Airplane Engine Operation

Reference Source
● Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), Section 4, Normal Procedures

Study Questions
1. Using your POH as a guide, number the following subsections in the order in which they appear.
(1=first, 2=second, 3=third)

______ Expanded (or amplified) procedure descriptions

______ Checklists and procedure steps for every aspect of normally operating the aircraft

______ Airspeeds used for normal operation

2. Which of the following would be an airspeed found in the Normal Procedures section?

a) Best glide airspeed

b) Normal approach speed

c) Speed for landing without engine power with flaps up

3. What value is there for having the airspeeds used for normal operation together on one page?

a) All the airspeeds the pilot will ever need to know are in one place.

b) The pilot can turn quickly to this page in the event of an emergency.

c) It is easier for the pilot to locate the various airspeeds used for normal flight.

4. Which of the following is a checklist that would be found in Section 4 of the POH?

a) A list of the required equipment for VFR flight.

b) The steps to follow in the event of an alternator failure.

c) The manufacturer’s recommended process for preflight inspection.

5. Why can information about starting an aircraft be found in both the Checklist Procedures and in
the Amplified Procedures areas?

a) The procedures are intended for different aircraft types.

b) There is value to having a short checklist to use repeatedly, as well as a place for longer
descriptive information that would be used only occasionally by the pilot.

c) The redundancy allows for the aircraft POH to remain legal and airworthy even with pages
missing.

6. The steps for starting an aircraft engine can be thought of as falling into four basic phases –
Pre-Start Readiness, Fuel Priming, Ignition, and After-Start Checks. Identify in which phase each of
the following steps would appear.

2D - Engine Operation 1
 Check circuit breakers □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Ignition key to START □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Check oil pressure □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Fuel pump switch ON □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Seatbelts fastened □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Fuel selector to BOTH □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Mixture RICH then FULL LEAN □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Avionics switch ON □​ Pre-Start □​ Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
7. The list below includes the steps for priming the engine of a Cessna 172SP with fuel for starting,
but not in the correct order. Transcribe the list to the column on the right, but put the priming
steps in the correct order.

Throttle ¼” open, mixture at CUTOFF 1.___________________________________

Auxiliary fuel pump OFF 2.___________________________________

Master switch ON 3.___________________________________

Mixture advance until flow starts to rise 4.___________________________________

Mixture returned to IDLE CUTOFF 5.___________________________________

Auxiliary fuel pump switch ON 6.___________________________________

8. Some aircraft manufacturers recommend returning the mixture control to IDLE CUTOFF after initial
engine priming. For those engines, what must be done immediately after the engine fires at
ignition?

a) The throttle should be advanced to FULL.

b) Both fuel gauges should read FULL.

c) The mixture should be advanced to FULL RICH to allow the engine access to a continuing supply
of fuel.

9. Why do you think it is important for engine RPM to be kept low on engine startup?

a) To protect the engine from damage since adequate flow of lubricating oil has not yet been
established.

b) For improved fuel efficiency.

c) To keep noise to a minimum.

10. Where should the pilot’s hands be at engine start?

a) One hand on the radio call button to call for help.

b) Both hands on the aircraft control yoke to keep the flight controls from movement.

c) One hand on the ignition switch and the other hand on the throttle and mixture controls so
that settings can be quickly adjusted after the engine fires.

2D - Engine Operation 2
11. After starting, if the oil pressure indicator does not begin to show pressure within
________________ in the summer time and approximately ________________ in winter, stop the
engine and investigate.

12. Why is it important to immediately check the oil pressure after an aircraft engine has started?

a) Lack of oil pressure may indicate that it is too cold to fly safely.

b) Lack of oil flow in the engine can cause serious engine damage.

c) The oil flow could be blocked by ice buildup in the fuel tanks.

13. Without sufficient oil to aid in cooling the engine, what do you think can happen to engine oil
temperature?

a) They can tend to fall below normal operating temperatures.

b) The temperature could rise above normal operating levels.

c) Oil temperature would likely be unaffected.

14. Extreme engine temperatures can actually cause the engine oil to lose viscosity or even to burn.
What impact do you think this would have on engine operation? (Check all that apply.)
□ Oil consumption would increase

□ Loss of power (as oil lubrication breaks down)

□ Possible internal damage to the engine

15. What do you think is the basic purpose of the engine runup and before takeoff checks?

a) To fulfill legal airworthiness requirements.

b) To check all aircraft systems as much as possible before flight.

c) To shake dust loose of the aircraft before becoming airborne.

16. During runup, what system is checked while the engine is operating at high RPM?

a) Autopilot (if installed).

b) Flight controls

c) Magnetos

17. During a magneto check, with the engine running on only one magneto, the RPM should drop no
more than ________, and the RPM drop on each side should not differ by more than ________.

a) 50 RPM; 75 RPM.

b) 100 RPM; 100 RPM.

c) 150 RPM; 50 RPM.

