Data Concentrators (FCDC) aquire data from the ELACs and SECs and send it to the electronic instrument system (EIS) and the centralized fault display system (CFDS).
What happens if one SFCC fails?
The slats and flaps are operating with half speed.
What is the maximum aileron deflection?
The maximum deflection of the ailerons is 25°. The ailerons extend 5° down when the flaps are extended (aileron droop).
Are there any control surfaces in the mechanical backup mode?
Yes, the THS and the rudder.
If both FAC’s fail what happens to the rudder limiter?
Maximum rudder deflection can be obtained after slats extended.
How many spoilers are available?
5 spoilers each side.
How does the mechanical control of the THS work?
Mechanical control of the THS is available from the pitch trim wheel at any time if either the green or yellow hydraulic system is functioning. Mechanical control from the pitch trim wheel has priority over electrical control.
Which computer controls the elevators and the horizontal stabilizer in normal operation?
In normal operations the ELAC 2 controls the elevators and the horizontal stabilizer. The green and yellow hydraulic jacks drive the left and right elevator surfaces respectively.
What is the backup for ELAC 2?
1st ELAC 1 than SEC 2.
What kind of protections are available in normal law?
Load factor limitation pitch attitude protection high-angle-of-attack (AOA) protection and high speed protection.
Is a full rudder deflection possible in all flight phases?
No, rudder deflection is limited as a function of airspeed.
Is there any rudder pedal feedback for the yaw damping and turn coordination functions?
No.
Do you have a side stick indication on the PFD on the ground and in flight?
On the ground after the first engine start sidestick position indication appear white on both PFDs. The indications disappear when the aircraft goes from ground into flight.
What happens in the event of a single ELAC fault?
The functions of the failed ELAC will be assumed by the remaining ELAC.
What is the maximum THS deflection?
The maximum THS deflection is 13.5° nose up and 4° nose down.
When does the ground spoilers extend during the rejected takeoff phase?
If the ground spoilers are armed and all thrust levers are in idle the ground spoilers will automatically extend and as soon as both main landing gears have touched down. If the ground spoilers are not armed and the speed exceeds 72kts the ground spoilers will automatically extend as soon as the reverse is selected on one engine (the other thrust lever remains in idle)
RUD TRIM Rotary Switch
RUD TRIM Panel
Controls the rudder trim actuator, which moves the neutral point of the artificial feel by the equivalent of one degree of rudder travel per second.
Note: The rudder trim rotary switch has no effect, when the autopilot is engaged.
RESET Pushbutton
RUD TRIM Panel
By pushing the RESET pushbutton, the zero trim position is ordered at 1.5° / second.
Note: The RESET pb is not active, when the autopilot is engaged.
SIDE STICK PRIORITY LT
(Glareshield)
- Red arrow light
- Green CAPT and F/O lights
Red arrow light:
- Comes on in front of the pilot losing authority.
- Goes out when he has recovered his authority.
Green CAPT and F/O lights:
- Both lights flash when the pilots move both sidesticks simultaneously and neither takes priority.
- When a pilot has taken priority by pressing the takeover pb and the other pilot’s sidestick is not at neutral, the light in front of the pilot with priority lights up. It goes out when the other pilot returns his stick to the neutral position.
ELAC 1(2) pb (FLT CTL Panel)
- ON
- OFF
- FAULT Light
ON: ELAC 1(2) performs the following functions: - Normal pitch and roll - Alternate pitch - Direct pitch and roll - Abnormal attitude - Aileron droop - Acquisition of autopilot orders.
OFF:
The corresponding computer is not active. Switching it OFF, then ON, resets the computer.
FAULT:
With an ECAM caution:
- When a failure is detected
- During ELAC power-up test (eight seconds).
SEC 1(2)(3) pb (FLT CTL Panel)
- ON
- OFF
- FAULT Light
ON: SEC 1(2)(3) performs the following functions: - Normal roll (by controlling the spoilers) - Speedbrakes and ground spoilers - Alternate pitch (SEC 1 and SEC 2 only) - Direct pitch (SEC 1 and SEC 2 only) - Direct roll - Abnormal attitude.
OFF:
The corresponding computer is not active. Switching it OFF, then on, resets
the computer.
FAULT:
With an ECAM caution, when a failure is detected. The FAULT light goes off, when the pilot selects OFF.
FAC 1(2) pb (FLT CTL Panel)
- ON
- OFF
- FAULT Light
ON:
Both FACs perform the following functions:
- Normal roll (coordinating turns and damping dutch roll)
- Rudder trim
- Rudder travel limit
- Alternate yaw
OFF:
The corresponding computer is not active. Switching it OFF and then ON resets the computer.
FAULT:
Lights up in amber, along with a caution on ECAM, when a failure is detected. The FAULT light goes out when the pilot selects OFF.
When do the Ground Spoilers automatically extend?
- PARTIAL: When revers thrust is selected on at least one engine with the other at idle and one main landing gear strut is compressed
- FULL: At touchdown of both main gear, or in case of RTO with airspeed above 72 knots, when BOTH thrust levers at IDLE (if ground spoilers armed) or when reverse thrust is selected on at least one engine with the other thrust lever at IDLE (if the ground spoilers are NOT armed)
At touchdown with reverse selected and only one landing gear strut compressed, will the ground spoilers extend?
Partially. Full extension is limited until both main gear struts are compressed.
In flight, what happens if a spoiler fault is detected or electrical power is lost?
The spoiler automatically retracts
How are the flight control surfaces controlled and actuated?
