Aircraft Fuel Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real AMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aircraft Fuel Systems flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a crossfeed system in a multi-engine aircraft?
Answer: To allow any engine to draw fuel from any onboard fuel tank
A crossfeed system allows any engine to draw fuel from any tank, providing fuel management flexibility and enabling continued flight if an engine-specific pump or tank develops a problem.
What type of filter or strainer is most commonly used in aircraft fuel systems to remove particulate contamination?
Answer: Mesh screen or sintered bronze strainer
Mesh screen or sintered bronze strainers are standard in aircraft fuel systems because they trap particles while allowing fuel to flow with minimal pressure drop, and can be cleaned and reused.
What condition causes vapor lock in an aircraft fuel system?
Answer: Fuel temperature rises and vaporizes in the lines, creating bubbles that disrupt flow
Vapor lock occurs when fuel temperature rises sufficiently to vaporize fuel inside the fuel lines or pump, creating vapor bubbles that disrupt or completely block liquid fuel flow to the engine.
What does a fuel pressure regulator do in a fuel-injected piston aircraft engine?
Answer: Maintains a constant fuel pressure to the fuel injector manifold regardless of pump output variations
The fuel pressure regulator maintains steady, constant pressure at the injector inlet, ensuring accurate and consistent fuel metering to each cylinder regardless of engine speed or pump output changes.
What is the purpose of fuel tank sumps in aircraft fuel systems?
Answer: To collect water and sediment at the tank's lowest point so they can be drained during preflight
Sumps are located at the lowest point of each tank; since water and sediment are denser than fuel, they settle into the sump where they can be detected and drained during preflight sump checks.
What color is AVGAS 100LL dyed to prevent misfueling?
Answer: Blue
AVGAS 100LL is dyed blue by industry standard to visually distinguish it from Jet-A (clear/straw) and AVGAS 80 (red), reducing the risk of misfueling a turbine aircraft with leaded gasoline.
What is the primary purpose of a fuel jettison (dump) system installed on large transport-category aircraft?
Answer: To rapidly reduce aircraft gross weight to below maximum landing weight during an emergency return
Fuel jettison systems allow the flight crew to rapidly dump fuel overboard to reduce gross weight to the maximum allowable landing weight when an emergency requires an immediate return to landing shortly after takeoff with a full fuel load.