Chapter 7: Operation of Systems

As of 7/20 these notecards are from the audiobook Pass your Private Pilot Checkride. Still have to add additional info from Oral Exam Book Chapter. Left out the following questions: 15 (pg147), Section F (166-171)

What are the Four Flight Control Surfaces?

Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder, Trim Tabs

What is the Function of the Flaps?

Flaps increase lift/drag

• They allow a slower airspeed and a deeper descent during a landing approach.

• Some cases can shorten takeoff distance

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 air (from outside through the air vent) 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…

• Decreasing the air density.

• This causes a decrease in engine performance (up to 15%).

• 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

• Has 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

• Radio equipment

• fuel gauges

• stall warning system

• oil temperature gauge

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.

*the backup source is on the instrument panel that provides static pressure from inside the cockpit.

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

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

How are the various flight controls operated?

Manually through the use of a rod or cable system.

• Control wheel - ailerons/elevator

• Rudder/Brake pedals - Rudder

Describe the Landing Gear system on this airplane.

• Tricycle type system utilizing two main wheels and a steerable nosewheel.

• Shock absorption

Describe the Braking System on this aircraft.

• Hydraulically actuated disc-type brakes (main gear wheels)

• A hydraulic line connects each brake to a master cylinder on the rudder pedals

What type of Hydraulic Fluid does your aircraft use and what color is it?

MIL-H-5606

Red

What is the purpose of a Carburetor?

• Mixes fuel and air in the correct proportions to form a combustible mixture.

• Vaporizes liquid fuel into small particles to mix with air.

What is the purpose of Throttle Control?

Allows pilot to manually control the amount of fuel/air entering the cylinders.

Regulates engine speed and power.

Why type of ignition system does your airplane have?

Two engine driven magnetos

two spark plugs per cylinder (8 total)

Independent from electrical system

What are the two main advantages of a dual ignition system?

Increased safety

• if one system fails, there’s a backup

More Complete/even combustion of mixture

• the fuel/air mixture is burned on each side of chamber and burn towards the center

What type of Fuel does your aircraft require (minimum octane and rating/color)?

100LL

Blue

Can other types of fuel be used if a specified grade is not available?

Reference the POH

Though not ideal, you can use higher grade as a substitute (cannot go lower).

What color of dye is added to the following fuel grades:

80 (obsolete)

100 (obsolete)

110LL

Jet A

80 (obsolete) = Red

100 (obsolete) = Green

110LL = Blue

Jet A = Colorless or Straw

If a non-turbine pistol engine powered airplane is accidently fueled with JET A fuel, will it start?

Yes, reciprocating engines may run briefly on jet fuel.

Any remaining Jet A Fuel will cause:

• Detonation/overheating

• Soon cause power/engine failure.

What is the function of the manual primer, and how does it operate?

Helps to start the engine.

It draws fuel from the strainer and injects it directly into the cylinder intake ports.

Results = more efficient engine start.

Should use if plane has been sitting around for a few hours (1-3 pumps).

How does Cabin Heat work?

When Fresh air

is heated by an exhaust shroud (protective covering around exhaust system)

and is directed to the cabin through ducts.

How is Temperature in the cabin controlled?

Mixing outside air (cabin air control) with heated air (cabin heat control) near the cabin firewall.

What conditions are favorable for Carburetor Icing?

Most likely to occur when temperature is:

• < 70°F (21°C)

• Relative Humidity is above 80%

Sudden cooling can happen and icing can take place

• 100°F (38°C)

• humidity as low as 50%

What is Anti Icing Equipment (on plane)?

Prevents ice from forming on certain protected surfaces

• Pitot Heat

• Static Ports

• Carb Heat

• Heated fuel vents

• heated windshields/propeller blades

What is Deicing Equipment?

Removes ice that has already formed.

Boots attached to wing will inflate with air, breaking off ice.

They will deflate with vacuum assistance.

What is Detonation?

• Fuel/Air mixture in the engine explodes too fast instead of burning smoothly.

• Can damage your engine/cause it to fail.

If an airplane has anti-icing/deicing equipment installed, can it be flown into icing conditions?

The presence of these does not mean that the plane is approved for flight in icing conditions.

Consult the POH for approvals/limitations.

How Detonation caused and How can you prevent it?

• Using the wrong fuel (like lower-octane than required)

• Too high power settings with too lean a mixture

• Overheating the engine (high cylinder head temps)

*Keep the engine cool

Use correct fuel

Avoid leaning at high power settings.

What is Preignition?

When the fuel-air mixture ignites too early, before the spark plug fires.

• Happens due to:

  • Carbon buildup

  • Overheating engine

• Happens before Detonation

What should you do if Preignition is suspected?

• Reduce Power

• Pitch the nose down (or level out)

• Enrich Fuel/Air Mixture

If only one magneto shows a RPM drop, what condition does this indicate?

A P-lead is not grounding. (wire connecting magneto to ignition switch).

Or

Engine has been running on only one magneto

Interpret the following an Ammeter is indicating a:

Left Deflection

Right Deflection

Left (negative)

• battery is discharging

• electrical system is using more power than alternator is producing

• or alternator has failed

Right (positive)

• batter is charging

• alternator is working and sending excessive electricity to battery

• This is normal

What action should be taken if the ammeter indicates a continuous discharge in flight?

• Turn off alternator, pull circuit breaker if necessary

• Turn off all non essential electrical equipment

• Look to land as soon as possible

What action should be taken if the ammeter indicates a continuous charge (more than two needle widths) in flight?

Excessive charge of battery can lead to evaporation/explosion.

Overvoltage should control this but if not:

• Turn off alternator, pull circuit breaker if necessary

• Turn off all non essential electrical equipment

• Look to land as soon as possible

During a cross-country flight you notice that the oil pressure is low, but the oil temperature is normal. What is the problem and what action should be taken?

Most common problem would be:

• insufficient oil

• clogged oil pressure relief valve

Look to land at the nearest airport and check.

What procedures should be followed concerning a partial loss of power in flight?

1. Establish best glide

2. Look to land

3. Check carb heat

4. Check fuel amount & selector valve

5. Check mixture control

6. Check primer is in and locked

7. Check Magnetos

What should you do if an Engine Fire occurs?

1. Set mixture control to idle

2. Set fuel selector valve to off

3. Turn the master switch off

4. Set cabin heat/air vents to OFF and leave overhead vents on

How does an Altimeter work (i.e. what does it measure)?

• Measures absolute pressure of the ambient air

What are the limits on the Attitude Indicator?

Limits to banking are:

• 100°-110°

Limits to pitch are:

• 60°-70°

How does a Magnetic Compass Operate?

Magnetized needles in a float assembly, mounted on a compass card are aligned with the Earth’s magnetic force.

What is an Oscillation Error (compass error)?

When the compass card moves erratically due to:

• turbulence

or

• rough control technique

What is a Deviation Error (compass error)?

Due to electrical and magnetic disturbances within the aircraft.

What is a Variation Error (compass error)?

Difference between True North and Magnetic North

What is ADSB-Out?

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast.

Sends your:

• position

• altitude

• speed

• ID to ATC.

Required in A, B, C, E (above 10,000ft)

What is ADSB-In?

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast

Receives traffic/weather information from other ADSB sources.

Helps you see nearby aircraft, weather, TFR

How to Avoid Preignition?

• Use proper fuel

• Avoid excessive heat

• Keep the engine clean

• Use the right spark plugs.