Free Sport Pilot Gyroplane Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Sport Pilot Gyroplane 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 plan an eligible recreational gyroplane flight. The shareable 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: Section 61.315(b) states, "You must pay at least half the operating expenses of the flight." Half of $180 is $90. Dividing by four or three understates the pilot’s minimum share; paying the entire amount is permitted but is not the minimum.

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

2. 2A passenger boards a U.S. civil gyroplane intending to fly and suffers a serious injury before engine start. How is this occurrence classified under the NTSB aircraft-accident definition?

   1. A. An accident, because the flight-intent boarding boundary has been crossed
   2. B. An incident, because engine operation has not yet begun
   3. C. An incident, because the aircraft has not begun its takeoff
   4. D. An accident only if the aircraft also sustains substantial damage

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 830.2 defines the interval as "between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked". Serious injury during that interval qualifies without engine start, takeoff, or additional substantial damage.

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

3. 3A gyroplane pilot needs a pilot briefing and help processing a VFR flight plan. Which facility does the AIM identify as providing both services?

   1. A. Air Route Traffic Control Center
   2. B. Airport Traffic Control Tower
   3. C. Flight Service Station
   4. D. Terminal Radar Approach Control

   Answer: C

   Explanation: AIM 4-1-3 identifies FSSs as facilities providing "pilot briefings, flight plan processing". The other ATC facilities have different primary control functions.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual—Services Available to Pilots — AIM 4-1-3, Flight Service Stations

4. 4A gyroplane pilot watches surface temperature fall toward an essentially steady dew point before departure. What weather development becomes increasingly likely as the spread closes?

   1. A. Clearing from increased moisture capacity
   2. B. Improved visibility from stronger evaporation
   3. C. Fog or low cloud from approaching saturation
   4. D. Reduced relative humidity from nighttime cooling

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook states, "When the temperature of the air is reduced to the dew point, the air is completely saturated". Continued cooling favors condensation, fog, or low cloud, rather than the drying mechanisms described by the alternatives.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 12: Weather Theory — Temperature/Dew Point Relationship

5. 5During a gyroplane flight, the pilot sees another aircraft remain in the same part of the windscreen while steadily growing larger. What does this visual pattern suggest?

   1. A. A crossing track with increasing separation
   2. B. A parallel track with constant separation
   3. C. A diverging track with decreasing apparent range
   4. D. A collision course with decreasing separation

   Answer: D

   Explanation: AIM 8-1-8 states, "Any aircraft that appears to have no relative motion and stays in one scan quadrant is likely to be on a collision course." Increasing size reinforces the closing threat and calls for evasive action.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual—Fitness for Flight — AIM 8-1-8, Collision Course Targets

6. 6A gyroplane's takeoff performance must be assessed on a day warmer than standard. What does density altitude represent?

   1. A. Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature
   2. B. Actual vertical distance above the mean sea-level reference
   3. C. Vertical distance above the terrain immediately beneath the aircraft
   4. D. Altitude indicated with the current local altimeter setting

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature." The other definitions describe true altitude, absolute altitude, and indicated altitude rather than the density-equivalent performance altitude.

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

7. 7A gyroplane's completed loading worksheet totals 1,000 pounds and 60,000 pound-inches of moment. Where is the loaded center of gravity?

   1. A. 0.0167 inches aft of datum
   2. B. 6.00 inches aft of datum
   3. C. 60.00 inches aft of datum
   4. D. 600.00 inches aft of datum

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook states, "To determine the CG, divide the total moment by the total weight." Thus 60,000 ÷ 1,000 = 60.00 inches. Reversing the division gives approximately 0.0167; shifting the decimal one place gives 6.00 or 600.00.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 10: Weight and Balance — Determining Loaded Weight and CG

8. 8During normal gyroplane autorotation, why can a stalled region exist near the center of the rotor disc even though the rotor as a whole continues to produce lift?

   1. A. High inboard rotational airflow produces an angle of attack beyond the airfoil's stall limit
   2. B. Low inboard rotational airflow produces an angle of attack below the airfoil's stall limit
   3. C. Low inboard rotational airflow produces an angle of attack beyond the airfoil's stall limit
   4. D. High inboard rotational airflow produces an angle of attack below the airfoil's stall limit

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook describes "a stall region where the rotational component of the relative wind is so low that the resulting angle of attack is beyond the stall limit of the airfoil." The controlling combination is low rotational flow and excessive local angle of attack. The alternatives change the flow magnitude or put the angle below the stall limit.

   Reference: Rotorcraft Flying Handbook—For Gyroplane Use Only — Aerodynamics of the Gyroplane > Rotor Disc Regions

9. 9During a gyroplane preflight, a pilot finds a nick in a propeller blade and considers the possibility of blade failure if the engine is operated. Which statement correctly distinguishes hazard from risk?

   1. A. The nick is a hazard; the assessed possibility of failure is a risk
   2. B. The nick is a risk; the assessed possibility of failure is a hazard
   3. C. Both the nick and the assessed possibility of failure are hazards only
   4. D. Both the nick and the assessed possibility of failure are risks only

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook’s example says, "The nick is the hazard (a present condition)." Risk concerns assessment of the potential harmful consequence. This distinction does not authorize flight with damage; the condition still requires appropriate evaluation.

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

10. 10Before a gyroplane trip within the conterminous United States, a pilot needs detailed airport information such as runway widths, lighting codes, and types of fuel available. Which publication is designed to supplement the charts with those details?

    1. A. VFR Wall Planning Chart
    2. B. Low Altitude En Route Chart
    3. C. VFR Flyway Planning Chart
    4. D. Chart Supplement U.S.

    Answer: D

    Explanation: The AIM says the Chart Supplement U.S. includes "types of fuel available, run widths, and lighting codes." This is the detailed airport reference used with charts; the other charts serve route or broad planning functions.

    Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual—Aeronautical Charts and Related Publications — General Description of Each Chart Series > Supplementary Charts and Publications > Chart Supplement U.S.