Free Sport Pilot Airplane Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1A sport pilot and one passenger agree to share $180 in fuel, oil, airport expenses, and aircraft rental fees for a recreational flight. What is the minimum amount the pilot must pay?

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

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.315(b) states, "You must pay at least half the operating expenses of the flight." Half of $180 is $90; paying one quarter or one third is insufficient, while $180 is not the minimum.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.315(b)

2. 2An operator is determining whether a serious injury occurred during the flight-related interval used in Part 830's aircraft-accident definition. Which event begins that interval?

   1. A. A person boards with the intention of flight.
   2. B. The engine is started in preparation for flight.
   3. C. The brakes are released to begin the taxi.
   4. D. The airplane lifts off the departure runway.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 830.2 uses the interval "between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked". It begins with boarding for flight, before engine start, taxi, or liftoff.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 830—Aircraft Accident and Incident Notification and Reporting — § 830.2, Aircraft accident

3. 3A pilot wants to broadcast position and intentions at an airport without an operating control tower. Which designated frequency should the pilot find in the airport's published information?

   1. A. CTAF
   2. B. ATIS
   3. C. AWOS
   4. D. ASOS

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The AIM states, "A CTAF is a frequency designated for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices". ATIS, AWOS, and ASOS provide information rather than a common traffic advisory channel.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual—Services Available to Pilots — AIM 4-1-9, Communicating on a Common Frequency

4. 4An airplane inadvertently flies through a microburst on final approach. Which sequence of wind effects is characteristic of the encounter?

   1. A. Tailwind, updraft, increasing headwind.
   2. B. Headwind, downdraft, increasing tailwind.
   3. C. Headwind, updraft, increasing tailwind.
   4. D. Tailwind, downdraft, increasing headwind.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook describes "a performance-increasing headwind", then "performance-decreasing downdrafts", then "a rapidly increasing tailwind". The initial performance improvement does not mean the approach is safe.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 12: Weather Theory — Chapter 12, Low-Level Wind Shear, microburst encounter

5. 5A light-airplane pilot evaluates the wake from a preceding large airplane. Which generating-aircraft condition 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: AIM 7-4-3 identifies the strongest condition as "HEAVY, CLEAN, and SLOW." Higher weight and lower speed increase strength; a dirty configuration hastens wake decay.

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

6. 6A pilot computes pressure altitude and then corrects for a temperature warmer than standard to assess takeoff performance. What altitude is the result?

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

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook states, "Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature." It represents the standard-atmosphere level having the actual air density.

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

7. 7An airplane has maximum allowable gross weight of 1,320 pounds and basic empty weight of 830 pounds. What is its useful load before fuel, occupants, or baggage are added?

   1. A. 245 pounds
   2. B. 490 pounds
   3. C. 830 pounds
   4. D. 2,150 pounds

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook defines useful load as "the basic empty weight subtracted from the maximum allowable gross weight." Thus 1,320−830=490 pounds. Halving the difference, using empty weight, or adding weights gives the distractors.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 10: Weight and Balance — Chapter 10, Terms and Definitions, Useful load

8. 8During a maneuver, which condition directly causes an airplane wing to stall?

   1. A. Exceeding the wing's critical angle of attack.
   2. B. Descending below the airplane's cruise altitude.
   3. C. Reducing thrust below the level-flight drag.
   4. D. Increasing bank beyond the standard-rate-turn bank.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states that a stall occurs when AOA "exceeds the wing’s critical AOA." Airspeed, attitude, and power influence the circumstances but do not replace this aerodynamic criterion.

   Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook—Chapter 5: Maintaining Aircraft Control: Upset Prevention and Recovery Training — Chapter 5, Stalls

9. 9A pilot identifies a damaged propeller as a present condition and then assesses its potential to fracture during operation. In ADM terminology, what is the assessment of that potential impact?

   1. A. Hazard
   2. B. Risk
   3. C. Currency
   4. D. Proficiency

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook states, "risk is an assessment of the single or cumulative hazard facing a pilot". The physical damage is the hazard; assessing its potential consequences is risk assessment.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 2: Aeronautical Decision-Making — Chapter 2, Hazard and Risk

10. 10A pilot planning to use an unfamiliar airport in the conterminous United States needs detailed airport information and an airport diagram to supplement the sectional chart. Which FAA publication is designed for this purpose?

    1. A. Chart Supplement U.S.
    2. B. Aeronautical Information Manual
    3. C. Airplane Flying Handbook
    4. D. Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

    Answer: A

    Explanation: AIM 9-1-5 says the Chart Supplement U.S. contains airport data and "airport diagrams". It supplies airport-specific information that general training handbooks do not.

    Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual—Charts and Publications — AIM 9-1-5, Chart Supplement U.S.