PROPELLER

- An aircraft propeller is an aerodynamic device which converts rotational energy into propulsive force
creating thrust which is approximately perpendicular to its plane of rotation. The rotational energy can
be produced by a piston or gas turbine engine or, in limited applications, by an electric motor.
- A propeller can be attached directly to the crankshaft of a piston engine, as is the case in many light
aircraft, or it might be powered through a reduction gear box (RGB) attached to a piston or jet engine.
In this case, the RGB converts the high rotation speed of the engine to one that is more appropriate for
propeller operation.

PROPELLER TYPES

FIXED-PITCH

- propeller that has the blade angle or blade

pitch made into the propeller
- once the propeller has been built, the blade
angle can’t be changed
- generally, one piece and made of aluminum
alloy or wood
- used on airplanes of low speed, power,
altitude, or range
GROUND-ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER

- operation of ground-adjustable
propellers is similar to that of a fixed-
pitch aircraft propeller
- blade angle or pitch can only be
changed when the propeller isn’t turning

CONTROLLABLE-PITCH PROPELLER

- the blade pitch or angle of a

controllable-pitch propeller can be
changed during flight while the aircraft
propeller is still running

CONSTANT-SPEED PROPELLER

- speed up when the airplane dives and

slows down when it climbs due to the
changing load on the engine
- to ensure that the propeller provides an
efficient flight, the pilot tries to keep the
speed as constant as possible
- The mechanism that allows a constant-
speed propeller to work is known as
propeller governor.
- A propeller governor senses the aircraft
engine’s speed and changes the blade
angle of the propeller to maintain a
specific rpm regardless of the aircraft’s
operational conditions.

FEATHERING PROPELLERS
- used with multi-engine aircrafts
- if one or more engine fails, then these
propellers reduce propeller drag to a
minimum
- can change the blade angle of a
propeller to approximately 90 degrees
REVERSE-PITCH PROPELLER

- are controllable propellers whose blade

angles may be changed to a negative value in-
flight
- the purpose of a reversible pitch is to create
a negative blade angle to produce thrust in
the opposite direction.
- Reversing the propellers quickly reduces
aircraft speed after touchdown and minimizes
brake wear.

TEST CLUB PROPELLER

- tests and breaks in reciprocating engines

- provide the correct amount of load on the
engine during the test break-in period
- multi-blade design also has the advantage of
providing extra cooling airflow during testing
AIRCRAFT HUB AND TIRE
FUSIBLE PLUGS
- high performance aircaft have one or more fusible plugs in the inbound wheel half

- these plugs have a hole drilled through their center filled with a low melting point alloy

- in the event of an aborted take-off or other emergency braking, so much heat is produced in the
brakes that the air in the tires tries to expand, resulting in a pressure rise so high the wheel could
explode. To prevent this, the center of the fusible plugs melts and deflates the tires in a few seconds
when the wheel reaches a dangerous temperature.

FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS

AIRSPEED INDICATOR/AIRSPEED GAUGE

- indicates the airspeed of an aircraft in miles per

hour (mph), knots, meters per second (m/s)
and/or kilometers per hour (km/h)

ATTITUDE INDICATOR

- formerly called gyro horizon or artificial horizon

- informs the pilot of the aircraft’s orientation
relative to earth’s horizon
- gives immediate indication of the smallest
orientation change
ALTIMETER/ALTITUDE METER

- measures the altitude above sea level

- altimetry is the measurement of altitude
- bathymetry is the measurement of depth under
water

TURN INDICATOR

- indicates the rate of turn of the aircraft

- shows turn in roll and yaw axis

HEADING INDICATOR

- informs the pilot of the aircraft’s heading

VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR

- informs the pilot of the rate of descent or climb

TACHOMETER

- a device for counting

- used to show the
number of revolutions per
minute (RPM) of the
aircraft engine
- an airplane needs one
tachometer for each of its
engines

COMMUNICATION
INSTRUMENTS/
EQUIPMENTS

VHF
COMMUNICATIONS
- provide AM voice
communication
transmission between
aircraft and ground
stations or between
aircraft

