FAA SPW Knowledge Test — Sport Pilot Weight-Shift-Control

What is the minimum age to sit the FAA SPW knowledge test, and what age does 14 CFR § 61.305 require to hold the sport pilot certificate itself?

• A14 to test, 16 to hold the certificate
• B15 to test, 17 to hold the certificate
• C16 to test, 16 to hold the certificate
• D17 to test, 17 to hold the certificate

What maximum stalling speed does 14 CFR § 61.316(a)(1) allow for a weight-shift-control aircraft that a sport pilot may operate?

• AA maximum stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed without lift-enhancing devices (V…
• BA maximum stalling speed of not more than 59 knots CAS
• CA maximum level flight speed at maximum continuous power of not more than 120 knots CAS
• DNo speed limit of any kind applies

Under 14 CFR § 61.315, how many passengers may a sport pilot carry on a flight in a weight-shift-control light-sport aircraft?

• AZero passengers (pilot only)
• BOne passenger
• CTwo passengers
• DThree passengers

Pursuant to 14 CFR § 61.315, what is the maximum altitude above mean sea level (MSL) at which a sport pilot may operate without a specific altitude endorsement?

• A8,000 feet MSL
• B10,000 feet MSL (or 2,000 feet AGL, whichever is higher)
• C12,500 feet MSL
• D14,000 feet MSL

In a Weight-Shift-Control (WSC) aircraft, how does the pilot control pitch and roll flight attitudes?

• ABy manipulating conventional aerodynamic elevator and aileron control surfaces on the tai…
• BBy moving the control bar to shift the carriage center of gravity (CG) relative to the wi…
• CBy adjusting differential engine thrust and rudder pedals
• DBy varying trim tab deflection on the trailing edge of the wing root

During straight-and-level flight in a weight-shift-control aircraft, what aerodynamic change occurs when the pilot pushes the control bar forward away from the body?

• AThe wing angle of attack increases, airspeed decreases, and the nose pitches up
• BThe wing angle of attack decreases, airspeed increases, and the nose pitches down
• CThe carriage banks to the left while the wing maintains horizontal level flight
• DThe wing trailing edge reflex decreases, creating a nose-down pitching moment

During straight-and-level flight in a weight-shift-control aircraft, what occurs when the pilot pulls the control bar aft toward the body?

• AThe angle of attack increases and airspeed decreases
• BThe angle of attack decreases, airspeed increases, and the nose pitches down
• CThe wing stalls immediately due to excessive wing loading
• DThe control bar tension decreases, causing the wing to roll left

How does a weight-shift-control pilot initiate a left bank turn?

• ABy pushing the control bar forward and to the left simultaneously
• BBy pushing the control bar to the right, which shifts the carriage center of gravity to t…
• CBy pulling the control bar aft while pressing the left rudder pedal
• DBy moving the control bar to the left, which shifts the carriage center of gravity to the…

Which aircraft does the VFR fuel rule in 14 CFR § 91.151 reach, and what does that mean for a weight-shift-control pilot?

• AParagraph (a) covers airplanes (30 minutes day, 45 minutes night) and paragraph (b) cover…
• BIt covers all powered aircraft, so a weight-shift-control aircraft needs a 30-minute day…
• CIt covers all powered aircraft, so a weight-shift-control aircraft needs a 45-minute rese…
• DIt covers all powered aircraft, so a weight-shift-control aircraft needs a 15-minute day…

What are the minimum flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements for day VFR flight in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet AGL?

• A3 statute miles visibility, 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal from…
• B1 statute mile visibility and clear of clouds
• C3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds
• D5 statute miles visibility, 1,000 feet above, 1,000 feet below, 1 statute mile horizontal

What is the primary purpose of adding two-stroke oil to the fuel of a Rotax two-stroke WSC aircraft engine?

• ATo prevent carburetor icing at high power settings
• BTo lubricate the internal engine components including crankshaft bearings, connecting rod…
• CTo increase the octane rating of the fuel and prevent detonation
• DTo act as a fuel stabilizer during long-term storage

What is the primary aerodynamic purpose of reflex bridles and luff lines on a flex-wing weight-shift-control aircraft?

