Ignition System In A Piston Aircraft

Question 1

How long does a starting light need to be on for before you need to turn off the engine in a piston aircraft?

Answer 1

30 seconds.

Question 2

In a piston aircraft, what is still driving the starter motor when the starting light remains on?

Answer 2

Crankshaft.

Question 3

Draw a magneto circuit.

Question 4

In a magneto, what does the capacitor prevent at the breakers?

Answer 4

Arcing.

Question 5

When is magneto rotation slow?

Answer 5

When starting the engine.

Question 6

Impulse coupling, high tension boosters and low tension boosters are all ways of achieving what?

Answer 6

Spark augmentation.

Question 7

Whats another way of saying high tension booster during spark augmentation?

Answer 7

Shower of sparks.

Question 8

What are the two ways you can check the magnetos?

Answer 8

Drop check and dead cut check.

Question 9

At what RPM should you switch a magneto off to perform a drop check?

Answer 9

1000-1200 rpm.

Question 10

After switching off the magneto during a drop check, what percent should you increase the engine rpm to?

Answer 10

75%

Question 11

During a drop check, what drop in rpm means there could be a faulty spark plug within the magneto?

Answer 11

400rpm.

Question 12

What should happen to the ignition and then the rpm during a dead cut check for a magnito?

Answer 12

Ignition off and rpm rapidly decay.

Question 13

The purpose of a distributor in an ignition system of a piston engine is to distribute secondary current to the what?

Answer 13

Spark plugs.