GPS
- Global Positioning
System (GPS) is a space-
based radio-navigation
system consisting of a
constellation of satellites
broadcasting navigation
signals and a network of
ground stations and
satellite control stations
used for monitoring and
control

TRANSPONDER
- short for transmitter-
responder
- an electronic device that
produces a response
when it receives a radio-
frequency interrogation
PITOT TUBE

- also known as pitot probe

- measures flow speed or airspeed of an
aircraft

STATIC PORT

- small air inlet, usually located on the

side of the aircraft, flushed against the
fuselage
- measures static (non-moving) air
pressure, also known as ambient
pressure or barometric pressure
AIRCRAFT LIGHTS
AIRCRAFT ENGINE
- the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power

TYPES:
1. PISTON ENGINE / RECIPROCATING ENGINE
- internal combustion engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert pressure into a
rotational motion

RECIPROCATING ENGINE TYPES

IN-LINE ENGINE

- earliest aircraft engines were of the in-line or

"straight" variety and had the cylinders in a line
- main advantage to this engine type is that it is
narrow and allows the aircraft to have a narrow
front fuselage
- disadvantage is that airflow around this engine
type is inadequate to allow air cooling so liquid
cooling is required thus reducing the power to
weight ratio

ROTARY ENGINE

- rotary piston engines were developed during

World War I for military aircraft
- the entire engine rotates with the propeller,
creating additional airflow for cooling

V-TYPE ENGINE
- is a common configuration for internal
combustion engines
- consists of two cylinder banks—usually with the
same number of cylinders in each bank—
connected to a common crankshaft
- advantage: compact, better aerodynamics
- disadvantage: mechanical stress and vibration
 RADIAL ENGINE

- consists of one or more rows of odd-numbered

cylinders arranged in a circle around a central
crankshaft
- advantage: small size of crankcase, better
power to weight ratio
- cylinder arrangement allowed for good cooling
airflow and smooth operation

HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED ENGINE

- often referred to as boxer or flat engines

- two banks of cylinders staggered on opposite
sides of a central crankcase

2. TURBOJET ENGINE
- is a jet engine which produces all of its thrust by ejecting a high energy gas stream from the engine
exhaust nozzle
3. TURBOPROP ENGINE
- is a variant of a jet engine that has been optimized to drive a propeller

- very efficient at lower flight speeds (less than Mach 0.6), burning less fuel per seat-mile and requiring
significantly less runway for takeoff and landing

4. TURBOSHAFT ENGINE
- is a variant of a jet engine that has been optimized to produce shaft power to drive machinery instead
of producing thrust

- most commonly used in applications that require a small, but powerful, light weight engine, inclusive
of helicopters and auxiliary power units
5. TURBOFAN ENGINE
- sometimes referred to as a fanjet or bypass engine

- is a jet engine variant which produces thrust using a combination of jet core efflux and bypass air
which has been accelerated by a ducted fan that is driven by the jet core

ENGINE COMPONENTS

CRANKCASE

- a case or covering enclosing crankshaft

 CRANKSHAFT

- central component of an engine

- converts reciprocating motion of the
piston and connecting rod for turning the
propeller

CRANKSHAFT PARTS

MAIN JOURNALS - run in the main bearings and define the axis of rotation of the shaft
CRANK PINS - where the connecting rods are connected
CRANK WEBS - connect the crank pins to the main journals
COUNTERWEIGHTS - provide balancing and are attached to the webs.
The design of the crankshaft is determined by the firing order of the engine, the number of cylinders,
the design of the engine, the size of the stroke and the number of crankshaft bearings.
CONNECTING ROD

- rod that connects the piston to the crankshaft

TYPES:

PLAIN CONNECTING ROD (IN-LINE and OPPOSED)

FORK AND BLADE CONNECTING ROD (V-TYPE)

MASTER AND ARTICULATED CONNECTING ROD

(RADIAL)

