Operations of Systems Flashcards
What are the four main control surfaces and what are their functions
elevators - pitch
Ailerons - Roll
Rudder - Yaw
Trim tabs - Labor saving devices that enable the pilot to release manual pressure on the primary control
How are the various 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/break pedals actuate the rudder
What are flaps and what is their function
The wing flaps are movable panels on the inboard trailing edges of the wing. They are hinged so that they may be extended downward into the flow of air beneath the wins to increase both lift and drag. Their purpose is to permit a slower airspeed and a steeper angle of descent during a landing approach. In some cases, they may also be used to shorten the takeoff distance
Describe the landing gear system on the airplane
PA-28-181
3 gears using 6x6 wheels. Main gear have brake drums and Cleveland single disk hydraulic brake assemblies. All 3 wheel are four ply rating, type 3 tires with tubes
A spring device is incorporated in the rudder pedal torque tube assembly to provide rudder trim. A bungee in the nose gear steering mechanism reduces steering effort and dampens bumps and shocks during taxi. The nose gear is steerable through 30 degrees. A shimmy dampener is also included in the nose gear
The struts are of the air-oil type with a normal extension of 3.25 inches for the nose gear and 4.5 for the mains
Describe the braking system on the aircraft
Hydraulically actuated disc-type brakes are utilized on each main gear wheel. A hydraulic line connects each brake to a master cylinder located on each pilots rudder pedals. By applying pressure to the top of either the pilot’s or copilot’s set or rudder pedals, the brakes may be applied
What type of hydraulic fluid does your aircraft use and what color is it
MIL-H-5606 petroleum base hydraulic brake fluid
red
How is steering accomplished on the ground
Light airplanes are generally provided with nose wheel steering capabilities through a simple system of mechanical linkage connected to the rudder pedals. When a rudder pedal is depressed, a spring loaded bungee push-pull rod connected to the pivotal portion of a nose wheel strut will turn the nose wheel
What type of engine does your aircraft have
Horizontally opposed 4 cylinder overhead valve air cooled carbureted engine
What four strokes must occur in each cylinder of a typical four stroke engine in order for it to produce full power
Intake - downward travel of piston causing the intake valve to open
Compression - intake valve closes and piston moves back up
Power - Fuel-air mixture is ignited forces the piston back down
Exhaust - purge the cylinder of burned gases and begins when the exhaust value opens
What does a carburetor do
Carburetion may be defined as the process of mixing fuel and air in the correct proportions so as to forma. combustible mixture. The carburetor vaporizes liquid fuel into small particles and then mixes it with air. It measures the airflow and meters fuel accordingly
How does the carburetor heat system work
A carburetor heat valve, controlled by the pilot, allows unfiltered, heated air from a shroud located around an exhaust riser or muffler to be directed to the induction air manifold prior to the carburetor. Carburetor heat should be used anytime suspected or known carburetor icing conditions exist
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 carburetor heat can cause a decrease in engine power of up to 15 perce
What does the throttle do
The throttle allows the pilot to manually control the amount of fuel/air charge entering the cylinders. This in turn regulate the engine speed and power
What does the mixture control do
It regulates the fuel-to-air ratio. All airplane engines incorporate a device called a mixture control, by which the fuel/air ratio can be controlled by the pilot during flight. The purpose of a mixture control is to prevent the mixture from becoming too rich at high altitudes, due to decreasing air density. it is also used to lean the mixture during cross-country flights to conserve fuel and provided optimum power
Describe the fuel injection system installed in some aircraft
Engine-driven fuel pump - provides fuel under pressure from the fuel tanks 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 for engine starting and/or emergency use
Fuel pressure/flow indicator - measures metered fuel pressure/flow
What type of ignition system does your airplane have
Engine ignition is provided by two engine-driven magnetos, and two spark plugs per cylinder.