• ATo hold the sail tight during high-speed dives to increase maximum airspeed
• BTo maintain positive pitch stability by holding the wing trailing edge up at low or negat…
• CTo control adverse yaw during steep banked turns
• DTo reduce wing structural flex during high G maneuvers

Under 14 CFR § 91.119, what is the minimum safe altitude required when operating an aircraft over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement?

• A500 feet above the surface or 500 feet from any vessel, person, or structure
• B1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the air…
• C1,500 feet above ground level regardless of obstacle location
• D2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 5 statute miles

What aerodynamic phenomenon occurs when an aircraft wing exceeds its critical angle of attack?

• AThe wing enters a high-speed dive
• BThe wing stalls regardless of airspeed, pitch attitude, or gross weight
• CThe wing generates maximum lift and minimum drag
• DThe center of pressure moves to the trailing edge, increasing elevator authority

How is Magnetic Course calculated when navigating a weight-shift-control aircraft using a sectional aeronautical chart?

• ATrue Course plus or minus magnetic variation
• BTrue Course plus or minus compass deviation
• CTrue Heading plus wind correction angle
• DMagnetic Heading minus magnetic variation

Under 14 CFR § 61.23, what medical qualification is required for a pilot exercising sport pilot privileges in a light-sport weight-shift-control aircraft?

• AA First-Class FAA Medical Certificate only
• BA Second-Class FAA Medical Certificate only
• CA valid US driver's license (provided the pilot's last FAA medical was not denied, revoke…
• DNo medical document or driver's license is required for sport pilots

According to 14 CFR § 91.117, what is the maximum indicated airspeed permitted for an aircraft operating below 10,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise authorized by ATC?

• A180 knots
• B200 knots
• C230 knots
• D250 knots

Unless otherwise indicated by airport markings or light signals, what is the standard direction of traffic pattern turns at an uncontrolled airport?

• ARight turns
• BLeft turns
• CStraight-in approaches only
• DBi-directional turns depending on wind

What causes carburetor icing in a weight-shift-control aircraft engine?

• ALow engine RPM combined with high cylinder head temperatures
• BVaporization of fuel combined with air expansion inside the carb venturi dropping the air…
• CMoisture condensing on the outside of the air filter housing
• DHigh exhaust gas temperatures creating ice crystals in the intake manifold

Under what atmospheric conditions is carburetor icing most likely to occur?

• ATemperatures between 20°F and 70°F (-7°C to 21°C) with relative humidity above 80%
• BTemperatures below 0°F (-18°C) with dry air
• CTemperatures above 90°F (32°C) with relative humidity below 30%
• DTemperatures between 75°F and 95°F with clear, rainless skies

How does an increase in total aircraft gross weight affect the stall speed of a weight-shift-control wing?

• AStall speed decreases because heavier weight increases kinetic energy
• BStall speed increases because a higher angle of attack is required to support the increas…
• CStall speed remains unchanged because stall speed depends only on wing camber
• DStall speed increases only when the control bar is pushed fully forward

What are the basic VFR cloud clearance requirements in Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL?

• A500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal
• B1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 1 statute mile horizontal
• CClear of clouds and 1 statute mile visibility
• D500 feet below, 500 feet above, 1,000 feet horizontal

Under NTSB Part 830, which of the following occurrences requires immediate notification to the nearest NTSB field office?

• AAn engine failure resulting in a safe forced landing on a runway
• BAn in-flight flight control system malfunction or failure
• CA flat tire during ground taxiing
• DA cracked windshield during preflight inspection

What is the load factor experienced by a weight-shift-control aircraft maintaining altitude in a constant 60-degree banked level turn?

• A1.41 Gs
• B1.73 Gs
• C2.00 Gs
• D2.50 Gs

When monitoring a Rotax two-stroke engine's Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) gauge in cruise, what does a sudden excessively high EGT reading typically indicate?

• AAn overly rich fuel mixture
• BAn excessively lean fuel mixture, creating a risk of piston seizure
• CAn over-lubricated engine cylinder
• DA failed spark plug causing incomplete combustion

What action must a sport pilot complete before entering Class C airspace?

