Lesson 2: Aircraft components, Systems, Instruments Flashcards
What are the 4 strokes of a reciprocating engine?
Intake - Compression - Power (Combustion) - Exhaust
Aircraft Components - AILERONS
Allows a ROLL maneuver,
Controlled by turning the Yoke left or right
Aircraft Components - ELEVATOR
Allows a PITCH maneuver,
Controlled by pushing in or pulling out the yoke (Pull = Tail down = Nose up)
Aircraft components - RUDDER
Allows a YAW maneuver,
Controlled by the RUDDER PEDALS
What 3 things does an engine require?
Air (Oxyen)
Fuel
Electricity for Spark
Air and Fuel get delivered to the engine in 1 of 2 ways:
Carburetor or Fuel Injection
Fuel / Air Mixture
For every gram of fuel, you need 14.7 grams of air
Rich Fuel
•More fuel to air ratio
•Not enough air to burn all fuel
•Extra fuel that doesn’t burn lowers engine temp
Lean Fuel Mixture
•Less fuel to air ratio
•All fuel is burned
•Lower performance
•Hotter temperatures
When can you expect Carburetor ice
• temperatures are between 20°F and 70°F (-7°C and 21°C)
• high realitive humidity (over 80%)
First sign of Caruretor Ice
Loss of RPMs!
(Then eventual engine roughness)
Applying Carb heat will:
ENRICH the fuel/air mixture
Decreases engine performance
Engine roughness as ice melts and water enters the engine
When engine runs smoothly, remove carb heat and reduce throttle.
Float-type carburetor or fuel injection systems: which tend to be more susceptible to icing?
Carburetor
Pilotos Action if Carb Ice is present
- Full Throttle
- Pull the Carb Heat Control
• (NOTE—-There will be a further drop in rpm)
• Use of Carb. Heat enrichens the mixture - Engine may run rough as ice melts and water enters engine.
- When engine runs smoothly, remove carb heat and reduce throttle.
If the proper grade of fuel is not available, which grade should you use?
ONLY the next higher octane aviation grade.
(A lower grade should never be used, may cause detonation)
DETONATION
Fuel mixture ignited instantaneously, a SUDDEN EXPLOSION instead of burning progressively and evenly.
Occurs when the unburned charge in cylinders explodes instead of burning normally.
PREIGNITION
The uncontrolled firing of the fuel/air charge IN ADVANCE or PRIOR to normal spark ignition.
Why should fuel tanks be filled after the last flight of the day?
This will prevent moisture
Where should water be purged from fuel system / tanks?
Fuel strainers
AND
Sumps from every fuel tank
What are the 2 different fuel pumps in the Cessna Skyhawks?
Engine driven
and
Electrical (AUX) fuel pump
Two for REDUNDANCY
What will happen if you operate an aircraft with low oil?
The engine will seize
What is the first action to take after starting an engine?
Check that oil pressure is in the green.
THEN check RMP and pull throttle to 1,000.
AMP
Quantity of flow of electricity.
How much electricity is flowing?
(Water example: gallons per hour)
VOLT
Electrical pressure.
What is the pressure of electricity?
Water example: PSI
What are the 3 things OIL does?
Lubricates
Cools
Cleans
Preventing DETONATION
• use correct grade fuel
• maintain a sufficiently rich mixture
• open the throttle smoothly
• keep temperature of the engine within recommended operating limits
(If detonating is occurring on incline with a fixed-pitch propeller, lower the nose to slightly increase airspeed, which eventually lowers the engine temperature)
High engine temperature will:
• cause loss of power
• excessive oil consumption
• detonation
• serious engine damage
High engine temps are caused by:
• Too lean a mixture
• too low a grade of fuel
• low oil
• insufficient airflow over the engine
Types of Propellers
• Fixed Pitch
• Adjustable Pitch
• Constant Speed
CONSTANT SPEED PROPELLOR
How is engine operation controlled?
Allows the pilot to select a prop setting for most efficient performance using:
THROTTLE which controls engine power output (measured w/ Manifold Pressure gauge)
-and-
PROPELLER which regulates engine RMP ( measure with w/ Tachometer)
On engines equipped with a constant speed propeller, a pilot should avoid a __________ manifold pressure setting with ________ RPM.
HIGH manifold press
LOW rpms
TORQUE
The tendency of an airplane to turn left.
It is a combination of four forces:
• Reactive
• Spiraling slipstream
• Gyroscopic procession
• P-Factor
Flight conditions that TORQUE is more pronounced in a single engine airplane?
