A&P Airframe (AMA) practice questions with answers

Answer: D) Rolls sheet metal into curves

• AIncorrect. Shears cut metal.
• BIncorrect. A brake makes sharp bends.
• CIncorrect. Drills do that.
• DCorrect. Three rollers form the curve.

Answer: A) Match the fiber orientation of the original ply it replaces, within the SRM alignment tolerance

Laminate strength and stiffness depend on ply orientation. Replacement plies must match the orientation of the original plies they replace, within SRM alignment tolerance.

• ACorrect. Each ply's fiber direction sets the laminate's strength and stiffness in that direction. Repair plies must match the original ply orientations within the OEM structural repair manual tolerance.
• BIncorrect. Making every ply 0° changes the laminate's stiffness and its shear and off-axis strength. The repair would no longer match how the original structure carries load.
• CIncorrect. Plies are staggered by stepping their size and overlap, not by changing their orientation. Rotating plies changes the laminate's properties.
• DIncorrect. The ply count alone does not restore strength. Each ply must also have the correct fiber orientation and sequence.

Answer: B) A horizontal surface mounted ahead of the main wing

• AIncorrect. That would be a rudder tab.
• BCorrect. Canards provide pitch control or lift forward of the wing.
• CIncorrect. That is a winglet.
• DIncorrect. Spoilers are on top of the wing.

Answer: B) Check webbing for fraying or cuts, confirm the buckle latches and releases, and check the attachments

Under 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D, seats and safety belts are inspected for poor condition and apparent defects. This includes frayed webbing, buckles that do not work properly, and insecure attachments.

• AIncorrect. Inspections are visual and functional checks. Loading webbing to its rated strength could damage it, and this is not a field inspection method.
• BCorrect. Part 43 Appendix D requires seats and safety belts to be inspected for poor condition and apparent defects. That means looking for damaged webbing, checking that the buckle works, and confirming the belt is securely attached to the structure.
• CIncorrect. Applying chemicals to restraint webbing can weaken it and is not an approved inspection or maintenance practice.
• DIncorrect. Belt condition and function are part of the required inspection, not just a preflight item.

Answer: C) The tire's light spot, aligned with the valve stem

• AIncorrect. The dot is a balance mark.
• BIncorrect. The red dot marks the light point.
• CCorrect. This helps balance the tire and wheel assembly.
• DIncorrect. Tread is measured in the grooves.

Answer: A) Pressure goes to one actuator port while the other actuator port is connected to return

A selector valve directs fluid. In an operating position it connects system pressure to one side of the actuator and opens the other side to return. Its neutral position either blocks the actuator ports (closed-center) or circulates pump flow back to return (open-center).

• ACorrect. The selector valve sends pump pressure to the extend side of the actuator and at the same time opens the retract side to the return line, so displaced fluid can flow back to the reservoir.
• BIncorrect. Equal pressure on both sides of the piston would cause a hydraulic lock (or only a slight net force from the rod-area difference). The actuator needs a return path in order to move.
• CIncorrect. This describes the neutral position of an open-center selector valve, where pump flow circulates back to the reservoir and the actuator is held in place.
• DIncorrect. Blocking all the ports is the neutral (off) position of a closed-center selector valve. No fluid reaches the actuator, so it cannot extend.

Answer: A) Return filtered cabin air to mix with conditioned outside air

Cabin recirculation fans pass cabin air through filters and return it to mix with conditioned outside air. This reduces the outside or bleed air the packs must supply.

• ACorrect. Recirculation fans draw cabin air through filters, usually HEPA filters, and return it to be mixed with conditioned outside air. This lowers the amount of outside (bleed) air needed. Large jets recirculate roughly 35–55% of cabin air.
• BIncorrect. Air leaves the cabin through the outflow valve because of the pressure difference between cabin and outside, regulated by the pressure controller. Recirculation fans keep air inside the cabin rather than dumping it.
• CIncorrect. On the ground, cooling air is pulled across the pack heat exchangers by the air cycle machine fan or a ram air fan, not by the cabin recirculation fans.
• DIncorrect. Electronic equipment is cooled by dedicated equipment cooling fans and ducting. Their job is different from recirculating cabin air.

Answer: B) A limit not to exceed

• AIncorrect. That is usually green.
• BCorrect. A red radial marks a maximum or minimum operating limit.
• CIncorrect. That is usually yellow.
• DIncorrect. That is the white arc on airspeed.

Answer: C) 110 degrees outward from dead ahead

Each forward position light (red left, green right) covers 110 degrees outward from dead ahead. The white rear light covers 140 degrees aft (70 degrees each side), so the three lights together cover all 360 degrees.

• AIncorrect. 70 degrees is the angle on each side of the aft centerline that bounds dihedral angle A, which the rear position light covers.
• BIncorrect. 140 degrees is the total width of the aft dihedral angle A (70 degrees each side of dead astern), which the rear position light covers.
• CCorrect. Dihedral angles L (red) and R (green) each run from a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis to a plane 110 degrees to the left or right.
• DIncorrect. 180 degrees would overlap the rear light's coverage. The forward lights cover 110 degrees each, and the rear light covers the remaining 140 degrees, so together they cover 360 degrees.

Answer: B) Negative tank pressure may stop fuel flow and collapse the tank

Vents let air replace fuel as it is used. If a vent is blocked, pressure inside the tank drops, which can cut off fuel flow and collapse the tank.

• AIncorrect. A blocked vent cannot pass fuel or air, so siphoning through it is not possible.
• BCorrect. No air can come in to replace the fuel being used, so the pressure inside the tank drops. This can starve the engine and may collapse a bladder or thin-walled tank.
• CIncorrect. Quantity sensing does not depend on the vent, so the gauge still follows the fuel level.
• DIncorrect. The pump cannot overcome low pressure in the tank. Fuel delivery drops, and the pump may cavitate.

Answer: A) Holds generator speed constant for steady frequency

• ACorrect. AC frequency depends on generator speed.
• BIncorrect. That is a transformer-rectifier.
• CIncorrect. That is the starter.
• DIncorrect. Battery charging is separate.

Answer: C) Deicing removes formed ice

• AIncorrect. It prevents ice.
• BIncorrect. They differ.
• CCorrect. Deicing removes ice after it forms; anti-icing prevents formation.
• DIncorrect. It applies to surfaces.

Answer: A) A warning light in the cockpit, or a warning light or audible warning in the cabin that a flight attendant would readily detect

14 CFR 25.854(a) requires each lavatory smoke detector system to warn the crew, either with a cockpit warning light or with a cabin light or sound that a flight attendant would readily detect. This gives early warning of a lavatory fire.

• ACorrect. Section 25.854(a) requires exactly this warning, so the crew learns of a lavatory fire early.
• BIncorrect. The waste receptacle extinguisher is a separate requirement under 25.854(b). It discharges automatically when a fire occurs in the receptacle, not when the smoke detector signals.
• CIncorrect. Section 25.854 requires a warning to the cockpit or cabin crew. It does not require shutting off ventilation or lighting.
• DIncorrect. The purpose is an immediate warning to the crew during operation. A stored maintenance message would not meet the warning requirement.

Answer: A) The swashplate

• ACorrect. The swashplate transfers cyclic and collective inputs to the rotating blades.
• BIncorrect. It supports the tail rotor.
• CIncorrect. It disconnects the engine.
• DIncorrect. This is landing gear.

Answer: C) To isolate sections

• AIncorrect. Heaters do that.
• BIncorrect. This is not its purpose.
• CCorrect. Shutoff valves isolate parts of the system for leaks or maintenance.
• DIncorrect. This is unrelated.