FAA Aviation Mechanic General (AMG)Aircraft Drawings, Weight and BalanceMedium
A technician is using an aircraft maintenance manual's zone chart to locate a wiring harness. On this chart, zone number 300 is designated for a specific major structural area. Which area does zone 300 typically represent?
- ALanding gear
- BPowerplant and pylon
- CEmpennage
- DLeft wing
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Empennage
Aircraft zone charts divide the airframe into major numbered zones for maintenance reference; by common convention (ATA iSpec 2200 style numbering), the 300 series is assigned to the empennage (tail section), while 100/200 cover the fuselage, 400 covers powerplants, and 500/600 cover the wings.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Landing gear is usually located in the 700 series zones.
- B. Powerplants and pylons are typically found in the 400 series zones.
- D. The left wing typically falls in the 500 series zones.
Zone Numbering System
A standardized method of dividing an aircraft into numbered zones so maintenance personnel can quickly locate structure, systems, and components referenced in manuals.
- Zones are independent of dimensioned drawings—purely for location reference
- Major zone groups: 100/200 fuselage, 300 empennage, 400 powerplant, 500/600 wings, 700 landing gear, 800 doors
- Zone charts are found in the maintenance manual's introduction section
Memory trick: '3 for the Tail' — three hundred points to the empennage