Cheat sheet
FAA A&P Cheat Sheet
General
- Not published of exam
- Eligibility Electricity Weight Balance Records Materials
Airframe
- Not published of exam
- Structures Controls Hydraulics Landing Gear Protection
Powerplant
- Not published of exam
- Engines Fuel Ignition Lubrication Propellers Engine Inspection
Quick Facts
- Tests AMG, AMA, AMP
- Questions 260 listed
- AMG 60 questions
- AMA 100 questions
- AMP 100 questions
- Time 2 hours each
- Pass 70% each
- Vendor PSI
- Standard Mechanic ACS
Three Tests GE
- G first, then A and P
- AMG: 60 AMA: 100 AMP: 100 All: 70%
AMG vs AMA/AMP GE
AMG
- General base
- 60 listed
- Both ratings use
AMA/AMP
- Rating specific
- 100 listed each
- Separate AKTRs
- Base vs rating
Authorization Picker GE
- Need identity → FTN ( IACRA )
- Experience path → 8610-2 ( FAA signed )
- School path → AMTS document
- Military path → COE ( Authorized tests )
- Failed test → AKTR ( Retake proof )
- O&P ready → DME ( After writtens )
Test Logistics GE
- AMG General knowledge
- AMA Airframe knowledge
- AMP Powerplant knowledge
- FTN FAA tracking number
- AKTR Knowledge test report
- DME Oral practical examiner
- PSI Testing vendor
- Validation Unscored possible items
Ohm Law GE
- E over I times R
- E = I x R I = E/R R = E/I
Approved vs Acceptable GE
Approved
- FAA approved
- Needed for majors
- Return support
Acceptable
- Manuals, AC 43.13-1B
- Fine for minor work
- Not always enough for majors
- Authority matters
Record Picker GE
- Major repair → Form 337 + log entry
- Major alteration → Form 337 + log entry
- Routine maintenance → Log entry
- AD applies → Compliance record
- Return to service → Signature entry
- Unknown method → Approved data
Eligibility GE
- Age 18 minimum
- English Read write speak
- One rating 18 months
- Both ratings 30 months concurrent
- AMTS 147 school path
- JSAMTCC Military pathway
- 8610-2 Mechanic application
- Retest 30 days or signed statement
W&B Math GE
- Weight times arm makes moment
- Moment: W x A CG: moment/weight Arm: distance
AD vs SB GE
AD
- Mandatory
- FAA rule
- Track recurrence
SB
- Manufacturer issued
- Normally advisory
- Can support data
- Required vs recommended
Electricity GE
- Current Electron movement
- Voltage Electrical pressure
- Resistance Current opposition
- Ohm E = I x R
- Power P = E x I
- Series R Adds directly
- Parallel R Total decreases
- Voltmeter Connect parallel
- Ammeter Connect series
- AWG Lower is larger
Weight Balance GE
- Datum Reference plane
- Arm Distance from datum
- Moment Weight x arm
- CG Total moment/weight
- Forward CG More nose down
- Aft CG Less stability
- Tare Deduct container weight
- Ballast Correct CG location
Records Data GE
- Part 43 Maintenance rules
- Part 65 Mechanic certification
- Part 91 Owner inspection duties
- AD Mandatory compliance
- SB Manufacturer recommendation
- 337 Major alteration/repair
- Approved data AD, STC, TCDS, approved SB
- Log entry Work return record
Materials Corrosion GE
- Alclad Pure aluminum coating
- Galvanic Dissimilar metals
- Pitting Small deep cavities
- Intergranular Grain boundary attack
- Filiform Under paint tracks
- Exfoliation Layered lifting
- Passivation Protective oxide
- Torque Specified tightening
Control Axis AI
- Aileron roll, elevator pitch, rudder yaw
- Aileron: roll Elevator: pitch Rudder: yaw
Deicing vs Anti-Icing AI
Deicing
- Removes ice
- Cycles after buildup
- Boots common
Anti-icing
- Prevents ice
- Before accumulation
- Heat/fluid common
- Remove vs prevent
Airframe Troubleshooter AI
- Heavy controls → Rigging check
- Loose controls → Freeplay limits
- Soft brakes → Bleed system
- Gear unsafe → Switches/locks
- Low pressure → Pump/relief check
- Ice concern → Anti/deice system
Structures AI
- Monocoque Skin carries loads
- Semimonocoque Skin plus frame
- Longeron Lengthwise member
- Stringer Stiffens skin
- Bulkhead Fuselage frame