18. How can the alternator be checked prior to flight?

a) The alternator housing can be removed and the red alternator indicator light can be observed.

2D - Engine Operation 3
 b) The electrical system can be momentarily loaded by operating the landing light or flap
extension motor. If operating correctly, the ammeter will remain within a needle width of its
initial reading.

c) The ignition switch can be momentarily switched to off to see if the alternator continues to
power the spark plugs.

19. When taxiing an aircraft, why is the pilot’s hand never far from the mixture control?

a) If the need arises for safety, the fastest way to stop the propeller from spinning is to cut fuel
flow to the engine.

b) Mixture control is used to adjust engine power, and therefore taxi speed.

c) If the engine lugs and the pilot suspects the mixture is too rich, the mixture control can be
quickly advanced to FULL RICH.

20. Which of the following is the best way to shutdown an aircraft engine and leave the cylinders
empty of fuel?

a) Ignition switch OFF

b) Mixture to IDLE CUTOFF

c) Master switch OFF

21. For airplanes with a fuel tank selector that includes LEFT, RIGHT, and BOTH, why should the pilot
switch the selector to LEFT or RIGHT after engine shutdown?

a) To prevent excess fuel from flooding the engine compartment.

b) To prevent fuel from spilling out onto the ramp.

c) To prevent crossfeed of fuel from one tank to another if the aircraft is parked on an incline.

22. At full power on the takeoff roll, the aircraft engine should run smoothly and turn after
approximately _________________ RPM.

23. The process of adjusting the fuel to air mixture so that there is the proper ratio of fuel molecules
to air molecules to burn in the engine is called

a) mixture control (or leaning).

b) molecularization.

c) ratiometric burn compliance.

24. In which situations would the pilot lean the engine (i.e., adjust the mixture control)?

a) To adjust the flow of fuel to balance the decrease in availability of oxygen molecules at higher
altitudes.

b) To obtain a faster descent rate on final approach.

c) To decrease drain on the battery in flight.

25. Enrichening the fuel mixture increases the number of fuel molecules in the cylinders. Too many
fuel molecules for the available oxygen means that some fuel molecules will remain unburned in
the cylinder. This can

2D - Engine Operation 4
 a) have a cooling effect on the engine temperatures.

b) improve fuel efficiency for long flights.

c) increase cylinder head temperatures.

26. According to the Cessna 172S POH, what is the proper leaning technique for after engine start and
for all ground operations?

a) Advance the mixture control until the engine runs roughly.

b) Set throttle to 1200 RPM and lean mixture for maximum RPM.

c) Set mixture to FULL RICH when on the ground.

27. While climbing at full RPM, above what altitude should the fuel mixture be leaned and how?

a) At any altitude, climbs should be done with the mixture at FULL RICH.

b) Above 3,000 feet, lean the mixture for maximum RPM.

c) Above 1,800 feet, lean the mixture until the engine runs roughly.

28. When leaning the mixture for cruise flight at high altitudes, what does the term “rich of peak”
mean?

a) The mixture setting intended for the maximum altitude (i.e. “the peak”) to be used during the
flight.

b) Slightly fewer fuel molecules than there should be to balance the available air molecules.

c) Mixture control in slightly farther (i.e., “rich”) than whatever setting delivers peak
performance.

2D - Engine Operation 5
 Assignment Answers

Answers
1. The order in the POH is:

​3 Expanded (or amplified) procedure descriptions

​2 Checklists and procedure steps for every aspect of normally operating the aircraft

​1 Airspeeds used for normal operation

2. b

3. c

4. c

5. b

6.
Check circuit breakers □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □ ​Ignition □ ​After-Start
Ignition key to START □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □ ​Ignition □​ After-Start
Check oil pressure □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Fuel pump switch ON □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Seatbelts fastened □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Fuel selector to BOTH □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Mixture RICH then FULL LEAN □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
Avionics switch ON □ ​Pre-Start □ ​Priming □​ Ignition □​ After-Start
7.

Throttle ¼” open, mixture at CUTOFF 1. Throttle ¼” open, mixture at CUTOFF

Auxiliary fuel pump OFF 2. Master switch ON

Master switch ON 3. Auxiliary fuel pump switch ON

Mixture advance until flow starts to rise 4. Mixture advance until flow starts to rise

Mixture returned to IDLE CUTOFF 5. Mixture returned to IDLE CUTOFF

Auxiliary fuel pump switch ON 6. Auxiliary fuel pump OFF

8. c

9. a

10. c

11. 30 seconds; one minute

2D - Engine Operation 6
12. b

13. b

14.
□ Oil consumption would increase

□ Loss of power (as oil lubrication breaks down)

□ Possible internal damage to the engine

15. b

16. c

17. c

18. b

19. a

20. b

21. c

22. 2300 to 2400 RPM

23. a

24. a

25. a

26. b

27. b

28. c

2D - Engine Operation 7