FAA Powerplant Written Practice Test

What describes the movement of a feathering propeller when in the high RPM position during reversing?

1. Low pitch directly to feathered position.

2. High pitch to the low RPM position.

3. Low pitch directly to reversing.

4. Feathered to low pitch gradually.

The correct answer is: Low pitch directly to reversing.

The movement of a feathering propeller when in the high RPM position during reversing is accurately described as a transition from a low pitch directly to reversing. When the propeller is in the reverse mode, it is aimed to produce thrust in the opposite direction to slow down or stop the aircraft. This means the blades need to be set to a low pitch angle to achieve effective reverse thrust efficiently. In this configuration, the propeller blades can transition quickly and efficiently into a negative pitch (reversing pitch) from the low pitch position, which maximizes the thrust generated against the aircraft's forward motion. The ability to directly shift from low pitch to reversing without a gradual change helps to provide a responsive and adequate deceleration for the aircraft. In contrast, the other options describe movements that either don't apply to the reverse thrust operation or involve unnecessary intermediate steps that do not reflect how feathering propellers are designed to operate in this specific context. For example, feathered positions or transitions to low RPM do not align with the immediate need for converting from low pitch to reverse thrust when in a high RPM scenario.