ASA POWERPLANT ORALS FINAL EXAM 2024
ACTUAL EXAM 2 VERSIONS (VERSION A AND B)
COMPLETE 500 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
VERIFIED ANSWERS (100% CORRECT ANSWERS)
/ALREADY GRADED A+
In what position should the crankshaft be when a magneto is being timed to the engine?
- ANSWERThe piston in cylinder no.1 should be in the correct position for ignition to
occur. This is normally about 30 degrees before top center on the compression stroke.
What is the purpose of a cold cylinder check? - ANSWERA cold cylinder check
determines which cylinder is not firing. Run the engine for a few minutes at the speed,
and on the magneto, at which it runs roughest. Shut it down and feel the exhaust stack
near the cylinder head. The cylinder with the stack that is not as hot as the others is the
cylinder that has not been firing.
What is checked on engine run up to determine the operational condition of the engine?
- ANSWERIdling RPM and manifold pressure, engine acceleration, maximum static
RPM and manifold pressure, magneto drop, ignition switch safety check, propeller pitch
change, propeller feathering, oil pressure, fuel pressure, and fuel flow.
How can you determine the firing order of an 18-cylinder radial engine? -
ANSWERBegin with cylinder 1, add 11 and subtract 7, whichever will keep the numbers
between 1 and 18. 1-12-5-16-9-2-13-6-17-10-3-14-7-18-11-4-15-8.
What are two main causes of a cylinder having low compression? - ANSWERPiston
rings not seating or broken, and valves not seating or burned.
What is a hydraulic lock in an aircraft engine? - ANSWEROil has drained past the piston
rings and filled the combustion chamber of cylinders that are below the center line of the
engine. If the crankshaft is turned over with this oil in the cylinder it will lock, and there is
a probability that the piston, cylinder, or connecting rod will be damaged.
How is a hydraulic lock removed from an aircraft engine? - ANSWERRemove a spark
plug from the locked cylinder and drain all the oil out. Clean the spark plug and reinstall
it.
What is a low-tension ignition system? - ANSWERIt is an ignition system using a
magneto with a brush-type distributor and a coil that has no secondary wiring. Low
voltage is directed from the magneto to a transformer mounted on the cylinder head.
,Her the low voltage is boosted to a high voltage and is directed through a very short
high-tension lead to the spark plug. There is one transformer for each spark plug.
What is a floating cam ring on a large radial engine? - ANSWERIt is a cam ring that
rides on a shelf-type bearing with a large amount of clearance between the bearing and
the ring. When adjusting the valves on an engine with a floating cam ring, the pressure
of the valve springs on the opposite side of the engine must be removed so the cam
ring will be tight against the bearing for the valves being adjusted.
Why is valve clearance adjusted on radial engines, but not on most horizontally
opposed engines? - ANSWERMost horizontally opposed engines have hydraulic valve
lifters that keep all of the clearance out of the valve train. Radial engines have solid
lifters.
Why are both the hot and cold valve clearances given for most radial engines? -
ANSWERThe hot clearance is given for valve timing purposes. The timing is adjusted
with the valves in cylinder number one, set with the hot clearance. When the timing is
set, all of the valves are adjusted to their cold clearance.
What must be inspected to determine the airworthiness of an engine installation? -
ANSWERThe propeller, lubrication system, ignition system, fuel metering system,
cooling system, and the exhaust system.
What checks should be made to determine the proper operation of a reciprocating
engine installation? - ANSWERIdle RPM and mixture, static RPM, propeller pitch
change operation, magneto check, ignition switch safety check, and carburetor heat
check.
Where can you find the correct grade of fuel and amount of engine lubricating oil for an
aircraft engine? - ANSWERIn the Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) for the aircraft.
What are the basic steps in troubleshooting an engine installation? - ANSWERA. Know
how the system should operate B. Observe how the system is operating. C. Divide the
system to find the trouble. D. Look for the obvious problems first.
Where do you find the procedures to follow when correcting a defective condition in an
aircraft engine? - ANSWERIn the engine maintenance manual.
Where do you find instructions for removing an engine from an aircraft? - ANSWERIn
the aircraft maintenance manual.
What must normally be done to a nose-wheel airplane before removing an engine? -
ANSWERThe tail of the airplane must be supported.
