Aircraft Engine Instruments

AVMNT 252
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Introduction

Instrument Markings establish operational
ranges

Minimum & Maximum Limits

Allows Pilots to distinguish between
Normal Operations, Limited Operations,
And Hazardous Operations

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Range Markings

Green Arcs Indicate Normal Operations

Blue Arcs Indicate Special Operations

Yellow Arcs Indicate precautionary
Limitations

Red Lines Indicate a maximum or
minimum safe operating limit.

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Range Markings

Range Markings are typically based on
information listed in the aircraft, engine,
and propeller’s Type Certificate Data
Sheet.

The colored Arcs and Lines are painted
directly on the instrument.

Instrument Marks may be painted on the
glass face however a witness mark must be
placed to indicate any slippage.

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Flight Decks

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Flight Decks new

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Carburetor Air Temperature

Carburetor air Temperature is measured at
the carburetor entrance by a temperature
sensing bulb in the ram air inlet duct.

CAT is to inform Pilot when the
temperature at the carburetor can support
ice formation.

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Carburetor Air Temperature

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Carb Heat Sensor

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Fuel Pressure

Fuel Pressure Gauges indicate the pressure
of the fuel supplied to the carburetor or
fuel control unit.

Fuel Pressure is measured in Pounds Per
Square Inch (PSI).

Four Type of Fuel Pressure Indicators are
currently used:
-Bourdon Tube Type -Bellows Type
-Diaphragm Type -Electric Type
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Fuel Pressure

Bourdon Tube – a metal tube that is
formed in a circular shape with one open
end and one sealed end.

As Pressure enters the bourdon tube it
becomes erect or straightens out.

The Bourdon Tube is connected to gear
and pointer needle arrangement.

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BOURDON TUBE

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Fuel Pressure

Diaphragm Type – Utilizes a pressure
capsule or diaphragm.

As the Diaphragm becomes pressurized it
expands causing an indicator needle to
rotate.

Needle Rotation is the calibrated
accordingly with the engine’s fuel
pressure.

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DIAPHRAGM

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Fuel Pressure

Bellows Type – Uses a capillary tube
attached to the bellows. As fluids flows
through the capillary tube the bellows
expand.

Expansion of the bellows causes a needle
movement providing a fuel pressure
indication.

Bellows Provide a greater range of motion
when compared to bourdon, Diaphragm
type indicator systems.

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Bellows TYPE

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Fuel Pressure

Electronic Fuel Pressure Indicator Systems

Typically employed when the distance
between cockpit and engine becomes
restrictive.

Displays Digital Read outs

Eliminates the need of fuel being directed
into the flight deck.

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Fuel Pressure

Electronic Fuel Indicator Systems –
incorporate pressure sensors or transducers
within the fuel system that relays a signal
back to the instrument for display.

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

Fuel Flow Indicators measures the rate of
fuel an engine burns in gallons per hour or
pounds per hour.

Four Types of Fuel Flow Indicating
Systems:
-PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL
-AUTOSYN
-MAGNESYN
-FUEL TOTALIZER
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Fuel Flow Gauge

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

Pressure Differential System is used
typically on continuous flow fuel injected
engines.

Fuel Flow Indicator Measures the pressure
drop across each Fuel Injector Nozzle.

Fuel Pressure is directly proportional to
fuel flow.

Fuel Pressure Increases Fuel Flow
Increases.
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Fuel Injection System

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

Autosyn – measures the volume of fuel
flowing to the engine.

The Autosyn System employs a movable
spring loaded vane in the fuel supply line
leading to the engine.

As Fuel flow past this vane the vane is
moved form its normally closed position.

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

The amount the vane opens is directly
related to the amount of fuel flow through
the system.

The Autosyn vane has an electronic
transmitter that transmits this information
to the fuel flow indicator,

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

Magnesyn System is used primarily on
turbine fuel systems. (Mass Flow System).

The volume of jet fuel changes with
temperature.

Therefore in order to maintain accurate
readings Jet Fuel is measured by its mass
rather than its volume.

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

Magnesyn System consists of two
cylinders, an impeller and turbine which
are mounted to the main fuel line leading
to the engine.

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems
Magnesyn Operation

The Impeller is driven at a constant speed
by aircraft electrical power.

As fuel Impacts Turbine the turbine rotates
until a restraining spring force balances the
rotation force.

The deflection of the turbine positions a
permanent magnet in a transmitter that
relays the current fuel flow to the receiver
(Fuel Flow Indicator).

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Fuel Flow Indicator Systems

Fuel Totalizer – is a computerized fuel
system used in both reciprocating, and
turbine engines.

Fuel Totalizers – provide digital readouts
on the amount of fuel used, fuel remaining,
current fuel consumption, and time
remaining for flight at current power
setting.

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Fuel Totalizer

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Fuel Totalizer

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Manifold Pressure

Manifold Absolute Pressure Gauge
measure the absolute pressure within the
intake manifold.

MAP Gauges are typically required by the
FAA on aircraft equipped with constant
speed propellers, and super-turbo chargers.

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MAP Gauge

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Manifold Pressure

Before an engine is started the MAP will
indicate local atmospheric conditions.

After the engine has started the MAP
should drop (typically by half).

Purge Valves are equipped on some
aircraft MAP systems used to remove any
moisture from the system.

Purge at idle (open the valve at least 30
sec. or more). The Engine’s vacuum
pressure will remove the moisture from
the MAP System.
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Oil Temperature

Oil Temperature Gauges allow the pilot to
monitor the temperature of the oil as it
enters the engine.

Most Oil Temperature Gauges are
calibrated in degrees of Fahrenheit and
sense the oil temperature at the engines
inlet.

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OIL TEMP

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Oil Temperature

Oil Temperature Gauges are typically of
the electronic type.

Two types of oil temperature indicating
systems are:
- Wheat Stone Bridge type
- Ratiometer type

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Oil Pressure

Oil Pressure gauges are calibrated in
pounds per square inch (PSI).

Oil Pressure Gauges are used to measure
the oil pressure being delivered to the
engine.

Many Oil pressure gauges utilize a
bourdon tube due to its compatibility with
high pressure systems.

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OIL PRESSURE

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Oil Pressure

To prevent damage to the oil pressure
instrument most gauges have a small
restriction at their inlet designed to
dampen pressure Surges

Oil Pressure are critical to the operation of
an engine and should be monitored
frequently, especially right after engine
start up.

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Oil Pressure

After Engine startup oil pressure should
start to build within 30 seconds.

Oscillation of the pointer typically
indicates that air is trapped within the
system.

Fluctuations from zero to normal are often
indications of low oil supply.

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Cylinder Head Temperature

Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) –
Allows the pilot to monitor engine
temperatures.

Most CHT gauges are galvanometers that
display temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Thermocouple is a circuit consisting of
dissimilar wires connected together at two
junctions to form a loop.

Typical dissimilar metals consist of
constantan and iron, or chromel and
alumel.
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CHT

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Cylinder Head Temperatures

Thermocouples have two junctions; a hot
junction and a cold junction (reference
point).

Hot Junctions are installed in the cylinder
head in one or more ways, Bayonet or
Spark plug gasket type.

Cold Junction is located on the instruments
case.

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Cylinder Head Temperatures

Installation precautions:
-observe all color coding and polarity
markings.
- Ensure all electrical connections are clean
and torqued properly.
- Never shorten the thermocouple leads by
cutting them. Thermocouple leads and
instruments are a matched set!!!
- Cutting the leads result in a change
resistance
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Exhaust Gas Temperature

Exhaust Gas Temperature EGT -
Measures the temperature of the exhaust
some point past the exhaust port.

EGT systems are critical with turbine
engines and should be monitored closely
during engine startup.

EGT Systems employ thermocouples made
from alumel and chrome

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Exhaust Gas Temp

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Tachometers Reciprocating
Engine

Tachometers used in Reciprocating
Engines monitor engine’s crankshaft
rotational speed calibrated in hundreds of
rpm.
– There are four type of tachometers used :
-Mechanical Type
-Magnetic Type
-Electrical Type
-Electronic Type
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Tach

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Dual TACH

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Mechanical Tachometer

Mechanical tachometers consisted of a set
of flyweights driven by a flexible shaft
attached to the engine.

As the flyweights moved outward the
pointer moves in proportion to the engine
speed.

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Mechanical Tach

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Magnetic Tachometer

Magnetic Tachometers utilize a rotating
permanent magnet and drag cup to provide
RPM indications.

As the magnet rotates within the drag cup
a magnetic force is produced which causes
the drag cup to rotate in the same direction.

A small spring that is attached to the drag
cup opposes the magnetic force of the
magnet allowing the cup to rotate an
amount proportional to the engine's speed.
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Magnetic Tach

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Electrical Tachometers

Electrical Tachometer systems utilize a tach
generator, and a synchronous motor inside the
indicator.

Electrical Tachometers utilize a tach generator.
Which is a two or four pole generator.

Tach Generators are mounted to the engine’s
accessory section.

As the Tach Generator rotates it produces AC
voltage.

This Voltage is then sent to the indicator where
engine speed is the displayed to the pilot
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Electric Tach

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Electronic Tachometers

Electronic Tachometers indicate engine
RPM by counting electrical pulses from
the magnetos points.

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Tachometer Turbine Engine

Turbine Engine Tachometers are measured
in percent of engines rated takeoff power.

Two Spool Gas Turbines use tachometers
that measure the RPM of N1 Low Pressure
Compressor, and N2 High Pressure
Compressor rotational

Typically use a Tach. Generator and or a
Magnetic Sensor Detection to indicate the
Engine’s RPM.
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Engine Pressure Ratio Gauges

EPR Gauges are used to measure the
engine pressure ratio which is a ratio
between the compressor inlet total pressure
and turbine discharge total pressure.

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Torque Meters

Torque Meters are used to indicate the
amount of torque being produced by the
engine (Turboprops).

A torque Meter is nothing more than an oil
pressure gauge. The pressure it measures is
produced in a torque sensor and is
proportional to the amount of strain in the
torsional shaft that drives the reduction
gear of the turbo prop engine.

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Instrument Maintenance

As an A&P mechanic you are limited to
the amount of work you may perform on
Instruments.

You can remove and Replace Instruments.

You can touch up scratches

You can apply ranges markings.

You can tighten fasteners, and B-nuts

Check for accuracy
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Instrument Maintenance

If any discrepancy that requires the
opening the instrument case such as a
cracked or fogged glass, loose pointer, or a
pointer that will not zero must be sent to
the appropriate instrument repair station.

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