Chapter 7: Operation of Aircraft Systems

As of 7/9 these notecards are from the audiobook Pass your Private Pilot Checkride. Still have to add additional info from Oral Exam Book Chapter.

What are the Four Flight Control Surfaces?

Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder, Flaps.

What is the Function of the Flaps?

Flaps increase lift at slower airspeeds.

How is steering accomplished on the ground?

Using Rudder pedals

What type of Engine is inside your Cessna 172p?

• Avco Lycoming (O-320-D2J).

• Horizontally Opposed (pistons rest horizontally)

• Air cooled (air passes over the engine via cooling fins)

• Normal-aspirated (the engine relies on atmospheric pressure for intake without a turbo charger)

• Direct drive (Piston movement turns the crank shaft which turns the propeller)

What are the Four Cycles (strokes of the engine)?

• Intake

• Compression

• Power

• Exhaust

How does the Carburetor/Carburetor Heat system work?

Carburetor Heat uses unfiltered air from the exhaust manifold to melt ice buildup in the carburetor.

Why do RPMs drop when applying Carburetor Heat?

• We’re adding heat to the engine…

• Which increases temperature…

• Decreased air density.

• This causes a decrease in engine performance.

• Because Ice/Freeze can restrict airflow which reduces the engine power.

What does the Mixture control?

• This controls our fuel to air ratio mixture generally done when climbing to higher altitudes.

• Lean the mixture when ascending to decrease the amount of fuel.

• Enrich the mixture when descending to lower altitudes where the air pressure is greater.

Explain your Airplane’s Fuel Capacity (Cessna 172p).

• Fuel: Total Capacity = 43 gallons

• Total Useable = 40 gallons

• Total Usable in Each Tank = 20

• Number of Fuel Drains (check for water in fuel) = 3

Does your Cessna have a Vented Fuel System?

• Yes.

• This allows air to flow in and out of the fuel tank, ensuring the tank can breathe.

What kind of Fuel System does your Cessna 172 have?

• Uses Gravity-Fed Fuel System

• Fuel tanks are in the wings which are above the engine, so the fuel flows downwards, driven by gravity to the engines.

Does your Cessna 172 have an Engine Driven Fuel Pump?

• Yes

• Manages continuous fuel flow to the engine.

• Electrical Fuel Pump as a backup.

Explain the Electrical System in your Aircraft.

• 28-volt, direct-current electrical system with a 24-volt battery,

• That has a belt-driven 60-amp alternator.

Why does the battery have less voltage than the alternator?

• The additional voltage is used to charge the battery.

What does the Electrical System power?

• Lights

  • Beacon

  • Anti Collision Lights

  • Landing Light

• Flaps

What information does the Ammeter give?

If the battery is receiving a charge (or possible overcharge).

Needle should remain at or near zero.

Needle above zero = battery getting charged.

What is the purpose of a voltage regulator?

Designed to control aircraft alternator systems.

Continuous overvoltage protection.

Which Instruments operate on a Gyroscope?

Turn Coordinator

Heading Indicator

Attitude Indicator

What are the two main fundamentals of a Gyroscope?

Rigidity in Space

• Newton’s first law - a body in motion…

Precession

• When a deflective force is applied to the rim of a stationary rotor.

• The same spinning force causes the rotor to move in a different direction.

Name the errors that could effect an Attitude Indicator.

Turned Error

Acceleration Error

Deceleration Error

What is a Turned Error (Attitude Indicator)?

During a normal coordinated turn…

Centrical force causes the gyro to precess towards the inside of the turn…

The error corrects during a proper roll out.

What is an Acceleration Error (Attitude Indicator)?

As the airplane accelerates (during takeoff) a gyro procession makes the horizon move down indicating a slight pitch attitude.

Use altimeter to establish positive rate of climb.

What is a Deceleration Error (Attitude Indicator)?

Deceleration causes the horizon bar to move up indicating a false pitch down attitude.

What are Limitations of the Heading Indicator?

Precession (drift)

• When the heading indicator moves away from the correct heading due to low suction or abrupt maneuvering.

Name the Compass Errors.

UNOS

• Undershoot North, Overshoot South

ANDS

• Accelerate North, Decelerate South

What is the purpose of the alternate static source?

It is used as a backup if the primary static source becomes blocked.

If our Altimeter was set at 29.20 and we moved it to 30.00 what would Altitude change would you note?

Altitude would appear to have increased.

How does the Pitot Static System work?

It operates on the principle of pressure and measures the difference between Ram and Static Pressure.

As we climb or descend through the altitudes, the pressure around us is changing.

Through the use of aneroid wafers our instruments and our static system interpret these changes and indicate the proper information.

What instruments use the Pitot Static System?

Airspeed Indicator (AI)

Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)

Altimeter