• AObtain an explicit clearance from ATC stating 'cleared to enter Class C airspace'
• BEstablish two-way radio communication with ATC by ATC responding with the aircraft's spec…
• CFile an IFR flight plan 1 hour prior to entry
• DMaintain a minimum altitude of 5,000 feet AGL while traversing the outer ring

What requirement must be met before operating a light-sport WSC aircraft within Class B airspace?

• AThe pilot must hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate
• BThe pilot must receive an explicit ATC clearance to enter Class B airspace and hold a log…
• CThe aircraft must be equipped with an autopilot system
• DTwo-way radio communication establishment without explicit clearance is sufficient

An ATC light gun signal of steady green directed to an aircraft in flight signifies:

• ACleared to land
• BGive way to other aircraft and continue circling
• CAirport unsafe, do not land
• DReturn for landing

An ATC light gun signal of flashing red directed to an aircraft in flight signifies:

• ACleared to land
• BAirport unsafe, do not land
• CTaxi clear of landing area
• DReturn to starting point on airport

What are standard sea-level atmospheric pressure and temperature conditions in the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)?

• A29.92 inHg (1013.2 hPa) and 15°C (59°F)
• B30.00 inHg and 20°C (68°F)
• C29.92 inHg and 0°C (32°F)
• D28.86 inHg and 15°C (59°F)

To operate a light-sport weight-shift-control aircraft in Class B, C, or D airspace, what specific logbook endorsement must a sport pilot hold under 14 CFR § 61.325?

• AA endorsement from an authorized flight instructor certifying completion of ground and fl…
• BA high-performance aircraft endorsement from a FAA DPE
• CA tailwheel endorsement logged within the preceding 90 days
• DA complex aircraft endorsement logged under 14 CFR § 61.31

According to 14 CFR § 61.315, may a sport pilot operate a weight-shift-control aircraft for compensation or hire?

• AYes, provided the passenger pays no more than standard commercial charter rates
• BNo, a sport pilot may not operate an aircraft for compensation or hire, but under § 61.31…
• CYes, if conducting local sight-seeing flights within 25 nautical miles of the home airport
• DYes, provided the aircraft is registered as a Commercial Light-Sport Aircraft

In weight-shift-control flex-wing aerodynamics, what physical mechanism initiates the hazardous 'tuck and tumble' divergence phenomenon?

• AExcessive bank angle exceeding 70 degrees causing a wing tip stall
• BA low-G or negative-G push-over maneuver causing inverted loading on the sail, loss of tr…
• CEngine overspeed at full throttle causing tail surface flutter
• DHigh density altitude reducing control bar pilot leverage

When encountering severe turbulence or sudden updrafts/downdrafts in a WSC aircraft, what control bar position should the pilot maintain to prevent entering a low-G tuck condition?

• APush the control bar fully forward away from the chest to maximize wing lift
• BMaintain a neutral to slightly pulled-in control bar position to ensure positive G wing l…
• CRapidly pump the control bar back and forth to damp wing oscillations
• DPull the control bar completely to the rear stop and hold it locked against the frame

What is the primary function of internal wing tip sprogs (washout rods) inside a flex-wing WSC wing?

• ATo lock the trailing edge rigid during high-speed ground transport
• BTo support the outer wing trailing edge at low angles of attack, creating washout and a r…
• CTo channel airflow over the wing tips to eliminate wingtip vortices
• DTo adjust turn sensitivity by altering crossbar tension automatically

How does sail billow shift affect turn stability in a flex-wing weight-shift-control aircraft?

• AThe sail billow shifts to the inside wing, increasing drag and causing severe adverse yaw
• BThe sail billow shifts to the outer wing during a turn, increasing effective dihedral and…
• CBillow shift locks the wing in a steep spiral turn from which recovery is impossible with…
• DBillow shift reduces lift equally on both wings, causing an immediate altitude loss

How does moving the carriage hang point forward along the keel affect the trim airspeed of a WSC aircraft?

