Powerplant ASA/Baker's School List of FAA Oral
Questions | 443 Questions with 100% Correct
Answers | Updated & Verified | 2023 | 69 Pages
1). What is the main advantage of a horizontally opposed engine over a radial engine for
powering modern aircraft?
Ans: The horizontally opposed engine has a much smaller frontal area and is easier to
streamline than a radial engine.
2). How many throws are there in the crankshaft of a six-cylinder horizontally opposed
engine?
Ans: six
3). What kind of connecting rod arrangement is used in a radial engine?
Ans: A master rod connects the single throw of the crankshaft with a piston. All other
pistons are connected to the master rod with link rods.
4). Of what material are most piston rings made?
Ans: gray cast iron
5). What is the reason for using hydraulic valve lifters in an aircraft engine?
Ans: Hydraulic lifters keep all the clearance out of the valve operating mechanism.
This decreases the wear of the valve train components.
6). At what speed does the camshaft turn in relation to the crankshaft?
Ans: one half the speed of the crankshaft
7). What kind of main bearings are used in a horizontally opposed engine?
Ans: steel backed, lead-alloy inserts
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, 8). On what stroke is the piston when the intake valve begins to open?
Ans: exhaust stroke
9). On what stroke is the piston when the exhaust valve begins to close?
Ans: power stroke
10). Why are both hot and cold clearances given for radial engines?
Ans: The hot clearance is given for valve timing purposes. The timing is adjusted with
the valves in the number one piston adjusted with the hot clearance. When the timing is
set, all of the valves are adjusted to their cold clearance.
11). What is meant by "cam-ground" piston?
Ans: A piston that is not perfectly round. When the piston reaches operating
temperature, the metal in the piston pin boss expands enough that the piston becomes
perfectly round.
12). Where is the piston when the ignition spark occurs?
Ans: 30 degrees before TDC
13). What is a "full-floating" wrist pin?
Ans: a wrist pin that is not clamped in either the piston or the connecting rod. soft
metal plugs keep the floating pin from scoring the cylinder wall.
14). Why do most engines use more than one spring on each valve?
Ans: Different springs with different diameter and pitch have different resonant
frequencies which minimize valve float.
15). Would excessive valve clearance cause the valves to open early or late?
Ans: open late and close early
16). What is the purpose of valve overlap? (2)
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, Ans: Exhaust gas inertia leaving the cylinder helps the fresh induction charge flow into
the cylinder leading to 1) better volumetric efficiency 2) lower cylinder temperatures.
17). What types of piston rings are installed on the pistons?
Ans: compression rings, oil control rings, oil wiper rings
18). Why are some exhaust valves partially filled with metallic sodium?
Ans: It melts at operating temperature. Sloshing back and forth, it picks up heat,
transfers heat to the valve stem which in turn transfers it to the cylinder head.
19). What causes detonation?
Ans: Excessive heat and pressure in the cylinder causes the fuel-air mixture to reach
its critical pressure and temperature which causes an explosion rather than a controlled
burn.
20). Why is a compression check important in determining the condition of an engine?
Ans: The compression check determines the condition of the seal between the piston
rings and the cylinder walls, and the seal between the valves and their seats.
21). What is meant by compression ratio?
Ans: The compression ratio is the volume of the cylinder with the piston at the bottom
of its stroke to the top of its stroke.
22). What cylinder is engine-to magneto-timing based on?
Ans: number one cylinder
23). What are the main causes of the cylinder having low compression? (4)
Ans: broken rings, rings that do not seat properly, burnt valves, poorly seating valves
24). What should be done to a nosewheel plane before removing the engine?
Ans: support the tail
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, 25). How are conventional reciprocating engines classified? (2)
Ans: They are classified according to
1) cylinder arrangement: in-line, radial, v-type, opposed
2) method of cooling: liquid, air
26). What is the purpose of the oil control rings?
Ans: controls oil thickness on the cylinder walls
27). What may be the result of installing piston rings incorrectly?
Ans: excessive oil consumption
28). What type of bearings are used in a reciprocating engine?
Ans: 1) plain bearings for crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rod, 2) roller bearings for
crankshaft main bearings, 3) ball bearings for supercharger impeller shaft bearings (and
crankshaft thrust bearings on large radials)
29). What is the indication of valve blowby?
Ans: a hissing/whistling sound when turning the propeller, thus requiring a
compression check
30). Describe the inspection you would give the valve springs during engine overhaul? (3)
Ans: They should be 1) cleaned thoroughly, then 2) visually inspected for overheating,
cracks, broken ends, and 3) tested for compression strength.
31). What causes sudden stoppage? (2)
Ans: 1) prop strike 2) seizure due to internal damage
32). What type of inspection should be made after sudden stoppage?
Ans: complete engine tear down and inspection
33). What is the purpose of dynamic dampers?
