FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) practice questions
213 free questions with answers and explanations.
- 51.During cruise flight, a pilot notices the ammeter needle pegged toward a full-scale discharge indication and the low-voltage warning light illuminated. What is the most likely cause and appropriate initial action?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 52.A pilot planning a flight over mountainous terrain reviews the weather briefing and notes strong winds forecast to blow perpendicular to a mountain ridge, combined with a stable atmosphere. Which hazard should the pilot be most prepared to encounter on the downwind (lee) side of the ridge?Weather Theory and Services
- 53.A pilot flying through cumuliform clouds with large supercooled water droplets encounters ice accumulating in a smooth, transparent layer on the wing's leading edge that is difficult to remove. What type of structural icing is this most likely to be?Weather Theory and Services
- 54.A pilot is flying VFR and enters Class E airspace that extends down to the surface at an airport without a control tower. What are the basic VFR weather minimums that apply at this airport?Airspace and Airports
- 55.A pilot wants to fly through Class B airspace surrounding a major airport. Before entering, what must the pilot receive from ATC?Airspace and Airports
- 56.A TAF for KABC includes the group 'BECMG 1418/1420 3SM BR'. How should a pilot interpret this forecast group?Weather Theory and Services
- 57.An airport has a field elevation of 5,000 ft MSL. The current altimeter setting is 30.42 inHg, and the outside air temperature is 30°C. Using the rule of thumb that density altitude increases approximately 120 ft for each degree Celsius above the standard temperature for that pressure altitude, what is the approximate density altitude?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 58.Which scenario meets the criteria that would prompt issuance of a Convective SIGMET for a line of thunderstorms?Weather Theory and Services
- 59.An airplane has a maneuvering speed (Va) of 120 KIAS at its maximum gross weight of 2,400 pounds. If the airplane is flown today at a reduced weight of 1,900 pounds, approximately what is the new maneuvering speed?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 60.A pilot is planning a night flight and is concerned about radiation fog forming at the destination airport. Which combination of conditions is most favorable for radiation fog formation?Weather Theory and Services
- 61.A Cessna 172 departs a short runway with tall trees at the far end. Just after liftoff, while still within one wingspan of the ground, the pilot notices the airplane seems to fly with unusually little effort and reduced drag. As the airplane climbs above approximately one wingspan altitude, this effect diminishes and the pilot must lower the nose slightly and add power to maintain the same climb performance. This phenomenon is best explained by:Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 62.While climbing out after takeoff, a pilot notices the vacuum-driven attitude indicator briefly shows a slight climb and a slight bank to the left that does not match the airplane's actual straight climb attitude, before the indication self-corrects within a minute. What is the most likely explanation for this temporary error?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 63.During a post-flight inspection, a mechanic discovers that the exhaust manifold on a pilot's aircraft has a small crack, allowing exhaust gases to leak into the cabin heating system. On a recent flight, the pilot reported a headache and mild confusion but no vision changes or cyanosis. This scenario is most consistent with which type of hypoxia, caused by exposure to carbon monoxide?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 64.At a coastal airport on a sunny afternoon, a pilot notices the surface wind consistently blowing from the ocean toward the land. What atmospheric process most directly explains this wind pattern?Weather Theory and Services
- 65.A pilot flying along a coastline notices fog forming as warm, moist air is carried by wind over a much colder ocean current near the shore. This type of fog is best classified as:Weather Theory and Services
- 66.A pilot taxiing to the runway approaches a marking with two solid yellow lines followed by two dashed yellow lines, with the solid lines closest to the pilot. What does this marking indicate?Airspace and Airports
- 67.A pilot is planning to land with a tailwind component rather than into the wind. What effect should the pilot expect on landing performance?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 68.During a pilot's self-assessment before a flight, which letter in the IMSAFE checklist specifically prompts the pilot to consider recent life pressures such as a divorce, job loss, or family illness?Aeromedical Factors and ADM
- 69.As density altitude increases at a given airport, what effect does this have on aircraft performance?Weather Theory and Services
- 70.While approaching an area of scattered thunderstorms, a pilot observes streaks of precipitation visible beneath a cloud base that appear to evaporate before reaching the ground. This phenomenon is most significant to the pilot because it can indicate the potential for which hazard?Weather Theory and Services
- 71.A pilot's preflight weather briefing includes an active AIRMET Sierra covering the route of flight. What hazard does this AIRMET specifically address?Weather Theory and Services
- 72.An airplane's pitot tube becomes completely blocked by insects during preflight, but the pitot drain hole remains open and the static ports are functioning normally. During a subsequent climb, how will the airspeed indicator most likely behave?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 73.A pilot flying over gently rising terrain in a stable, moist air mass observes visibility decreasing to near zero as the aircraft climbs along the slope, with fog forming as the air is lifted and cooled adiabatically to its saturation point. What type of fog is this?Weather Theory and Services
- 74.A pilot observes the passage of a fast-moving cold front. Which sequence of weather is most typical immediately following frontal passage?Weather Theory and Services
- 75.A pilot approaching an airport within Class C airspace wants to enter the airspace. What is the minimum requirement before entering?Airspace and Airports
