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100+ Free FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Practice Questions

Pass your FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe Knowledge Test (AMA) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Exam

100

Questions on the Official AMA Test

FAA airman knowledge test (AMA)

2 hours

Time Limit

FAA airman knowledge testing

70%

Passing Score

FAA airman knowledge testing

~$175

PSI Testing Fee

FAA / PSI airman knowledge testing

14 CFR 65

Eligibility Regulation

14 CFR Part 65

PSI

Computer-Based Test Provider

FAA airman knowledge testing

The FAA AMA test is a 100-question multiple-choice airman knowledge test with a 2-hour time limit and a 70% passing score, delivered by computer at PSI testing centers. It is a separate test from the General (AMG) and Powerplant (AMP) tests, and eligibility is governed by 14 CFR Part 65 through an FAA-approved Part 147 school or documented practical experience. This free bank provides 100 selected-response practice questions mapped to the official airframe subject areas.

Sample FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1When laying out a row of rivets, what is the minimum acceptable edge distance for a protruding-head rivet, expressed in rivet shank diameters?
A.2 times the rivet diameter
B.1.5 times the rivet diameter
C.2.5 times the rivet diameter
D.4 times the rivet diameter
Explanation: For protruding (universal/round) head rivets, minimum edge distance is 2 times the rivet shank diameter, measured from the center of the hole to the edge of the sheet. Less than this risks the sheet tearing out at the rivet.
2Which rivet alloy designation is commonly called the 'ice box' rivet because it must be kept refrigerated to delay age hardening before driving?
A.1100 (A)
B.2024 (DD)
C.2117 (AD)
D.5056 (B)
Explanation: The 2024 (DD) rivet age-hardens rapidly at room temperature, so it is stored in a freezer ('ice box') and driven soon after removal, or it must be re-heat-treated. The AD (2117) rivet drives as-received and is the most common general-purpose rivet.
3The standard universal shop head formed on a properly driven solid rivet should be approximately what dimensions relative to the original shank diameter (D)?
A.Height 1D, diameter 1D
B.Height 1.5D, diameter 0.5D
C.Height 0.5D, diameter 1.5D
D.Height 2D, diameter 1D
Explanation: A correctly formed shop head is about one-half the shank diameter in height (0.5D) and about one and one-half the shank diameter in width (1.5D). These limits ensure adequate clamping without overdriving.
4What is the purpose of dimpling thin sheet metal before installing a flush (countersunk) rivet?
A.To increase the sheet thickness at the joint
B.To remove the protective alclad coating
C.To relieve internal stresses caused by drilling
D.To form a recess for the rivet head when the material is too thin to machine countersink
Explanation: Dimpling presses a cone-shaped depression into thin sheet so a flush rivet head will seat without removing too much material. Machine countersinking is used only when the sheet is thick enough to retain strength after material is cut away.
5In sheet-metal bend layout, the term 'setback' refers to the distance from which point to the bend tangent line?
A.From the mold line to the bend tangent line
B.From the neutral axis to the inside of the bend
C.From the sight line to the edge of the sheet
D.From the rivet line to the bend allowance
Explanation: Setback is the distance from the bend tangent line to the mold point (the intersection of the two mold lines, or extended flat surfaces). It is used to locate flat-pattern dimensions before a bend is made.
6For a 90-degree bend, setback equals the bend radius plus which other value?
A.The bend allowance
B.The material thickness
C.One-half the material thickness
D.The K-factor
Explanation: For a 90-degree bend, Setback = Bend Radius + Material Thickness (SB = R + T). For bends other than 90 degrees, a K-factor multiplier is applied to (R + T).
7What is the primary advantage of using alclad aluminum sheet for airframe skins?
A.Higher tensile strength than bare alloy
B.Lower weight than bare alloy of the same thickness
C.A pure aluminum surface layer that provides corrosion protection
D.Improved electrical bonding characteristics
Explanation: Alclad sheet has a thin layer of nearly pure aluminum metallurgically bonded to each side of a high-strength alloy core. The pure aluminum layer protects the corrosion-prone core electrolytically and as a barrier.
8When repairing a damaged stressed-skin structure, the strength of a patch should be designed to do which of the following?
A.Be exactly equal in strength to the original undamaged structure
B.Match only the original skin gauge regardless of strength
C.Be substantially stronger and stiffer than the original to be safe
D.Restore the original strength without significantly increasing weight or stiffness
Explanation: A structural repair must restore at least the original strength while avoiding excessive added stiffness and weight, which can shift stress concentrations and unbalance flight controls. Repairs follow the manufacturer's structural repair manual or AC 43.13.
9Which inspection method is most appropriate for detecting subsurface delamination in a composite honeycomb sandwich panel?
A.Tap testing or ultrasonic inspection
B.Visual inspection only
C.Magnetic particle inspection
D.Dye penetrant inspection
Explanation: Coin-tap testing and ultrasonic inspection reveal disbonds, delaminations, and core damage that are not visible on the surface. Magnetic particle and dye penetrant methods do not work on non-conductive, non-ferrous composites.
10In a fiber-reinforced composite laminate, the primary purpose of the matrix (resin) is to do what?
A.Carry the majority of the tensile load
B.Transfer loads between fibers and protect them from the environment
C.Provide electrical conductivity for lightning protection
D.Act solely as a cosmetic surface coating
Explanation: In a composite, the fibers carry most of the structural load while the matrix bonds the fibers together, transfers load between them, maintains fiber orientation, and protects fibers from moisture and abrasion.

