Aircraft General Knowledge (Airframe, Systems, Powerplant, Instruments)
Scope
Aircraft General Knowledge covers airframe structure, flight controls, landing gear and brakes, powerplant, fuel, electrical, pitot-static and gyroscopic instruments. The exam asks what a system does and how a failure shows up, not just component names.
Core systems
- The wing produces lift; ailerons control roll, elevator pitch, rudder yaw. Trim reduces control pressure.
- A four-stroke engine makes power on the power stroke; mixture controls fuel/air, carburettor heat prevents or clears icing, oil cools and lubricates.
- The alternator charges the battery and carries electrical load; the battery is a limited reserve.
- Pitot-static instruments: ASI uses ram and static pressure, altimeter static pressure, VSI rate of static change. Gyros: attitude indicator and heading indicator.
Worked example
After takeoff, the ammeter shows discharge and the alternator warning lamp is on, but radios still work. Reasoning: the battery is supplying the electrical load because the alternator is offline. Reduce nonessential electrical load, check the alternator field/circuit breaker per the aircraft checklist, and plan to land. Do not assume the battery will last for a normal flight.
Traps
Carburettor ice can occur in warm, humid air and may show as rough running or RPM loss. A blocked pitot affects the ASI, not the altimeter. Do not treat the heading indicator as a magnetic compass; it precesses and needs alignment.