High power
Low airspeed
High angle of attack
P-Factor
Caused by the downward moving blade on the right side of the propellor having a higher angle of attack.
This will be the greatest when the aircraft is operating at low airspeed with high power setting.
ABCs of engine failure
Airspeed
Best Field
Checklist
Remember what n engine needs to run!
• Air (carb ice blocking airflow? Turn on carb heat!)
• Fuel (did the fuel get turned off? Fuel pump fail?)
• Spark (Are the mags on? Do both work?)
NOTE: If the alternator dies, the aircraft will be using the battery for electrical power. A healthy battery lasts for 30 mins. The engine does NOT need power from the battery or alternator to run, bc the Magnetos are still going. Try resetting the alternator. Follow the checklist.
Which instrument utilizes pitot pressure?
Airspeed Indicator (ASI)
Pitot Pressure
Impact / RAM pressure
Dynamic pressure created by the aircraft’s movement through the air
Static Pressure
Ambient air pressure around the aircraft
Which instrument utilizes pitot pressure?
Airspeed Indicator (ASI)
Which instruments utilize static pressure?
Airspeed Indicator (ASI), Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) and Altimeter
What is the standard pressure at Sea Level?
29.92” Hg (Mercury)
What do you set the Altimeter based on?
Weather Conditions
Flight Instuments
AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)
Measure Pitot pressure and compares it to Static pressure
Flight Instruments
ALTIMETER
Measures height (altitude) by responding to atmospheric changes.
Compares the ambient pressure around the aircraft (static) to the air pressure at sea level.
Each 1” of pressure difference equates to 1,000’.
Prior to takeoff, the altimeter should be at to which altitude or altimeter setting?
The current local altimeter setting, if available, or the elevation of the departure airport.
What altitude shall the altimeter be set to 29.92?
18,000 feet MSL and above
What is True Altitude?
The height above sea level.
What is Absolute Altitude?
The vertical distance of the aircraft above the surface.
What is Density altitude?
The pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature.
What is Pressure Altitude?
The altitude indicated when the barometric pressure scale is set to 29.92 (the standard datum plane)
How do variations in temperature affect the altimeter?
Higher temperatures expand the pressure levels and the indicated altitude is higher than true altitude.
On a warm day, the expanded air is lighter than in a cold day, and the pressure levels are raised.
Under what conditions will true altitude be lower than indicated altitude?
In colder than standard air temperature.
Under which conditions will pressure altitude be equal to true altitude?
Under standard atmospheric conditions.
Under what condition is pressure altitude and Density altitude the same value?
When conditions are standard.
If a flight is made from an area of low pressure into an area of high pressure without the altimeter setting being adjusted, the altimeter will indicate: a _______ than the actual altitude above sea level.
LOWER
Why does altimeter read higher in colder air?
Warmer air is less dense and exerts less pressure, which can cause an altimeter to read a higher altitude than actual. Conversely, colder air is denser and exerts more pressure, causing the altimeter to read a lower altitude than actual.
High to Low:
Look out below!
Gyroscopic Instrument:
ATTITUDE INDICATOR
Rigidity in Space principle
When viewing the attitude indicator? The direction of bank is determined by the relationship of the mini airplane to the horizon bar.
Normally the mini airplane will be adjusted so that the wings overlap the horizon bar when the airplane is in straight-and-level flying.
Gyroscopic Instrument:
TURN COORDINATOR
Uses a miniature airplane to provide info concerning rate of roll and rate of turn.
The quality of turn, (movement about the yaw axis), is indicated by the ball of the inclinometer.
Gyroscopic Instrument:
HEADING INDICATOR
Designed to avoid the errors inherent in a magnetic compass.
The heading indicator must be periodically realigned with the magnetic compass during straight-and-level, in accelerated flight.
UNOS
Undershoot North, Overshoot South
When turning North from an easterly or westerly heading, the compass lags.
When a turn is initiated while on a northerly heading, the compass first indicated a turn in the opposite direction.
When turning South from easterly or westerly heading, the compass leads.
When a turn is initiated while on a southerly heading, the compass shows an immediate lead in the same direction as the turn.
ANDS
Accelerate North, Decelerate South
Accelerating while heading either east or west, the compass will indicate a turn to the north.
Decelerating while heading either east or west will indicate a turn to the south.
DEVEATION in a magnetic compass is caused by:
Magnetic fields within the aircraft distorting lines of magnetic force.
MAGNETIC VARIATION
The angular difference between true north and magnetic north.
During flight, when are the indicators of a magnetic compass accurate?
Only in straight-and-level unaccelerated flight.
