Instrument Comprehension Flashcards
7 cards from real TBAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Instrument Comprehension flashcards as text
If the airspeed indicator fails to register any increase during a takeoff roll despite full engine power, the most likely cause is:
Answer: A blocked pitot tube
The pitot tube provides ram (dynamic) pressure to the airspeed indicator, so a blockage prevents the indicator from registering increasing airspeed.
When the static port becomes blocked in level flight, which group of instruments is affected?
Answer: Airspeed indicator, altimeter, and VSI
The altimeter, VSI, and airspeed indicator all rely on static port pressure as a reference, so a blockage affects all three simultaneously.
Setting an altimeter to 29.92 inHg causes it to read which type of altitude?
Answer: Pressure altitude
Setting the altimeter to 29.92 inHg (the standard sea-level pressure) causes it to indicate pressure altitude, which is height above the standard pressure datum.
During flight, the attitude indicator shows wings level and the heading indicator confirms no turn. However, the turn coordinator shows a left bank. The pilot should suspect:
Answer: The turn coordinator is malfunctioning
When two independent instruments agree that no turn is occurring, the single disagreeing instrument is most likely malfunctioning.
An instrument scan shows decreasing airspeed, a nose-high attitude on the attitude indicator, and a positive climb rate on the VSI. This combination most likely indicates:
Answer: The aircraft is approaching a stall
Decreasing airspeed combined with a nose-high attitude and a climbing VSI reading are classic indicators of an aircraft approaching a power-off stall.
Without a visible natural horizon (at night or in clouds), why can a pilot not reliably sense aircraft attitude without instruments?
Answer: The vestibular (inner ear) system produces false or misleading attitude cues
The vestibular system is easily deceived by sustained turns and accelerations, producing false sensations of level flight, which is why instrument reliance is critical in IMC.
A pilot in IMC notices the altimeter, VSI, and airspeed indicator all appear frozen at their last values simultaneously. The most likely cause is:
Answer: A blocked static port
All three instruments use static port pressure as a reference; a completely blocked static port would cause all three to freeze at their last indicated values.