Completely independent of the aircrafts electrical system
The battery provides the initial power to the magnetos to actuate them. Once the engine starts the starter system is disengaged and the batter is no longer connected to the engine
What are the two main advantages of a dual ignition system
increased safety in case one spark plug fails
More complete and even combustion of the mixture
What type of fuel system does your aircraft have
The fuel flows from the wing tanks with the help of an electrical or engine driven fuel pump. From the wings the fuel flows to the fuel cutoff valve then the strainer then to the carburetor. The fuel is mixed with air and goes to the cylinder
What purpose do fuel tank vents have
To prevent a vacuum from forming in the fuel tanks
Does your aircraft use a fuel pump
Yes, engine drive and an electrical one for backup
What does the ammeter indicate
The ammeter indicates the flow of current, in amperes, from the alternator to the battery or 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. If the alternator has gone off-line and is no longer functioning, or the electrical load exceeds the output of the alternator, the ammeter indicates the discharge rate of the battery
What function does the voltage regulator have
The voltage regulator is a device which monitors system voltage, detect 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, such as during taxi, as well as at high RPM in flight. In a 28-volt system it will maintain 28V +/-.5
Why is the generator/alternator voltage output slightly higher than the battery voltage
The difference in voltage keeps the battery charged. For example, a 12V battery would be supplied with 14V
How does the aircraft cabin heat work
Fresh air, headed by an exhaust shroud, is directed to the cabin through a series of ducts
How does the pilot control temp. in the cabin
Temp. is controlled by mixing outside air with heated air in a manifold near the cabin firewall. This air is then ducked to vents located on the cabin floor
What are the 5 basic functions of aircraft engine oil
Lubricate - the engines moving parts
Cool - the engine by reducing friction
Removes - heat from the cylinders
Seals - provides a seal between the cylinder wall and pistons
Cleans - by carrying off metal and carbon particles and other oil contaminates
What type of fuel does your aircraft require
100LL Blue
Con other types of fuel be used if the specified grade is not availabe
If allowed by the POH it may be possible, but not desired, to use the next higher grade of fuel if the required grade is not available. It is never okay to use a lower grade or auto gas
What color dye is added to 80, 100, 100LL, Turbine
80 - red
100 - green
100LL - blue
Jet-A - straw
If a non-turbine piston engine powered airplane is accidentally fueled with JET-A fuel will it start
Yes, but detonation and overheating will soon cause power failure
What is the function of the manual primer and how does it operate
The manual primer 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 usually results in a quicker, more efficient engine start
Describe the electrical system on your aircraft
28V system includes a 24V battery for starting and backup. 70 AMP alternator. The digital amp meter does not indicate battery discharge. With only the master switch on the ammeter will show the total battery charge demand. As items are turned on the ammeter will show the total including the battery. Average reading at night with radios on is 32
How are the circuits for the various electrical accessories within the aircraft protected
Most of the electrical circuits are protected from an overload condition by either circuit breakers or fuses or both.
The electrical system provides power for what equipment in an airplane
Radio Turn coordinator Fuel gauges pitot heat interior/exterior lights electrical flaps stall warning system oil temp electrical fuel pump
What causes carburetor 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 the air passing through the carburetor may drop as much as 60 degrees F within a fraction of a second. Water vapor is squeezed out by this cooling, and if the temp. in the carburetor reached 32 degrees F or below, the moisture will be deposited as frost or ice inside the carburetor. For airplanes with a fixed-pitch propeller, the first indication of carburetor icing is loss of RPM. For airplanes with controllable-pitch the first indication is usually a drop in manifold pressure
What method is used to determine that carburetor ice has been eliminated
When heat is first applied there will be a drop in RPM or manifold pressure. If ice is present the RPM or manifold pressure will rise once it has melted. When heat is turned off the RPM or manifold pressure will go back to a setting hire than it was before heat was applied.
Engine roughness is expected during the melting phase
What conditions are favorable for carburetor icing
When temp. are below 70 degrees F and humidity is above 80%. It can happen even with higher temp. and lower humidity
Define the term anti-icing equipment and deicing equipmenet
Anti-icing - prevents ice from forming on certain protected surfaces eg heated pitot tube
Deicing - Removes ice that has already formed on protected surfaces. Ice boots
Describe how an aircraft deicing system works
Upon pilot actuation, boots attached to the wing leading edges inflate with air from a pneumatic pump to break off accumulated ice. After a few seconds of inflation, they are deflated back to their normal position with vacuum assistance. Pilot monitors the ice and cycle the boots as directed in the 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 completed, the presence of anti-icing and deicing equipment does not necessarily mean that an airplane is approved for flight in icing conditions. The AFM/POH placards, and even the manufacturer should be consulates for specific determination of approvals and limitations
What is detonation
Detonation is an uncontrolled, explosive ignition of the fuel/air mixture within the cylinders combustion chamber. It causes excessive temp. and pressure which, if not corrected, can quickly lead to failure of the piston, cylinder, or valves. In less severe cases, detonation causes engine overheating, roughness, or loss of power. Detonation is characterized by high cylinder head temp. 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 fuel grade than that specified by the A/C
operating with extremely high manifold pressure 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
What action should be taken if detonation is suspected
Ensure that the proper grade of fuel is used
keep cowl flaps in the full-open position while on the ground to provide the maximum airflow through the cowling
use an enriched fuel mixture, as well as a shallow climb angle to increase cylinder cooling during takeoff and initial climb
avoid extended, high power, steep climbs
develop the habit of monitoring the engine instruments to verify proper operation according to procedures established by the manufacturer
