Chapter 2 – Airplane Systems

Section A

Airplanes

Major parts of an airplane

Fuselage Wing Landing Gear Empennage Powerplant

Fuselage

Open or enclosed truss– Materials used

Stressed skin structure– Monocoque– Semi-monocoque

Monoplanes Biplanes

Ailerons Flaps

Wings

Empennage

Vertical stabilizer– Rudder

Horizontal stabilizer– Elevator

Stabilator

Trim devices

Trim tabs Anti-servo tab

Landing gear

Main wheels

Third wheel– Tailwheel

Conventional gear

– NosewheelTricycle gear

Landing gear

Fixed gear Retractable gear

Seaplanes– Floats– Amphibians

Landing gear struts– Spring steel, bungee cord, oleo

Brakes

Toe brakes on rudder pedals– Equal or differential braking– Steering

Parking brake

Powerplant

Engine Propeller

Firewall Cowling

Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

Pilots Information Manual (PIM)

Contents of POH, AFM, PIM

General Limitations

– Where else can these be found?

Emergency procedures– Abnormal procedures

Normal procedures Performance

Contents of POH, AFM, PIM

Weight and balance Airplane and systems description Handling, service and maintenance Supplements Safety and operational tips

Chapter 2 – Airplane Systems

Section B

The Powerplant and Related Systems

Powerplant – Reciprocating

RadialHorizontally opposed

Powerplant – turbine

TurbojetTurboprop

Reciprocating Engines

Pistons Crankshaft Connecting rods Valves

Four-stroke operating cycle

Intake Compression Power Exhaust

Similar for turbine

Induction systems

Air + fuel sent for combustion

Intake port – filter and alternate

Controls– Throttle– Mixture

– Propeller control

Carburetor

Leaning the mixture

Higher altitudes – air less dense

Mixture control in full rich position creates excessively rich mixture

Reduce amount of fuel by leaning so fuel-to-air ratio remains constant

Remember to enrich mixture when descending

Carburetor ice

Indications of Carburetor Ice

Fixed pitch propeller – loss of R.P.M.

Constant speed propeller – loss of manifold pressure

Carburetor heat

Indications when Carb heat is used

Initially – drop in R.P.M. (hot air is less dense)

Followed by gradual increase in R.P.M. as ice melts

For constant speed prop – indications are reflected in manifold pressure

Fuel injection systems

Less susceptible to icing More precise Use less fuel More horsepower

More expensive Sensitive to contaminants More complex starting procedures – esp. when

engine is hot

Fuel injection system

Supercharging - Turbocharging

Increases power of engine Sea level performance at higher altitudes Supercharger – engine driven compressor Turbocharger – compressor driven by exhaust Usually fuel injected More finicky

Turbocharger

Ignition

Two magnetos Spark plugs Wires Ignition switch

Ignition

Two magnetos Two spark plugs in each cylinder

Redundancy = safety Better combustion of fuel/air mixture

Ignition switch

Off R L Both Start

Abnormal combustion

Detonation – explosion instead of smooth burning of fuel– Engine overheat– Improper grade of fuel

Preignition– Fuel/air mixture ignites before normal timed ignition– Residual hot spot

Engine roughness

Fuel system

Fuel system

Tanks Fuel quantity gauges Fuel selector valve Fuel strainer

Refuelling

Ground wire Fuel grade – color coded Refill after last flight of day – reduces

condensation

Oil systems

Cooling systems

High engine temps

Loss of power High oil consumption Possible engine damage Reduce temps

– Enrich the mixture– Reduce rate of climb– Increase airspeed– Reduce power

Engine cooling

Cooling least effective– Takeoff– Go-around– Low airspeed/high power

Cowl flaps Cylinder head temperature gauge

Exhaust system

Vent burned gases overboard

Heats cabin

Defrost windscreen

Propellers

Types of propellers

Climb props Cruise props Fixed-pitch props Constant-speed props

– Propeller control – r.p.m.

Propellers

Hazards

Electrical systems

Alternator Battery Ammeter Master

switch Circuit

breakers