PARTS:
BEARING

- a device which reduces friction

between moving parts

TYPES:

PLAIN BEARING - used for crankshaft

and connecting rod

ROLLER BEARING - anti-friction and

for heavy loads

BALL BEARING - used for radial loads

CAMSHAFT
- is a gear driven shaft that contains
lobes than actuates the intake and
exhaust valve

PARTS:

MAIN JOURNALS/CAM JOURNAL -

keeps the camshaft in place as it
spins around in the engine bay
CAM LOBES - work in time with the
motion of the piston
- they open and close the intake and
exhaust valves
- lobes change speeds when an
engine change speeds
ENDS - front: secures the timing belt
rear: turns distributor of engine with
a special gear
BEARINGS - prevent from damaging
the engine block, keeps seamless
rotation
TAPPET

- transmits lifting force of the cam lobes to the

push rods

ROCKER ARM

- a pivoted arm in the cylinder head that pushes

the intake and exhaust valve

VALVE SPRING

- steel wire that forces the intake and exhaust

valve to close

PUSH ROD

- a rod or tube used to open the intake and

exhaust valve
- one end connecting to tappet and other end
connecting to the rocker arm
INTAKE VALVE
- valve that controls the amount of air/fuel
mixture entering the cylinder of an engine

EXHAUST VALVE
- valve that releases burned gases from a cylinder

VALVE SPRING RETAINER / VALVE SEAT

- located in the upper and lower part of the valve

spring
- ensures proper amount of spring pressure is
applied consistently to prevent valve bounce

VALVE KEY

- locks the valve spring retainer to the valve stem

VALVE GUIDE

- a bronze or iron sleeves installed in the cylinder

head
- it serves to positively locate the valve so that it
may make proper contact with the valve seat

CYLINDER

- acts as the combustion chamber of the engine

- house of piston and valves
CYLINDER PARTS

CYLINDER BARREL - where the piston moves and reciprocates

CYLINDER HEAD - where the combustion of fuel/air mixture takes place
COOLING FINS - absorbs heat and carries it away into the atmosphere
CYLINDER SKIRT - part of the cylinder extended to the crankcase
INTAKE PORT - where intake pipe is installed and where the fuel/air mixture passes as it enters the
cylinder

EXHAUST PORT - where exhaust pipe is installed and where burned gases pass as it goes out of the
atmosphere

PISTON

- is a cylindrical plunger that moves up and down

or back and forth to compress the fuel and air
mixture
- transmits the force of expanding gases into the
crankshaft
PISTON PARTS

PISTON HEAD - top surface of the piston

RING GROOVE - where piston rings are fitted
PIN BOSS - where piston pin is fitted
SKIRT - base of the piston
PISTON PIN - is a connecting link between piston and connecting rod
PISTON RING - cast iron metal rings that provides seal between piston and cylinder walls
Functions:

- provide seal and maintain the pressure in the cylinder

- prevent excessive oil from entering the combustion chamber

- to conduct heat from the piston and cylinder walls

TYPES OF PISTON RINGS

COMPRESSION RINGS (TOP & INTERMEDIATE)

- prevent the escape of combustion gases past the piston during engine operation

OIL CONTROL RINGS

- regulate the thickness of the oil film on the cylinder wall

OIL SCRAPER OR WIPER RING

- usually has a beveled face and is installed in the groove at the bottom of the piston skirt

- retains the surplus oil above the ring on the upward piston stroke, and this oil is returned to the
crankcase by the oil control rings on the downward stroke
 ACCESSORY HOUSING

- provide space for the mounting of

accessories such as fuel pump, oil filter,
magneto, starter, hydraulic pump, and vacuum
pump

CARBURETOR

- provide a combustible mixture of fuel and air

CARBURETOR PARTS
 MAGNETO

- an engine driven electrical generator that

uses permanent magnets and coils to produce
high voltage to fire the aircraft spark plugs

MAGNETO PARTS
 SPARK PLUG

- responsible for delivering electric current from

the ignition system to the combustion chamber

SPARK PLUG PARTS