- Electrically Controlled
- Hydraulically Actuated
When hand flying the aircraft can we trim the rudder?
Yes, by using the RUDDER TRIM rotary switch
What happens if you turn the Rudder Trim with the autopilot engaged?
Nothing
What is the RUD TRIM button used for?
To reset the rudder trim to 0 degrees
How is the THS normally operated in flight?
The flight control computers control trim functions automatically
If a complete flight control computer failure occurs, can the THS be positioned?
Yes, mechanical trimming is possible by manually positioning the Pitch Trim wheel.
Can you move the PITCH trim wheel if all systems are working normally?
Manual inputs have priority over computer inputs. The autopilot will disconnect
What happens to the THS after landing?
The trim automatically resets to zero
What is the meaning of MAN PITCH TRIM ONLY?
You are in mechanical Backup
What are the functions of the FACs?
- Normal roll (Turn coordination & Yaw)
- Rudder trim
- Rudder travel limit
- Alternate yaw
What is the computer and priority for the Elevator and Trimable Horizontal Stabilizer (THS)?
ELAC 2 –> ELAC 1 –> SEC 2 –> SEC 1
When is automatic pitch trim available?
In flight under Normal Law with bank angle less than 33 degrees with or without the autopilot engaged
Under Normal Law, what does ELAC 2 control?
- Primary - Elevator/Stabilizer (Pitch)
- Standby - Aileron control (backs up ELAC 1)
Under Normal Law, what do the 3 SECs control?
- Primary - Spoiler control (roll)
- Standby - Elevator/Stabilzer control (SEC 1 & SEC 2 back up the ELACs)
Does the rudder RESET button work with the autopilot engaged?
No
Is there any feedback in the rudder pedals from the yaw damping or turn coordination functions?
No
What does the rudder PEDAL DISC button on the steering hand wheel do?
Pressing the button removes control of nose wheel steering from the rudder pedals until released
Is full rudder deflection available during all flight regimes?
No. Rudder deflection is limited as a function of airspeed
If both FACs fail, is maximum rudder deflection available?
Yes, after slat extension.
When using the rudder pedals for steering, when does the steering angle begin to reduce?
Starts reduction at 40 knots and progressively reduces to zero degrees at 130 knots
Is there any landing configuration when speed brake extension is inhibited?
Flaps FULL
When will the ground spoilers automatically retract?
- Thrust levers at idle and speed brake lever is down
- When at least one thrust is advanced above IDLE
When is speedbrake extension inhibited?
SAFET
- SEC 1 and 3 have failed
- AOA protection is active
- Flaps FULL
- Elevator (L or R) fault (only spoilers 3 and 4 are inhibited)
- Thrust levers above the MCT position
What system prevents Flap or Slat asymmetry?
Wing Tip Brakes (WTB)
What functions are performed by the SECs?
- Normal roll (by controlling the spoilers)
- Speed brakes and ground spoilers (SEC 1 & 3 only)
- Alternate pitch (Sec 1 & 2 only)
- Direct pitch (Sec 1 & 2)
- Direct Roll
- Abnormal attitude
What are the functions of the ELAC?
- Normal elevator and stabilizer control
- Normal aileron control
- Normal pitch and roll
- Alternate pitch
- Direct pitch and roll
- Abnormal attitude
- Aileron droop
- Acquisition of autopilot orders
What causes the WTBs to activate?
ROAM
- Runaway (Move handle to 1, all go to 3)
- Overspeed (Flap jack screw breaks)
- Asymmetry (Both on one side move farther)
- Movement (Never touch handle, ALL just move)
If the WTB activates due to a flap asymmetry can the slats still operate?
Yes, only flap operation is inhibited
What would occur if one SFCC failed?
The slats and flaps would continue to operate, but at half speed
What flap/slat configurations correspond to position 1 on the FLAPS lever and how do they differ?
- CONF 1+F is used for takeoff and provides both slats (position 1) + Flaps
- CONF 1 is used in-flight and is slats only
When will the Automatic Retraction System (ARS) operate?
During acceleration in CONF 1+F the FLAPS (not slats) will automatically retract to 0 at 210 knots.
When the FLAP legend appears in cyan on the upper ECAM display what is indicated?
Flaps/slats in transit
What happens to the ailerons when the flaps are extended?
The ailerons droop 5 degrees
What does LDG FLAP 3 ON light indicate?
Mode 4 “Too Low Flaps” inhibited for a Flap 3 landing
When would you press the FLAP MODE pushbutton?
To avoid nuisance warning when landing with flaps less than 3
What does FLAP MODE OFF light indicate?
Mode 4 “Too Low Flaps” inhibited for a landing with less than flaps 3
How is roll control normally achieved?
1 Aileron and 4 spoilers on each wing
With spoilers NOT armed, will the spoilers deploy for an RTO?
Yes, when at least one engine is in reverse.
What does ELAC stand for?
Elevator Aileron Computer
What is the computer and priority for Ailerons?
ELAC 1 –> ELAC 2
How many Slat/Flap Control Computers (SFCC) are installed?
Two
When is a STATUS page displayed?
- After a failure is displayed on the SD and all failure items have been cleared
- Display will reappear when the slats are extended
How many ELACs are installed?
Two
What backs up ELAC 2?
ELAC 1 –> SEC 2 –> SEC 1
How man SECs are installed?
Three
What is teh sole purpose of SEC 3?
Spoiler Control
What does FAC stand for?
Flight Augmentation Computer
How many FACs are installed?
Two
If the active elevator actuator fails, what occurs?
Control is transferred to the other actuator.
