FAA A&P Mechanic flashcards
FAA A&P Mechanic · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Ohm's law
- E = I × R, where E is voltage in volts, I is current in amperes, and R is resistance in ohms; electrical power equals E × I.
- Moment
- A measure of a force's tendency to rotate an object about a point; calculated as weight times arm in inch-pounds and used to compute center of gravity.
- Center of gravity
- The point at which the entire weight of the aircraft is considered concentrated; found by dividing total moment by total weight and must lie within approved limits.
- Annual inspection
- A complete inspection required every 12 calendar months, performed by an A&P mechanic holding an Inspection Authorization and recorded in the aircraft maintenance records.
- 100-hour inspection
- Required for aircraft carrying persons for hire or used for flight instruction for hire; performed within the preceding 100 hours of time in service by a certificated A&P.
- Galvanic corrosion
- Corrosion caused by electrical contact between dissimilar metals in the presence of an electrolyte; prevented by isolating the metals or applying protective coatings.
- Magnetic particle inspection
- A nondestructive method using magnetic fields and iron particles to reveal surface and near-surface defects in ferromagnetic parts such as steel crankshafts and landing gear components.
- Dye penetrant inspection
- A nondestructive test using a colored penetrant and developer to reveal surface-breaking defects in nonporous materials such as aluminum and magnesium castings.
- Safety wire twist
- Properly installed safety wire has six to eight twists per inch and is routed so any loosening tendency pulls the wire in the tightening direction.
- Micrometer
- A precision measuring instrument with a calibrated screw and thimble that reads to 0.001 inch, used for thickness and diameter measurements.
- Torque wrench
- A calibrated tool that applies a specified twisting force to a fastener; the reading equals force times arm length in inch-pounds or foot-pounds.
- Edge distance rivets
- The distance from the center of a rivet to the nearest edge of the sheet, normally at least two rivet diameters to prevent tear-out under load.
- Rivet pitch
- The spacing between adjacent rivets in a row, typically four to six rivet diameters for single-row joints in aircraft sheet metal repair.
- Alclad
- Aluminum sheet with a thin layer of pure aluminum rolled onto both surfaces to improve corrosion resistance while the core alloy provides strength.
- Accumulator
- A hydraulic component containing a compressed gas charge that stores pressure energy, absorbs pressure surges, and supplies flow during peak demand.
- Shimmy damper
- A device on the nose landing gear that resists rapid side-to-side oscillation of the wheel during ground operation by providing hydraulic damping.
- Tensiometer
- A calibrated instrument used to measure aircraft control cable tension so the cable can be adjusted to the value specified in the maintenance manual.
- Deice boot
- An inflatable rubber strip on the leading edge of a wing or tail that expands with air pressure to break ice and allow it to be blown away.
- Oleo strut
- A landing gear shock absorber using a piston in a cylinder with oil and compressed nitrogen to absorb landing loads and damp rebound.
- Bonding jumpers
- Low-resistance electrical connections between aircraft structural parts that provide a current return path and drain static electricity safely.
- Wing spar
- The main structural member of a wing that carries bending and shear loads from the wing skin to the fuselage attachment points.
- Aileron differential
- Rigging in which the up-going aileron travels farther than the down-going one, reducing adverse yaw and improving coordinated turns.
- Four-stroke cycle
- The intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes of a reciprocating engine; two crankshaft revolutions complete one cycle in each cylinder.
- Compression ratio
- The ratio of total cylinder volume to clearance volume; higher ratios increase power and efficiency but require higher-octane fuel.
- Stoichiometric mixture
- The chemically correct fuel-to-air ratio of about 15 to 1 by weight, at which all fuel and oxygen are consumed in combustion.
- Magneto
- A self-contained engine-driven ignition unit that generates high voltage for the spark plugs and operates independently of the aircraft electrical system.
- N1
- The rotational speed of the low-pressure compressor or fan in a turbine engine, usually expressed as a percentage of a reference RPM.
- EGT
- Exhaust gas temperature, an indicator of combustion temperature used to set mixture and to monitor turbine engine condition within published limits.
- Constant-speed propeller
- A propeller whose blade angle is changed by a governor to maintain a selected engine RPM as load and airspeed vary.
- Valve clearance
- The small gap between the rocker arm and valve stem that allows for thermal expansion and is checked and adjusted during engine inspection.
- Ashless dispersant oil
- Reciprocating engine oil that keeps contaminants suspended so they drain out with the oil, used in most horizontally opposed aircraft engines.
- Carburetor icing
- Ice that forms in the carburetor throat from fuel vaporization and pressure drop, most likely at ambient temperatures between 20 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity.