Free Commercial Pilot Gyroplane Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Commercial Pilot Gyroplane practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A rated commercial gyroplane pilot plans to act as PIC and has completed no qualifying test, proficiency program phase, or other flight-review substitute. Under the ordinary flight-review rule, which calendar-month interval governs the required review?

   1. A. 6 calendar months
   2. B. 12 calendar months
   3. C. 24 calendar months
   4. D. 60 calendar months

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.56(c) requires a review "since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command". With the stated substitutes excluded, the governing interval is 24 calendar months.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.56(c), introductory text and (1)–(2)

2. 2During normal powered cruise in a conventional gyroplane, what maintains rotation of the main rotor?

   1. A. Mechanical torque from a continuously engaged engine drive
   2. B. Electric torque from a continuously engaged rotor motor
   3. C. Aerodynamic torque from upward airflow through the rotor
   4. D. Hydraulic torque from a continuously engaged rotor motor

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook states that "the rotor spins freely as a result of air flowing up through the blades". Normal gyroplane flight uses aerodynamic autorotation, not continuous engine drive of the main rotor.

   Reference: Rotorcraft Flying Handbook — Gyroplane Chapters — Chapter 16, p. 16-1, Autorotation

3. 3On gyroplane final approach, the wind changes abruptly from a headwind to a tailwind. Before the aircraft has time to accelerate relative to the ground, what initial change should the pilot expect?

   1. A. Increased airspeed and improved performance
   2. B. Reduced airspeed and degraded performance
   3. C. Unchanged airspeed and reduced groundspeed
   4. D. Unchanged airspeed and improved performance

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook states that "a headwind changing to a tailwind causes a decrease in airspeed and performance." The rapid wind change alters airflow over the aircraft before its inertia permits a comparable groundspeed change.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 12, p. 12-11, Low-Level Wind Shear

4. 4A gyroplane pilot places 20 pounds of baggage at an arm of 60 inches aft of the datum. What positive moment does this baggage add to the loading calculation?

   1. A. 3 pound-inches
   2. B. 80 pound-inches
   3. C. 1,200 pound-inches
   4. D. 12,000 pound-inches

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook defines moment as "the product of the weight of an item multiplied by its arm." Therefore 20 × 60 = 1,200 pound-inches. Dividing arm by weight gives 3, adding them gives 80, and an extra factor of ten gives 12,000.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 10, p. 10-5, Terms and Definitions, Moment

5. 5A gyroplane performance chart requires pressure altitude. With the aircraft on the departure field, to what altimeter setting should the pilot temporarily set the barometric scale to read that chart input directly?

   1. A. 28.92 inches Hg
   2. B. 29.42 inches Hg
   3. C. 30.42 inches Hg
   4. D. 29.92 inches Hg

   Answer: D

   Explanation: Setting the barometric scale to the standard 29.92 inches Hg provides the chart’s pressure-altitude input. The handbook states that with this setting, "the altitude indicated is the pressure altitude". A local altimeter setting instead supports an elevation-referenced indication.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 11, p. 11-3, Pressure Altitude

6. 6A gyroplane pilot confirms position by matching a river bend and highway junction seen outside with the aeronautical chart. Which navigation method is being used?

   1. A. Dead reckoning
   2. B. Pilotage
   3. C. VOR navigation
   4. D. GNSS navigation

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook states, "Pilotage is navigation by reference to landmarks or checkpoints." Matching visible ground features to the chart is pilotage; it does not depend solely on elapsed-time calculations or radio/satellite fixes.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 16, p. 16-12, Pilotage

7. 7A gyroplane is located on a conventional VOR station’s 090° radial. Which direction does that radial describe?

   1. A. A true bearing of 090° toward the station
   2. B. A magnetic bearing of 090° toward the station
   3. C. A magnetic bearing of 090° outward from the station
   4. D. A true bearing of 090° outward from the station

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook defines a radial as "a line of magnetic bearing extending outward from the VOR station." Radial 090 therefore extends east of the station; it does not denote the reciprocal bearing toward it.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 16, p. 16-22, VOR

8. 8A gyroplane uses the conventional cockpit stick arrangement rather than a direct overhead control. Which flight control tilts the rotor system to command the aircraft’s bank and pitch attitude?

   1. A. Rudder pedals
   2. B. Throttle control
   3. C. Collective control
   4. D. Cyclic control

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The gyroplane chapter states, "The cyclic control provides the means whereby you are able to tilt the rotor system". The conventional cyclic changes rotor-disc orientation; the collective changes blade pitch together, the throttle changes engine power, and pedals control yaw.

   Reference: Rotorcraft Flying Handbook — Gyroplane Chapters — Chapter 17, p. 17-1, Cyclic Control

9. 9After a hard one-wheel touchdown in a gyroplane with an articulated rotor, blades move out of their normal lead-lag relationship and the rotor becomes dynamically unbalanced on the ground. Which emergency is developing?

   1. A. Pilot-induced oscillation
   2. B. Ground resonance
   3. C. Power pushover
   4. D. Blade flap

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook describes ground resonance as developing when "the rotor blades move out of phase with each other and cause the rotor disc to become unbalanced." Ground shocks in articulated systems can create this condition; it differs from low-RPM teeter-stop blade flap or pilot-induced aircraft oscillations.

   Reference: Rotorcraft Flying Handbook — Gyroplane Chapters — Chapter 21, p. 21-3, Ground Resonance

10. 10A commercial gyroplane pilot flying VFR has appropriate equipment and is talking with approach control. What additional authorization is required before entering Class B airspace?

    1. A. An activated VFR flight plan with Flight Service
    2. B. A discrete transponder code assigned by approach
    3. C. An ATC clearance from the responsible facility
    4. D. A current airport weather-information acknowledgment

    Answer: C

    Explanation: Section 91.131(a)(1) requires that the operator "receive an ATC clearance from the ATC facility having jurisdiction for that area before operating an aircraft in that area." Radio contact, a code, or a weather acknowledgment alone does not constitute Class B entry clearance.

    Reference: 14 CFR Part 91 — General Operating and Flight Rules — § 91.131(a)(1)