FAA Powerplant Written Practice Test

What describes the blade movement of a feathering propeller that is in the high rpm position when reversing?

1. High pitch directly to reversing

2. Low pitch directly to reversing

3. Neutral pitch position

4. Constant high pitch

The correct answer is: Low pitch directly to reversing

A feathering propeller is designed to change the pitch of its blades to minimize drag when the engine is not producing power or during an emergency situation. When such a propeller is in the high RPM position and shifting to reverse thrust, the movement from a low pitch allows for a more rapid change to a reversed pitch. In this context, moving from a low pitch directly to reversing means that the propeller blades rotate to a position where they can effectively push air in the opposite direction, which is essential for deceleration or reversing the thrust of the aircraft. This is crucial for maintaining control during landing or in specific flight conditions. The mechanism of feathering allows for faster transitions, enabling the propeller to quickly switch from providing forward thrust to generating reverse thrust without needing to pass through a neutral or high pitch setting. This is why the correct answer highlights the direct relationship between the low pitch position and initiating the reverse thrust efficiently.