- 76.A pilot approaching a nontowered airport at night loses radio communication. As the pilot enters the traffic pattern, the tower (which is normally staffed) flashes a steady red light signal at the aircraft. What does this signal mean?Airspace and Airports
- 77.An airplane weighs 2,400 lb with a CG of 86.0 in. The pilot moves 100 lb of cargo from the aft compartment (arm 150.0 in) to the forward compartment (arm 70.0 in), a shift of 80 in forward. What is the new CG?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 78.An airport has a field elevation of 3,000 feet. The current altimeter setting is 30.42 inches Hg, and the outside air temperature is 30°C. Using the standard lapse rate of 2°C per 1,000 feet from a sea-level standard of 15°C, what is the approximate density altitude?Weather Theory and Services
- 79.A pilot plans a cross-country flight that crosses a Restricted Area depicted on the sectional chart as active. What must the pilot do to legally fly through this airspace?Airspace and Airports
- 80.A pilot notices that the runway threshold is marked with arrows leading up to a line, followed by the normal runway markings beginning some distance farther down. What does this indicate about the usable landing area?Airspace and Airports
- 81.As density altitude increases on a hot day at a high-elevation airport, what combination of effects should a pilot expect during takeoff?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 82.An aircraft maintains a constant indicated airspeed while climbing from an airport with a density altitude of 2,000 feet to a higher airport with a density altitude of 8,000 feet. What happens to the aircraft's true airspeed?Weather Theory and Services
- 83.A pilot is operating VFR in Class G airspace during the day at 800 feet AGL. What are the minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements?Airspace and Airports
- 84.A pilot's preflight briefing indicates a warm front will approach and pass over the destination airport during the flight. Which sequence of weather conditions should the pilot expect before and during the frontal passage?Weather Theory and Services
- 85.An airplane is loaded with the center of gravity near the aft limit of its allowable range. Compared to the same airplane loaded near the forward CG limit, how will its longitudinal stability and stall recovery characteristics be affected?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 86.A pilot checks a TAF for the destination airport that was issued at 1200Z and is valid 1212/1312. At 1530Z, actual weather deteriorates well below the forecast conditions, and the pilot notices a new TAF has been issued labeled 'TAF AMD' with a valid period of 1215/1312. What does this indicate?Weather Theory and Services
- 87.An airplane has a maximum gross weight of 2,700 lb and an empty weight of 1,680 lb. The pilot and passenger together weigh 340 lb, and the fuel tanks are filled with 50 gallons of fuel at 6 lb/gal. What is the maximum baggage weight that can be added without exceeding the maximum gross weight?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 88.An airplane is loaded to a total weight of 2,100 lb with a CG of 84.5 in. The pilot adds 20 lb of baggage at an arm of 140.0 in. What is the new CG?Performance, Weight and Balance
- 89.A pilot is briefed that the atmosphere along the route is very stable, with a strong temperature inversion near the surface. Which cloud type and flight condition should the pilot most likely expect?Weather Theory and Services
- 90.During a midday weather briefing, a pilot is told the atmosphere is highly unstable, with towering cumulus clouds building rapidly throughout the morning. Which flight condition should the pilot most expect while operating beneath this developing cloud layer?Weather Theory and Services
- 91.A pilot operates a normally aspirated engine at high power with an excessively lean mixture on a hot day using the minimum octane fuel specified. Under these conditions, the engine is most susceptible to which abnormal combustion event?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 92.An airplane is established in a coordinated, level turn at a 45-degree bank angle. What approximate load factor is being imposed on the airplane?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 93.A pilot is reviewing a sectional chart and notices a Prohibited Area near the planned route. What does this designation mean for VFR flight?Airspace and Airports
- 94.A pilot planning a VFR cross-country notices a Warning Area extending from 3 miles offshore along the coastal route. How does a Warning Area differ from a Restricted Area in terms of regulatory authority?Airspace and Airports
- 95.A pilot on final approach observes the PAPI lights showing two white lights on the left and two red lights on the right. What does this indicate about the aircraft's position relative to the glidepath?Airspace and Airports
- 96.A student pilot is practicing turns to headings and applies excessive rudder while turning left, causing the airplane to skid. The airspeed decays and the airplane stalls in this uncoordinated condition. What is the primary aerodynamic hazard created by this scenario?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 97.An airplane is flying at a pressure altitude of 5,000 feet. The pilot fails to update the altimeter setting as the airplane flies from an area of high pressure into an area of significantly lower atmospheric pressure. The current altimeter setting is 30.42 inHg, but the actual local altimeter setting has dropped to 30.12 inHg. Assuming the altimeter indication is unchanged, approximately how does the airplane's true altitude compare to the indicated altitude?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 98.An airplane's Type Certificate Data Sheet certifies it in the Normal category under 14 CFR Part 23, with a positive limit load factor of +3.8G. Which of the following would violate the operating limitations for this category?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 99.During a power-off descent for landing with carburetor heat OFF, a pilot in a fixed-pitch propeller airplane notices a gradual, unexplained loss of RPM. The pilot applies full carburetor heat, and the RPM initially drops further before slowly climbing back higher than before. What does this sequence confirm?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- 100.An airplane in level flight is disturbed by a wind gust that pitches the nose up. Without any pilot input, the nose initially begins to move back down toward the original trimmed attitude. This behavior demonstrates which characteristic?Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems