Airframe

Oral & Practical Study Guide: Assembly and Rigging

Study Materials
Aviation Maintenance Technician Series Airframe textbook
Pages 1-58, 265-317, Volume 1
ASA, Inc.

Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Airframe Handbook AC 65-15A

Pages 27-84
Federal Aviation Administration

Typical Oral Questions

1. Why is it specially important that the leading edge of a wing and the upper surface of the forward
half of the wing be kept free of dents and any dirt or contamination?
The air flowing over this portion of the wing must be smooth to produce the maximum amount of lift. If
the surface is rough or dirty, the air flow will be distorted and lift will be lost.

2. What is meant by the angle of attack of an airplane wing?

The acute angle that is formed between the chord line of an airfoil and the direction of the air that
strikes it.

3. What are the four basic forces that act on an aircraft in flight?
Lift, drag, thrust, and gravity.

4. What is meant by the angle of incidence of an airplane wing?

The acute angle that is formed between the chord line of an airfoil and the longitudinal axis of the
aircraft on which it is mounted.

5. What causes parasite drag on an airplane?

The friction of the air flowing over the surface.

6. Name the three axes of an airplane and the control that rotates the airplane about each of its three
axes.
Longitudinal axis -- ailerons
Lateral axis -- elevators
Vertical axis – rudder.

7. Does the lift that is produced by the horizontal tail surfaces of an airplane act upward or downward
in normal flight?
Downward.

8. What is the function of lateral dihedral in the wings of an airplane?

Lateral dihedral gives the aircraft roll stability, or stability about the longitudinal axis.

9. What is the purpose of a stall strip on an airplane wing?

Stall strips distort the air flowing over the top of the wing in the root area at high angles of attack.
They cause the root of the wing to stall out at a lower angle of attack than the portion of the wing ahead of
the ailerons.

10. What is the function of a servo tab on an aircraft control surface?

A servo tab produces an aerodynamic force on a control surface that aids the pilot in moving the
surface.
 11. Why do most high-performance aircraft use slotted flaps?
Slotted flaps can be deflected to a greater angle than other types of flaps before the airflow over their
surface breaks away.

12. What is the purpose of a movable slat in the leading edge of some airplane wings?
The movable slat remains flush with the leading edge of the wing during all low-angle-of-attack flight
conditions. When the angle of attack becomes high, the slat automatically moves out of the wing and
forms a duct which forces the air back over the upper surface of the wing. This delays the stall.

13. What causes dissymmetry of lift produced by the rotor of a helicopter?

The forward speed of the helicopter produces dissymmetry of lift. The rotor blade which is traveling
forward as the helicopter is flying produces more lift than the blade that is traveling rearward.

14. Why do single-rotor helicopters use an auxiliary rotor on their tail?

The thrust from the auxiliary rotor on the tail of the helicopter counteracts the torque produced by the
main rotor.

15. Why is it important that the leading edge of a supersonic airplane wing be kept free from dents
and damage?
A sharp leading edge allows an oblique shock wave to attach to the airfoil in supersonic flight. If the
leading edge is dented or blunt, a normal shock wave will form and slow the air immediately behind it to a
subsonic velocity.

16. What is the purpose of vortex generators on the wing of a high-speed airplane?
Vortex generators pull high-energy air down to the surface of the wing and keep shock-induced
separation from occurring.

17. Why are the control cables of large airplanes normally equipped with automatic tension
regulators?
The large amount of aluminum in the aircraft structure contracts so much as its temperature drops in
flight that the control cables could become dangerously loose. The automatic tension regulators keep the
cable tension constant as the dimensions of the aircraft change.

18. Why is it important that the blades of a helicopter rotor system be in track?
If the blades are not in track, vertical vibration can develop.

19. Why is it important that any repairs to the control surfaces of an airplane not change their original
condition of balance about their hinge line?
A control surface that is out of static balance can flutter in certain flight conditions. Flutter normally
tears the surface off the aircraft.

20. In what FAA publication could you find correct control surface movement for a particular airplane?
In the Type Certificate Data Sheet for the airplane.

Typical Practical Projects

1. Locate in the appropriate document the control surface movement for an airplane specified by the
examiner. Measure this movement and determine whether or not it is correct.

2. Adjust the tension of an aircraft control cable and properly safety wire the turnbuckle.

3. Properly install a swaged-on terminal on an aircraft control cable. Demonstrate to the examiner the
correct way to check the terminal for proper swaging.

4. Check the flight controls of an airplane, including all of the secondary controls for the correct
direction of movement when the cockpit controls are moved.
 5. Demonstrate to the examiner the correct way to inspect a piece of aircraft control cable for
indication of internal corrosion.

6. Check a primary flight control surface for its condition of static balance.

7. Using the appropriate document, locate the jacking points of an airplane. Explain to the examiner
the precautions that should be taken when jacking the aircraft.

8. Check an aircraft landing gear for the proper amount of toe-in or toe-out and for the proper amount
of camber.

9. Explain to the examiner the correct way to check the track of a helicopter rotor system. Explain the
correct way to adjust the blades to bring them into the proper condition of track.

10. Demonstrate to the examiner the correct way to determine whether or not a rod-end bearing is
screwed into a push-pull tube to the proper depth.

11. Demonstrate to the examiner the correct way to attach a rod-end bearing to a control horn.

12. Explain to the examiner the proper way to correct a specified airplane for a wing-heavy condition.

13. Connect a control cable to a control horn with a clevis bolt. Demonstrate to the examiner the
correct way to adjust the tightness of the nut, and the proper way to safety the nut to the bolt.