,What should be done to the cylinders to protect them from rust and corrosion when
preparing the engine for long-time storage? - ANSWERSpray a preservative oil inside
the cylinders and replace the spark plugs with desiccant plugs.
What should be used to cover the ends of fuel and oil lines that have been disconnected
from the engine? - ANSWERThe correct plugs or caps. Never cover the end of a line
with tape.
What is meant by a QEC engine assembly? - ANSWERAn engine that has been
prepared for a quick engine change. The engine is on its mount and all of the
accessories are installed. A minimum of time is required to change engines. All that is
needed is for the controls, wiring, and fluid lines to be connected to the firewall.
What is meant by rigging the engine controls so they have some "cushion"? -
ANSWERThe control on the engine component must contact its stop before the control
handle in the cockpit reaches its stop. This causes the control handle to spring back a
slight amount when it is moved to the extent of its travel.
What are two ways of pre oiling an engine? - ANSWERA. before the spark plugs are
installed and after the oil tank or sump is filled, turn the engine over with the starter until
oil runs out of the fitting to which the oil pressure gage connects. B. Use a pre oiler tank.
Air pressure forces oil through all of the passages until some of it flows from the oil
pressure gage fitting.
What is meant by a hot section inspection? - ANSWERAn inspection of the hot section
of a turbine engine. The combustors, the turbine, and the exhaust systems.
What is meant by on condition maintenance of a turbine engine? - ANSWERThe
monitoring of the engine performance at regular intervals and determining when
maintenance is required based on certain operating parameters specified by the engine
manufacturer.
What checks of a turbine engine are necessary to verify preflight condition? -
ANSWERInspection of the cowling and all air inlet areas and attachment of the engine
to the airframe. Inspection of the inlet guide vanes and the first stage of the compressor
or fan blades. Check for unusual noise when the compressor is rotated. Inspection of
the rear turbine, and exhaust system. Check the quantity of the lubricating oil for the
engine and the constant speed-drive unit. Check the ignition system for operation by
listening for the sparks.
What is meant by trimming a turbine engine? - ANSWERAdjusting the fuel control so
the engine develops the correct idle and trim speed RPM.
What type of equipment should be used to determine that a turbine engine is performing
up to the standards specified by the engine manufacturer? - ANSWERA JetCal
, Analyzer-Trimmer has all of the instrumentation and cables to determine the EGT, EPR,
and the other parameters specified by the engine manufacturer.
Where can you find the model of magneto that is approved for an engine specified by
the examiner? - ANSWERT C D S for the engine.
What is a Supplemental Type Certificate? - ANSWERAn approval issued by the FAA for
a modification to a type-certificated airframe, engine, or component.
What paperwork is necessary for the installation of a magneto that was not approved for
an engine when it was certificated, but is approved for the engine when installed
according to an STC? - ANSWERA form FAA 337 must be completed stating that the
installation was done in accordance with the specific STC.
What are three types of flow-indicating systems used for turbine engine? -
ANSWERVane-type flow meters, synchronous mass-type flow meters, and electronic
motorless mass flow meters.
What do mass flow systems measure? - ANSWERThe mass of the flow. This is affected
by the density of the fuel which is in turn affected by the fuel temperature.
In what units is an electronic motorless mass flow meter system calibrated? -
ANSWERPounds per hour of fuel flow.
What is indicated in a turbine engine if the fuel flow for all conditions is high? -
ANSWERIf there are other instrument abnormalities, there are possibly damaged
turbine components.
Who is authorized to repair a fuel flow indicating system? - ANSWERThe components
can be repaired only by an FAA approved repair station certificated for the particular
instruments.
Where can you find the electrical power requirements for a fuel flow indicating system? -
ANSWERIn the aircraft maintenance manual.
Where in the fuel system is the fuel flow transmitter located? - ANSWERBetween the
fuel control and the fuel nozzles.
What kind of indicating system is used to measure oil temperature in a small, single
engine, general aviation airplane? - ANSWERA sealed system in which a bulb, partially
filled with a highly volatile liquid, is installed inside the oil strainer. The bulb is connected
to a pressure gage by a copper tube. The pressure of the gas above the liquid is
proportional to the temperature of the oil that surrounds the bulb, and the pressure gage
is calibrated in terms of temperature.
