Systems Operations

Question 1

What are the four main control systems and what are their functions

Answer 1

1) Ailerons - control the roll of the aircraft along the longitudinal axis. From nose to tail.
2) Elevator - control the pitch along the lateral axis. From wingtip to wingtip.
3) Rudder - control the yaw along the vertical axis. From the center of the aircraft.
4) Trim - help stabilize the other systems and reduce labor

Question 2

What type of engine does the DA-40 have?

Answer 2

Lycoming IO-360 four-cylinder, fuel-injected (I) horizontally opposed (O) engine. 360 is how many cubic engines of displacement the engine has i.e. the volume of fuel it can subsequently consume.

Question 3

What four strokes must occur in an engine in order for it to produce full power?

Answer 3

1) Cylinder opens bringing in the air-fuel mix (intake)
2) This mix is compressed as the piston moves to the top of the cylinder (compression)
3) Mix is ignited, resulting in power the moves the piston down from the cylinder and turns the crankshaft.
4) Exhaust is removed once the cylinder head is opened and the burned gases are released.

Question 4

What does fuel injection mean? Is it better than a carburetor?

Answer 4

FI injects the fuel/air mix directly into each cylinder, with an equal amount in each. This is more efficient than a carb, but could result in flooding an engine more easily, particularly one that is already hot.

Question 5

What does a throttle do?

Answer 5

The throttle regulates how much of the fuel/air mixture enters the cylinders, subsequently determining how much frequently the pistons are firing and how much power is being generated.

Question 6

What is the oil pressure min/max in the DA40

Answer 6

Minimum (idle): 25psi
Maximum: 98psi
Normal: 55psi - 95psi

Question 7

Oil temperature maximum and minimums

Answer 7

Minimum (for takeoff): 120 F

Maximum: 245 F

Question 8

Fuel Pressure minimums and maximums

Answer 8

Minimum: 14psi
Maximum: 35psi

Question 9

What is the CHT max temp

Answer 9

500 F

Question 10

Describe the electrical system on the Aircraft

Answer 10

This DA40 has a 28 volt DC electrical current powered by a 70 amp alternator with a 10 ah lead-acid battery.

Question 11

What is powered by the essential bus

Answer 11

• Com 1/Nav 1
• GPS 1
• Transponder
• Battery
• Annunciator panel
• Flaps
• Floodlight
• Artificial horizon
• Engine instruments VM 1000
• Landing light
• Pitot heat

Question 12

How do you cool an engine in an attempt to reduce pre-ignition or detonation

Answer 12

1) Avoid steep climbs.
2) Reduce power settings
3) Enrich the mix

Question 12

Describe five functions of engine oil. What type of oil does the DA40 require?

Answer 12

1) Cools the engine by reducing friction
2) Lubricates the moving parts
3) Cleans and removes impurities
4) Seals the cylinder walls and pistons
5) Removes heat from the cylinders

SAE 20-W50 oil.

Question 13

What would happen if the alternator failed in flight?

Answer 13

The battery would no longer be receiving a charge and would be powering the essential bus for roughly 30 minutes.

Question 14

How do you restart the plane in the air?

Answer 14

1) Airpseed = 80
2) Fuel pump on
3) Fullest tank
4) ignition switch = both
5) Alternate air = open

If deadstick

6) Ignition = start

If no restart

7) Mix full aft
8) Slowly enrich

The engine must have at least 500 RPM for a restart.

Question 15

Name the instruments that work off of the pitot/static system

Answer 15

1) Altimeter
2) Airspeed indicator
3) Vertical Speed indicator

Question 16

How does the Altimeter work?

Answer 16

Wafers within the instrument sense changes in the air pressure from the static pressure located directly outside of the airplane. When the wafers expand, the altitude is increasing, and when they compress, the altitude indicated decreases.

Question 17

How does the Airspeed Indicator operate?

Answer 17

The pitot tube measures the total, or ram pressure, and compares it to the static pressure from the static air source. The difference between these two is the dynamic pressure and is used to compute the true airspeed.

Question 18

How does the VSI work?

Answer 18

The VSI measures the difference between two pressure sources from the static port. It measures the pressure differential between a diaphragm and a casing to indicate whether the plane is at a climb or a descent, based on a slight delay between two pressure levels.

Question 19

Name the different types of airspeeds

Answer 19

1) Indicated - the speed as shown by the instruments
2) True - the actual speed at which the airplane is moving through the air
3) Groundspeed - true airspeed corrected for wind; how fast the plane is tracking on the ground
4) Equivalent -
5) Calibrated Airspeed -

Question 20

What does a skid look like on a turn coordinator?

Answer 20

The ball will be on the outside of a turn during a skid. While it will be on the inside during a slip.