SPC Preflight and Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a preflight inspection, you notice a small crack in the windshield. What action should you take?
- Ignore it if it does not obstruct your view
- Ground the aircraft and report it to a mechanic (Correct answer)
- Cover it with tape and proceed with the flight
- Only report it if the crack is longer than 6 inches
Correct answer: Ground the aircraft and report it to a mechanic
Any structural damage including windshield cracks must be evaluated by a mechanic before flight to ensure airworthiness.
Question 2: What does the 'A' in the AROW acronym represent for required aircraft documents?
- Airspeed limitations chart
- Airworthiness certificate (Correct answer)
- Aircraft maintenance log
- Avionics checklist
Correct answer: Airworthiness certificate
AROW stands for Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Operating limitations, and Weight and balance data.
Question 3: If an engine fire occurs immediately after takeoff, what is the pilot's first priority?
- Transmit a Mayday call on 121.5 MHz
- Climb to pattern altitude before attempting a return
- Land straight ahead or make a shallow turn to an open area (Correct answer)
- Shut off the fuel selector and attempt to restart the engine
Correct answer: Land straight ahead or make a shallow turn to an open area
At low altitude, maintaining control and finding a suitable landing area takes priority over all other actions.
Question 4: During preflight, you find the oil level is at the minimum mark on the dipstick. What should you do?
- Proceed with flight; minimum is acceptable
- Add oil to bring the level to the full mark before flight (Correct answer)
- Add only half a quart to avoid overfilling
- Check the POH; minimum acceptable levels vary by aircraft
Correct answer: Add oil to bring the level to the full mark before flight
Oil should be filled to the recommended level before flight to ensure adequate engine lubrication and cooling.
Question 5: What is the purpose of draining a small amount of fuel from the fuel sump during preflight?
- To check fuel quantity
- To check for water and sediment contamination (Correct answer)
- To verify the fuel selector is working
- To ensure proper fuel pressure
Correct answer: To check for water and sediment contamination
Fuel sumps are drained to check for water contamination and sediment that could cause engine failure.
Question 6: A student pilot experiences a complete electrical failure in flight. Which instrument is MOST likely to still function?
- Electric turn coordinator
- Magnetic compass (Correct answer)
- Encoding altimeter
- GPS moving map display
Correct answer: Magnetic compass
The magnetic compass is a self-contained instrument that requires no electrical power to operate.
Question 7: What is the recommended technique if a pilot encounters an unexpected total power loss (engine failure) during cruise flight?
- Immediately declare an emergency and squawk 7700
- Establish best glide speed, identify a landing site, and attempt a restart (Correct answer)
- Pitch up to slow the descent and transmit on guard frequency
- Shut off all switches to prevent a fire and glide to the nearest airport
Correct answer: Establish best glide speed, identify a landing site, and attempt a restart
Establishing best glide speed maximizes distance while the pilot selects a landing area and follows the emergency restart checklist.
SPC Preflight and Emergency Procedures 2
During a preflight inspection, you notice a small crack in the windshield.
What action should you take?