PaperStoc.com Page 4 of 56
Questions | 443 Questions with 100% Correct
Answers | Updated & Verified | 2023 | 69 Pages
1). What is the main advantage of a horizontally opposed engine over a radial engine for
powering modern aircraft?
Ans: The horizontally opposed engine has a much smaller frontal area and is easier to
streamline than a radial engine.
2). How many throws are there in the crankshaft of a six-cylinder horizontally opposed
engine?
Ans: six
3). What kind of connecting rod arrangement is used in a radial engine?
Ans: A master rod connects the single throw of the crankshaft with a piston. All other
pistons are connected to the master rod with link rods.
4). Of what material are most piston rings made?
Ans: gray cast iron
5). What is the reason for using hydraulic valve lifters in an aircraft engine?
Ans: Hydraulic lifters keep all the clearance out of the valve operating mechanism.
This decreases the wear of the valve train components.
6). At what speed does the camshaft turn in relation to the crankshaft?
Ans: one half the speed of the crankshaft
7). What kind of main bearings are used in a horizontally opposed engine?
Ans: steel backed, lead-alloy inserts
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 56
, 8). On what stroke is the piston when the intake valve begins to open?
Ans: exhaust stroke
9). On what stroke is the piston when the exhaust valve begins to close?
Ans: power stroke
10). Why are both hot and cold clearances given for radial engines?
Ans: The hot clearance is given for valve timing purposes. The timing is adjusted with
the valves in the number one piston adjusted with the hot clearance. When the timing is
set, all of the valves are adjusted to their cold clearance.
11). What is meant by "cam-ground" piston?
Ans: A piston that is not perfectly round. When the piston reaches operating
temperature, the metal in the piston pin boss expands enough that the piston becomes
perfectly round.
12). Where is the piston when the ignition spark occurs?
Ans: 30 degrees before TDC
13). What is a "full-floating" wrist pin?
Ans: a wrist pin that is not clamped in either the piston or the connecting rod. soft
metal plugs keep the floating pin from scoring the cylinder wall.
14). Why do most engines use more than one spring on each valve?
Ans: Different springs with different diameter and pitch have different resonant
frequencies which minimize valve float.
15). Would excessive valve clearance cause the valves to open early or late?
Ans: open late and close early
16). What is the purpose of valve overlap? (2)
PaperStoc.com Page 2 of 56
, Ans: Exhaust gas inertia leaving the cylinder helps the fresh induction charge flow into
the cylinder leading to 1) better volumetric efficiency 2) lower cylinder temperatures.
17). What types of piston rings are installed on the pistons?
Ans: compression rings, oil control rings, oil wiper rings
18). Why are some exhaust valves partially filled with metallic sodium?
Ans: It melts at operating temperature. Sloshing back and forth, it picks up heat,
transfers heat to the valve stem which in turn transfers it to the cylinder head.
19). What causes detonation?
Ans: Excessive heat and pressure in the cylinder causes the fuel-air mixture to reach
its critical pressure and temperature which causes an explosion rather than a controlled
burn.
20). Why is a compression check important in determining the condition of an engine?
Ans: The compression check determines the condition of the seal between the piston
rings and the cylinder walls, and the seal between the valves and their seats.
21). What is meant by compression ratio?
Ans: The compression ratio is the volume of the cylinder with the piston at the bottom
of its stroke to the top of its stroke.
22). What cylinder is engine-to magneto-timing based on?
Ans: number one cylinder
23). What are the main causes of the cylinder having low compression? (4)
Ans: broken rings, rings that do not seat properly, burnt valves, poorly seating valves
24). What should be done to a nosewheel plane before removing the engine?
Ans: support the tail
PaperStoc.com Page 3 of 56
, 25). How are conventional reciprocating engines classified? (2)
Ans: They are classified according to
1) cylinder arrangement: in-line, radial, v-type, opposed
2) method of cooling: liquid, air
26). What is the purpose of the oil control rings?
Ans: controls oil thickness on the cylinder walls
27). What may be the result of installing piston rings incorrectly?
Ans: excessive oil consumption
28). What type of bearings are used in a reciprocating engine?
Ans: 1) plain bearings for crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rod, 2) roller bearings for
crankshaft main bearings, 3) ball bearings for supercharger impeller shaft bearings (and
crankshaft thrust bearings on large radials)
29). What is the indication of valve blowby?
Ans: a hissing/whistling sound when turning the propeller, thus requiring a
compression check
30). Describe the inspection you would give the valve springs during engine overhaul? (3)
Ans: They should be 1) cleaned thoroughly, then 2) visually inspected for overheating,
cracks, broken ends, and 3) tested for compression strength.
31). What causes sudden stoppage? (2)
Ans: 1) prop strike 2) seizure due to internal damage
32). What type of inspection should be made after sudden stoppage?
Ans: complete engine tear down and inspection
33). What is the purpose of dynamic dampers?
PaperStoc.com Page 4 of 56