- Spar Primary wing beam
- Rib Airfoil shape
- Doubler Reinforcement patch
- Edge distance Hole margin
- Rivet pitch Fastener spacing
Hydraulic vs Pneumatic AI
Hydraulic
- Liquid power
- Incompressible
- High force
Pneumatic
- Air power
- Compressible
- Lower weight
- Fluid vs air
Controls Rigging AI
- Aileron Roll control
- Elevator Pitch control
- Rudder Yaw control
- Trim tab Control force relief
- Cable tension Use tension chart
- Turnbuckle Cable adjustment
- Control stop Travel limiter
- Flutter Destructive oscillation
Airframe Systems AI
- Hydraulic Incompressible fluid power
- Pneumatic Compressed air power
- Accumulator Stores pressure
- Relief valve Limits pressure
- Selector valve Routes flow
- Oleo strut Shock absorption
- Anti-skid Prevents wheel lock
- Bleed air Engine compressor air
Protection Avionics AI
- Pitot Impact pressure
- Static Ambient pressure
- Altimeter Static pressure
- Airspeed Pitot plus static
- ELT Emergency transmitter
- Position lights Navigation lights
- Fire detection Heat sensing
- Deicing Remove ice
- Anti-icing Prevent ice
Four Stroke PO
- Suck squeeze bang blow
- Intake Compression Power Exhaust
Detonation vs Preignition PO
Detonation
- Explosive burn
- After spark
- Pressure spike
Preignition
- Early ignition
- Hot spot
- Before spark
- Explosion vs early fire
Powerplant Troubleshooter PO
- Rough mag check → Ignition system
- High CHT → Cooling/mixture
- High EGT → Mixture/induction
- Low oil pressure → Oil system
- Poor acceleration → Fuel metering
- Vibration after prop → Track/balance
Engine Basics PO
- Intake Charge enters
- Compression Charge squeezed
- Power Combustion drives piston
- Exhaust Gases leave
- Detonation Explosive combustion
- Preignition Early ignition source
- EGT Exhaust gas temperature
- CHT Cylinder head temperature
- Turbine Continuous combustion
- Compressor Raises air pressure
Fixed vs Constant Speed PO
Fixed pitch
- Angle fixed
- RPM varies
- Simple prop
Constant speed
- Governor controlled
- RPM selected
- Blade angle varies
- Fixed angle vs governed
Fuel Ignition PO
- Carburetor Venturi fuel metering
- Mixture Fuel/air ratio
- Idle cutoff Stops fuel flow
- Vapor lock Fuel vapor blockage
- Carb ice Venturi temperature drop
- Magneto Self-contained ignition
- E-gap Magneto timing point
- Impulse coupling Starting spark boost
- Spark plug Ignites mixture
- Hot start Vapor-rich condition
Lubrication Propellers PO
- Wet sump Oil in engine
- Dry sump Separate oil tank
- Scavenge pump Returns oil
- Pressure pump Supplies bearings
- Oil cooler Removes heat
- Governor Controls blade angle
- Fixed pitch Blade angle fixed
- Constant speed Maintains selected RPM
- Feather Minimum drag angle
- Blade track Tip path check
Engine Inspection PO
- Compression test Cylinder sealing
- Borescope Internal visual
- Oil screen Metal evidence
- Hot section Turbine inspection area
- FOD Foreign object damage
- TBO Overhaul interval
- Run-up Operational check
- Leak check Fluid escape check
Common Traps
One test myth
- Three separate AKTRs ≠ No combined score
FTN vs authorization
- FTN identifies you ≠ 8610-2 authorizes path
Validation questions
- May appear ≠ Not scored
AD vs SB
- AD is mandatory ≠ SB usually advisory
Series vs parallel
- Series resistance adds ≠ Parallel resistance drops
Deice vs anti-ice
- Deice removes ice ≠ Anti-ice prevents ice
Detonation vs preignition
- Detonation after spark ≠ Preignition before spark
Major vs minor
- Major: approved data + 337 ≠ Both need log entries
Last Minute
- 1. AMG 60; AMA/AMP 100 each
- 2. Each test: 2 hours
- 3. Each test: 70% pass
- 4. FTN first; PSI schedules
- 5. Keep every AKTR
- 6. O&P follows passed writtens
- 7. AD mandatory; SB usually advisory
- 8. Major work needs approved data
- 9. Moment = weight x arm
- 10. Series adds; parallel drops
- 11. Hydraulic liquid; pneumatic air
- 12. Detonation after; preignition before