About the FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Exam

The FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe Knowledge Test (test code AMA) is the written examination required for the Airframe rating on the FAA mechanic certificate. It covers the airframe subject areas in 14 CFR Part 65 and the Aviation Mechanic Airframe ACS (FAA-S-ACS-1), including sheet-metal and composite structures, landing gear, hydraulics and pneumatics, electrical, rigging, fuel, environmental, instrument, comm/nav, fire protection, ice and rain control, welding, and warning systems.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice, 2 hours, 70% to pass, computer-based via PSI (official FAA AMA test, separate from General & Powerplant); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

~$175 (PSI testing fee) (Federal Aviation Administration (FAA))

FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Exam Content Outline

14%

Sheet-Metal & Non-Metallic Structures (incl. Composites)

Rivet selection and layout, edge distance, dimpling and countersinking, bend allowance and setback, alclad, structural repair strength, and composite/honeycomb inspection and ply orientation.

10%

Landing Gear Systems

Air/oil shock struts, down-locks, torque links, shimmy dampers, disc brakes and anti-skid, tires and nitrogen, emergency extension, and weight-on-wheels logic.

9%

Hydraulic & Pneumatic Power Systems

Accumulators, relief and sequence valves, fluid types and compatibility, pressure regulators, shuttle and orifice-check valves, and pneumatic moisture control.

9%

Airframe Electrical Systems

Transformer-rectifiers and inverters, bonding, AWG wire sizing, circuit breakers and trip-free behavior, reverse-current control, and voltage regulation.

8%

Assembly & Rigging

Cable tension and tensiometers, control surface travel verification, turnbuckles and safetying, control mass balance and flutter, fairleads, and temperature-corrected rigging.

7%

Aircraft Fuel Systems

Gravity and pressure feed, boost pumps, sump drains, venting, crossfeed, capacitance fuel quantity indication, and fuel tank entry safety.

7%

Cabin Atmosphere Control

Air-cycle machine cooling, outflow and positive-pressure relief valves, cabin differential pressure, chemical oxygen generators, and oxygen system cleanliness.

7%

Aircraft Instrument Systems

Gyroscopic rigidity and precession, pitot-static plumbing, blocked-port symptoms, alternate static source, and inspection intervals.

6%

Wood Structures / Aircraft Covering / Finishes

Fabric strength testing, dope and finishing, wood spar defect rejection, rib stitching, and fungicidal protection of underlying structure.

6%

Airframe Inspection

Annual/100-hour scope under Part 43 Appendix D, Airworthiness Directives, unairworthy discrepancy handling, Form 337, and corrosion rejection criteria.

6%

Communication & Navigation Systems

VHF communication and antennas, transponder Mode C, VOR and ADF navigation, ELTs, and coaxial cable/antenna installation.

5%

Fire Protection Systems

Continuous-loop and thermal-switch detection, extinguishing agents, discharge indicators, and functional testing requirements.

4%

Ice & Rain Control

Thermal bleed-air anti-ice, pneumatic deicer boots, heated pitot, and windshield rain removal methods.

4%

Welding

Oxyacetylene neutral flame for 4130 chromoly, acceptable weld quality, and approved welded tube structure repair methods.

4%

Position & Warning Systems

Landing gear position indication and warning horn logic, angle-of-attack stall warning, and takeoff configuration warning.

How to Pass the FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Assessment: 100 multiple-choice, 2 hours, 70% to pass, computer-based via PSI (official FAA AMA test, separate from General & Powerplant); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • Exam fee: ~$175 (PSI testing fee)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

FAA Aviation Mechanic — Airframe (AMA) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Weight your study time by the blueprint: structures, landing gear, hydraulics/pneumatics, and electrical together make up roughly half the airframe content.
2Learn the numbers that recur on the test: rivet edge distance and head dimensions, 90-degree setback formula, and pitot-static and transponder inspection intervals.
3Distinguish closely related components, such as anti-ice versus de-ice, relief versus sequence versus shuttle valves, and inverter versus transformer-rectifier, because the test exploits these confusions.
4Practice regulatory recall: Part 43 Appendix D scope, Airworthiness Directive compliance, Form 337, and the required action when an aircraft is found unairworthy.
5Take mixed timed sets at the real pace of 100 questions in 2 hours so the breadth of subjects, not the clock, becomes the focus of your review.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the FAA Airframe (AMA) knowledge test?

The official FAA Airframe knowledge test, test code AMA, is 100 multiple-choice questions. This free practice bank also provides 100 selected-response questions mapped to the 14 CFR Part 65 and FAA-S-ACS-1 airframe subject areas so you can rehearse the full blueprint.

What is the time limit and passing score for the AMA test?

You get 2 hours to complete the 100-question AMA test, and you must score at least 70% to pass. Because pacing allows roughly a minute per question, the bigger challenge is content breadth across structures, systems, inspection, and regulations rather than raw speed.

Is the Airframe test the same as the General or Powerplant test?

No. The Airframe (AMA) test is a separate airman knowledge test from the General (AMG) and Powerplant (AMP) tests. A full Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate path requires passing General plus the rating-specific knowledge tests and the matching oral and practical tests.

Where and how is the FAA AMA test administered?

The AMA test is a computer-based airman knowledge test delivered at PSI testing centers. The testing fee is approximately $175, and you must be authorized to test in the Airframe rating before scheduling.

What do I need to be eligible for the Airframe knowledge test?

Eligibility is governed by 14 CFR Part 65: you generally qualify through graduation from an FAA-approved Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school or by documenting the required practical experience. You must also be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.

What subjects should I focus on most for the Airframe test?

Sheet-metal and non-metallic structures (including composites) is the largest area, followed by landing gear, hydraulics and pneumatics, and airframe electrical systems. Inspection rules, fuel, environmental, instrument, and the smaller systems subjects still appear, so study the full blueprint rather than only the heaviest topics.