Maintenance Quiz

For each item, chose the most appropriate response.

1. Alclad is a material that is widely used in the construction of aircraft. Its main advantage is that:

1. it is the lightest and strongest material available for aircraft construction
2. it is very malleable so can be bent easily without fracture along the bend radius
3. the core alloys are corrosion resistant
4. both faces are coated with a thin layer of pure aluminium which is highly resistant to corrosion

2. When re-covering a fabric-covered aircraft, the following must apply:

1. the covering material does not have to meet any particular specification as long as it is supplied as an aviation product
2. the covering material must be stronger than the original material
3. fibreglass and synthetic materials cannot be installed without proper approvals such as supplemental type certificates or engineering orders
4. fabric repair patches should be manufactured from thicker fabric compared to the material used to cover the surrounding structure

3. Control surface flutter may be caused by:

1. an underbalanced control surface
2. an overbalanced control surface
3. control cables not tensioned correctly
4. any of the above

4. Covering practices (fabric) should be as follows:

1. fabric should be applied with the warp or fill threads are parallel to the line of flight
2. the method of attachment need not be identical to the original as far as strength and reliability are concerned
3. only the blanket method is allowed for attaching the fabric
4. the envelope method may be used to attach the fabric if approved by the original equipment manufacturer

5. You notice a placard has become illegible. Where can you look for the required placard wording:

1. in the aircraft flight manual or pilot operating handbook, including supplements
2. in the type certificate data sheet 
3. in the maintenance manual
4. any of the above

6. Aircraft control cables are central to the correct control of the aircraft. Careful periodic inspections are required for continued serviceability.

1. to inspect a cable properly, it must be removed from the aircraft
2. internal corrosion in the cable ends (swaged terminals) has caused many cable failures leading to the promulgation of AD/GENERAL/87 
3. replace cables if outer wires are worn more than 30%
4. lubrication of cables is not advised

7. When re-covering or repairing a fabric-covered control surface, the following precautions apply:

1. control surfaces must be statically balanced and dynamically balanced to ensure no flutter can be induced during flight
2. no control surface balance is needed on high‑speed aircraft as they have enough momentum to preclude flutter
3. no control surface balance is needed on slow aircraft as they do not fly fast enough to induce flutter
4. wing flaps that are fabric covered also need to be balanced

8. Where would you locate the requirements for minimum equipment regarding anti-collision lights for an aircraft operated under night visual flight rules?

1. in the flight manual, pilots operating handbook or equivalent
2. as listed in the equipment list
3. in the Part 91 Manual of Standards (MOS 26.22) 
4. in CAO 100.5

9. Structural maintenance of composite structure aircraft can by carried out by:

1. the holder of a B1 licence with no further qualifications
2. the holder of a B1 licence with a CASA-approved qualification working for a CAR 30 maintenance organisation 
3. an independent B1 licence holder with a CASA-approved qualification not working for a CAR 30 organisation
4. the holder of a B1 licence with no further qualifications working for a CAR 30 maintenance organisation

10. Recently, CASA announced the first release of alphanumeric aircraft registration marks.

1. CASA did this because of pressure from industry to replicate the US system
2. CASA did this because the original registration combinations were running out 
3. this allows for a total of four alphanumeric combinations after ‘VH-‘ similar to other countries
4. all alphanumeric combinations became available in the first release

11. Regarding maintenance of aircraft exhaust systems:

1. a cracked exhaust system in light aircraft in the area of a cabin heater muff may introduce a poisonous gas (carbon monoxide) into the cabin which may disable the crew 
2. exhaust systems are very robust and only need a cursory visual inspection at the periodic inspection
3. a significant crack in an exhaust system will never cause a fire because the exhaust gas is not hot enough
4. exhaust systems on turbo-charged aircraft are not susceptible to cracking as they are manufactured from inconel

12. In a turbo-charged piston aircraft at a particular altitude, the aircraft will have reached its critical altitude and will begin to ‘bootstrap’. What does ‘bootstrap’ mean in this context? It is when:

1. the wastegate is fully closed and the engine becomes normally aspirated and further throttle movement does not increase manifold pressure 
2. the wastegate is almost closed allowing manifold pressure to decay as the aircraft continues to climb
3. further throttle above the critical altitude will decrease manifold pressure
4. the throttle needs to be retarded to reduce manifold pressure at the critical altitude

13. What would be the most likely cause of low manifold pressure (boost) as the aircraft climbs and the pilot compensates by increasing throttle movement?

1. the wastegate is stuck closed
2. the controller is sticking
3. the oil pressure is set too high
4. the wastegate is stuck open

14. In relation to structures and propellers, how is ‘composite’ defined?

1. the item is manufactured from carbon fibre
2. the item is manufactured from foam with strengthening plywood embedded in it to provide strength
3. the item is made up of several parts or elements 
4. the item is moulded over a form and subjected to heat and pressure in an autoclave

Answers:

1. (d) 
2. (c) 
3. (a) 
4. (d)
5. (b)
6. (a)
7. (a)
8. (b)
9. (d)
10. (c)
11. (d)
12. (b)
13. (a)
14. (a)