Free Private Pilot Gyroplane Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1A private gyroplane pilot and one passenger share a recreational flight with a common purpose. Eligible fuel, oil, airport, and rental expenses total $180. What is the minimum amount the pilot must pay?

   1. A. $45
   2. B. $60
   3. C. $90
   4. D. $180

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The regulation states: "A private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees." With two occupants, the pilot's minimum share is $180 ÷ 2 = $90. The other amounts result from halving the share again, dividing by three instead of two, or assigning the entire expense to the pilot rather than finding the minimum.

   Reference: 14 CFR 61.113 — Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations — §61.113(c)

2. 2While boarding a U.S. civil gyroplane for a planned flight, an occupant is seriously injured before engine start. For the NTSB definition of an aircraft accident, when does the covered period begin?

   1. A. When the engine is first started
   2. B. When any person boards with the intention of flight
   3. C. When the aircraft first begins to taxi
   4. D. When the aircraft first becomes airborne

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Part 830 states: "between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked" Boarding with the intention of flight starts the defined period; engine start, taxi, and liftoff are later operational milestones and are not the starting boundary. A serious injury during this period can satisfy the accident definition.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 830 — Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents or Incidents — §830.2, Aircraft accident

3. 3On a night gyroplane approach, the pilot sees a pair of synchronized flashing lights, one on each side of the runway threshold. Which lighting system is being observed?

   1. A. Runway end identifier lights
   2. B. Runway centerline lights
   3. C. Touchdown zone lights
   4. D. Taxiway centerline lead-off lights

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The AIM states: "The system consists of a pair of synchronized flashing lights located laterally on each side of the runway threshold." This configuration identifies REIL. Centerline, touchdown-zone, and taxiway lead-off lights have different arrangements and functions.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Airport Lighting Aids — AIM 2-1-3, Runway End Identifier Lights

4. 4A gyroplane pilot prepares the first radio call to ground control. According to the AIM initial-contact format, which item comes first?

   1. A. The aircraft's full identification
   2. B. The aircraft's surface position
   3. C. The name of the facility being called
   4. D. The pilot's request or type of message

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The AIM states: "Name of the facility being called;" The initial-contact format starts with the facility name, followed by full aircraft identification, surface position when applicable, and the request. The other choices are real parts of the call but do not come first.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques — AIM 4-2-3, Initial Contact

5. 5A gyroplane pilot is rerouting around a thunderstorm identified as severe. What minimum avoidance distance does the AIM recommend for this storm?

   1. A. 5 miles
   2. B. 10 miles
   3. C. 15 miles
   4. D. 20 miles

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The AIM states: "Do avoid by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo." Twenty miles is the recommended minimum for this condition. The shorter distances do not meet it; this is not a guarantee that all hazards end at that distance.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Meteorology — AIM 7-1-27, Thunderstorm Avoidance

6. 6A gyroplane pilot evaluates the wake from a preceding airplane. For that airplane, which operating combination produces the greatest vortex strength?

   1. A. Heavy, clean, and slow
   2. B. Heavy, dirty, and fast
   3. C. Light, clean, and fast
   4. D. Light, dirty, and slow

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The FAA states: "the greatest vortex strength occurs when the generating aircraft is HEAVY, CLEAN, and SLOW." High weight, low speed, and clean configuration favor the strongest wake. The other combinations change one or more of these governing conditions.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Wake Turbulence — AIM 7-4-3, Vortex Strength

7. 7Before a gyroplane departure, a pilot corrects pressure altitude for the day's nonstandard temperature to assess performance. What altitude quantity results?

   1. A. Indicated altitude
   2. B. True altitude
   3. C. Density altitude
   4. D. Absolute altitude

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The FAA handbook states: "Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature." This correction defines density altitude, which relates the actual air density to the standard atmosphere. Indicated, true, and absolute altitude describe different altitude references.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance — Aircraft Performance — Density Altitude, definition paragraph

8. 8In normal powered flight of a conventional gyroplane, what primarily sustains rotation of the freely turning main rotor?

   1. A. Engine torque transmitted continuously through the rotor drive
   2. B. Airflow upward through the rotor disc
   3. C. Airflow downward through the rotor disc
   4. D. Stored prerotation energy without continuing aerodynamic input

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The FAA gyroplane handbook states: "the rotor spins freely as a result of air flowing up through the blades" Normal gyroplane autorotation is sustained by upward airflow through the rotor. It does not rely on a continuously engaged engine drive, powered downward flow, or a finite store of prerotation energy alone.

   Reference: Rotorcraft Flying Handbook — Gyroplane Aerodynamics, Controls and Systems — Aerodynamics of the Gyroplane — Autorotation, opening paragraph

9. 9A gyroplane pilot dismisses a known risk because accidents are believed to happen to other pilots, never personally. Which hazardous attitude is illustrated?

   1. A. Impulsivity
   2. B. Invulnerability
   3. C. Macho
   4. D. Resignation

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The FAA handbook states: "Many people falsely believe that accidents happen to others, but never to them." This belief defines invulnerability. Impulsivity emphasizes immediate action, macho emphasizes proving oneself, and resignation denies one's ability to influence the outcome.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 2: Aeronautical Decision-Making — Aeronautical Decision-Making — Hazardous Attitudes and Antidotes — The Five Hazardous Attitudes, Invulnerability

10. 10While preparing a gyroplane cross-country flight in the conterminous United States, the pilot needs airport operating hours and the types of fuel available at the intended stop. Which FAA publication is designed to provide these details?

    1. A. Sectional Aeronautical Chart
    2. B. VFR Terminal Area Chart
    3. C. Chart Supplement U.S.
    4. D. U.S. VFR Wall Planning Chart

    Answer: C

    Explanation: The official source states: "The Chart Supplement U.S. shows data that cannot be readily depicted in graphic form" The AIM specifically identifies airport operating hours and available fuel types as examples of this detailed text information. Sectionals, terminal-area charts, and wall planning charts do not replace that publication for these details.

    Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Types of Charts Available — Types of Charts Available — General Description of Each Chart Series — Chart Supplement U.S., airport-service-data paragraph