Airframe Mechanic Certification Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Airframe Mechanic Certification facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. During an inspection of a control cable passing over a pulley, a single broken wire is discovered. According to FAA AC 43.13-1B, what action is required? → The entire control cable assembly must be replaced.
2. During a walk-around inspection, a pilot notices excessive freeplay in the aileron. As an A&P mechanic, your first action should be to: → Inspect the control system per the AMM to identify the source of freeplay
3. What action must be taken when a mechanic discovers a condition that may make an aircraft unairworthy but is not specifically listed in the maintenance manual? → Refer the condition to an IA or repair station for a determination of airworthiness
4. What is the purpose of a fire sleeve on aircraft tubing? → Provide fire-resistant protection for fluid-carrying lines
5. What is 'stress corrosion cracking' (SCC)? → Cracking resulting from the combined effects of tensile stress and corrosive environment
6. A 'pilot hole' in sheet metal work is: → A small-diameter starter hole drilled before final-size drilling
7. A mechanic discovers a crack in an aircraft structure that is NOT listed in the approved repair manual. What is the correct course of action? → Obtain an FAA-approved repair data or DER-approved repair before proceeding
8. What does EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) measure in a turbine engine? → Temperature of exhaust gases at a specified turbine stage
9. What does the 'T' designation (such as T3, T4, T6) indicate in aluminum alloy nomenclature? → The temper (heat treatment condition) of the alloy
10. When laying out rivet rows, the transverse pitch (row spacing) should be at minimum: → 75% of the rivet pitch within the row
11. What type of corrosion forms as a white powdery deposit on aluminum aircraft structures? → Oxidation corrosion
12. When assembling a large transport category aircraft's empennage to the fuselage, the horizontal stabilizer incidence is set by: → Shimming or adjusting the rear spar attach point per maintenance manual data
13. Which component prevents reverse flow in a hydraulic or pneumatic line? → Check valve
14. What type of stress acts perpendicular to the cross-section of a structural member and tends to pull it apart? → Tension
15. When performing an inspection using a borescope, what is the primary advantage over direct visual inspection? → It allows internal inspection of areas inaccessible without disassembly
16. What is the primary cause of hot section deterioration in a turbine engine? → Thermal cycling and oxidation from extreme combustion temperatures
17. When is a logbook entry for an inspection considered complete per 14 CFR Part 43.11? → When the date, aircraft total time, and mechanic signature/certificate number are recorded
18. What is the purpose of a fuselage bulkhead? → To carry concentrated loads and maintain fuselage cross-sectional shape
19. A fuel control unit (FCU) on a turbine engine primarily schedules fuel flow based on: → Compressor inlet temperature and pressure, throttle position, and RPM
20. What color dye is used to identify 100LL aviation gasoline (avgas)? → Blue
21. When a technician finds that a turnbuckle in a control cable system is improperly safetied, what is the correct action? → Remove the existing safety wire, verify thread engagement, and re-safety properly
22. What is 'corrosion' in the context of aircraft metals? → Electrochemical deterioration of metal by reaction with the environment
23. What does 'grain direction' mean when working with aircraft sheet metal? → The direction the metal crystals were aligned during rolling
24. What color coding identifies MIL-PRF-5606 hydraulic fluid? → Red
25. Which type of load causes a structural member to twist about its longitudinal axis? → Torsional load
26. A doubter (doubler) plate installed over a cracked fuselage skin repair serves primarily to: → Restore original strength and stop-drill the crack
27. What is the function of a propeller governor? → Maintain a selected RPM by varying propeller pitch
28. What condition does a cracked or chafed pitot tube indicate regarding airworthiness? → The pitot tube must be replaced before flight
29. Which of the following cable materials is NOT recommended for primary flight control systems due to its susceptibility to corrosion? → Both B and C
30. Under 14 CFR Part 91.417, how long must an aircraft owner or operator retain records of inspections and major alterations? → Indefinitely, as part of the permanent aircraft record