### Introduction A pilot is expected to understand all of the systems in the aircraft they fly: how they work, how they can fail, and how to mitigate problems. The rationale is simple: when you're flying a plane and have a problem in the air, you're responsible for debugging it, fixing it if possible, and making it safely to the ground. Examiners take this responsibility seriously, and will spend a good part of the oral exam determining if the candidate really understand the aircraft they fly. This lesson points to many excellent videos and other resources that will help the student pilot understand these systems, and we recommend you watch all of them. **Pre-Lesson Reading/Homework:** [[~ PPL Pre-Lesson Reading]] **Builds On:** [[PPL1.1 Aircraft Preflight, Taxiing, and Postflight Procedures]] **Schedule:** Ground 3.0 hr Can be completed more quickly with good preparation ### Lesson Elements 1. Overview: Excellent video diving into all of a Cessna 172's systems: [Inside a Single-Engine Aircraft | How a Cessna 172 Works](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvCv2SuKCE8)^[Not all pronunciations here are correct, but the overview itself is good] 2. [[Aircraft Instruments]] 3. Engine ([Aircraft Systems - 03 - Engine](https://youtube.com/watch?v=gIdXLMVP6VU) from [[ERAU SpecialVFR]]) 1. [[LHAND]] memory aid 2. Construction of Engine 1. Cylinders, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft 3. Ignition 1. [[Magneto]]s 2. Spark Plugs 1. Risk of carbon buildup 2. How to 'burn off' in a failed magneto check 3. Ignition Switch 4. Starter^[Often colocated with the ignition, but a different system] 5. Induction 1. Filter 2. Alternate air 6. Exhaust 7. Propeller: fixed or variable pitch 8. Fuel ([Aircraft Systems - 05 - Fuel System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rya4YFDpsPs) from [[ERAU SpecialVFR]]) 1. Gravity feed vs fuel pump systems 2. Throttle vs mixture controls 3. Fuel injected vs carburetor 1. Priming 2. Carb heat use, [[How and Why Carburetor Ice Forms]], and [[Carb Heat Demystified|why Piper and Cessna differ in use]] 4. [[Usable fuel]] and [[unusable fuel]] 9. Oil ([Aircraft Systems - 06 - Oil System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWDCXFwPLIs)) 1. Lubrication, Cleaning, Cooling, Sealing 4. Electrical System ([Aircraft Systems - 08 - Electrical System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5sXmNplQHw) from [[ERAU SpecialVFR]]) 1. Battery 2. Alternator 3. Electrical Bus 4. Detecting Electrical Failures 5. Also see [[C172 G1000 Electrical System Interactive Tool]] 5. Brakes / Hydraulic System ([Aircraft Systems - 07 - Hydraulic System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1UddxRAjbc) from [[ERAU SpecialVFR]]) 6. Cabin Heat, Ventilation, and Defrost ([Aircraft Systems - 09 - Enviromental [*sic*] System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVlEOlM-DPo) from [[ERAU SpecialVFR]]) 1. [[Carbon Monoxide Poisoning|Carbon Monoxide poisoning]] risk from cabin heat 7. Equipment Requirements 1. [[FAR 91.205 Instrument and Equipment Requirements]] Day VFR^[Night covered in [[PPL6.1 Night Operations and Night Cross Country|PPL6.1]]] 1. Equipment List 2. [[KOEL]] 2. [[FAR 91.213 Inop Equip|Inoperative Equipment]] 1. Discuss flow chart 8. If possible, find an aircraft without a cowling to see these systems up close > [!note] Navigation equipment discussed in [[PPL4.3 Flight Planning, Navigation Systems, and Other XC Equipment|PPL4.3]]. ### Completion Standards Learner understands impact of all preflight and runup checklist items, including which system is being tested and how. ### Resources - [[AFM]]/[[POH]] - [[Private Pilot ACS]] Section I.G - Many videos from [ERAU Private Pilot (P.A.C.E.)](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-5QlDZlK74GrL0fb6V_FZSLX86V9A7j4) by [[ERAU SpecialVFR]] - [[C172 G1000 Electrical System Interactive Tool]] *Return to [[~ PPL Lesson Plan Outline|Table of Contents]]^*