• AMoves the CG aft relative to the wing, decreasing hands-off cruise airspeed
• BMoves the CG forward relative to the wing, decreasing trim angle of attack and increasing…
• CIncreases stall speed without affecting cruise trim speed
• DIncreases control bar push force required to slow down while leaving hands-off trim speed…

Given: Airport Elevation = 4,000 ft MSL, Altimeter Setting = 29.92 inHg, Outside Air Temperature = 35°C. What is the approximate density altitude?

• A4,000 ft MSL
• B5,800 ft MSL
• C7,360 ft MSL
• D9,200 ft MSL

Given: WSC Trike Empty Weight = 460 lbs @ moment 27,600 lb-in. Pilot Weight = 170 lbs @ arm 50.0 in. Fuel = 10 gal (60 lbs) @ arm 70.0 in. What is the total weight and Center of Gravity (CG) position?

• A690 lbs and 58.4 inches
• B690 lbs and 62.1 inches
• C630 lbs and 55.0 inches
• D710 lbs and 60.0 inches

An aircraft is landing on Runway 18 (heading 180°). The reported surface wind is 210° at 20 knots. What is the crosswind component?

• A5 knots
• B10 knots
• C14 knots
• D17 knots

A WSC aircraft maintains a True Heading of 360° at a True Airspeed of 70 knots. The wind is directly from 090° at 14 knots. What is the resulting Groundspeed?

• A56.0 knots
• B68.6 knots
• C71.4 knots
• D84.0 knots

A WSC trike has 14 gallons of total usable fuel. The engine consumes 4.0 gallons per hour at cruise power. Under Day VFR regulations (30-minute reserve), what is the maximum allowable flight time to destination?

• A2 hours 30 minutes
• B3 hours 00 minutes
• C3 hours 30 minutes
• D4 hours 00 minutes

Under 14 CFR § 91.103, which preflight action is required for a pilot prior to conducting any flight away from the vicinity of an airport?

• AObtaining a written permission clearance from the FAA regional office
• BFamiliarizing themselves with all available information, including weather reports/foreca…
• CFiling a VFR flight plan with a flight service station and notifying airport management
• DPerforming a full engine teardown inspection

Why is sustained partial-throttle operation in the mid-RPM range particularly hazardous for a needle-jet tuned Rotax 2-stroke engine?

• AThe carb slide creates severe vacuum lock, shutting off all oil delivery to the crankcase
• BThe jet needle taper transition can create a lean air-fuel ratio at mid-throttle, causing…
• CThe ignition system retards timing automatically, causing severe exhaust backfire
• DThe cooling fan disengages at mid-RPM settings

On a liquid-cooled Rotax 912 engine, what does an abnormally high Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) combined with rising oil temperature indicate?

• AAn excessively rich fuel-air mixture during descent
• BA potential loss of engine coolant or thermal overheating, requiring immediate power redu…
• CEngine oil level is overfilled above maximum limits
• DCarburetor heat is engaged in cold ambient air

What is the primary operational effect of adjusting the pitch trim system during flight in a weight-shift-control aircraft?

• AIt alters wing sail billow to increase max roll rate
• BIt shifts the resting equilibrium hang position of the carriage relative to the wing, rel…
• CIt locks the control bar in a rigid fixed position for autopilot operations
• DIt adjusts engine thrust line angle relative to the trike frame

How does ground effect influence a weight-shift-control trike during the landing flare within one wingspan of the runway surface?

• AInduced drag decreases significantly, causing the aircraft to float along the runway if f…
• BInduced drag increases dramatically, causing an immediate sink rate collapse
• CParasite drag increases, forcing the control bar to vibrate violently
• DWing billow shifts inward, rolling the trike to the right

If an engine failure occurs immediately after takeoff at 150 feet AGL in a WSC trike, what is the pilot's proper course of action?

• AImmediately initiate a steep 180-degree turn back to the departure runway
• BEstablish glide pitch attitude, maintain control, and land straight ahead (or slightly of…
• CPush the control bar fully forward to maximize altitude gain before landing
• DShut off all electrical switches and deploy the ballistic parachute immediately