Aircraft General Knowledge
Airframe, powerplant and systems
This domain covers structure, flight controls, landing gear, hydraulics, electrical, fuel, and the piston or turbine powerplant with its propeller. Understand how each system is powered, what happens when it fails, and what indications the pilot will see. Know the difference between normal, abnormal and emergency operation of each system, and be able to interpret the instruments that monitor them.
Traps
Questions frequently test cause and effect: what indication follows a failed component, or which system provides redundancy. Watch for confusion between the engine and the propeller as sources of a symptom, and between electrical and mechanical failures. Another trap is assuming a system is available when it depends on another system that has failed. Read the failure chain carefully.
Worked example
A question states that the ammeter shows a discharge in flight. The reasoning path: identify the electrical source (alternator or generator), confirm the load, then determine whether the battery alone can sustain essential equipment. The answer is usually to reduce electrical load and land as soon as practicable, not to continue and monitor indefinitely.
Rule of thumb
For any system question, ask three things: what powers it, what indicates its state, and what the pilot does if it fails. If you can answer all three, the question usually resolves itself.