Catching up to some of the homework from the syllabus, here are the completion standards questions.

Why is it important to do a takeoff briefing before departure?
The takeoff briefing allows the pilot to have a plan already in place to deal with the foreseeable events of the takeoff. It allows the pilot, co-pilot, and crew to commit these plans to memory. It clearly establishes who will do what and when during the events of the takeoff. Every takeoff is different and the reactions to an emergency will be different depending on the circumstances.

What is V_Y?
V_Y is the best rate of climb speed. For the Archer II it is 76 KIAS.

How do we maintain V_Y in a climb?
V_Y is maintained in a climb with pitch. The power is kept full during climb.

Why does the aircraft turn left after lift-off?
The aircraft will turn left after lift-off due to p-factor, the asymmetric propeller loading due to high angle of attack. The downward blade (right) will have a higher lift component causing more thrust on that side. In addition, the spiral slip stream strikes the tail and at low speeds this effect is more pronounced.

Why do we accelerate to cruise speed before reducing the throttle?
Reducing the power first will cause the airspeed to fall before cruise speed is reached. Downward pitch would need to be added in to achieve the desired cruise speed and altitude would be lost. By establishing cruise speed first, the throttle can be reduced and the airspeed pitched for straight and level flight without a loss of altitude.

Why do we lean the engine in cruise flight?
The engine is leaned in cruise flight because the higher-altitude air has less oxygen and the mixture is overly rich. More fuel is being sent to the combustion chamber than is necessary and the combustion is less efficient and incomplete. This will eventually result in spark plug fouling and an excessive fuel use.

What are some different ways to lean the engine?
Rich of peak: reduce the mixture lever until the engine reaches peak EGT, then add mixture back in until the EGT is X degrees lower than peak.
Lean of peak: reduce the mixture lever until the engine reaches peak EGT, then reduce mixture back until the EGT is X degrees lower than peak.
The engine could be leaned for best power – 100 degrees rich of peak EGT.
The engine could be leaned for best economy – peak EGT.

Why do we use a checklist after establishing cruise configuration?
Ensure that all of the steps for cruise flight are completed.

How do we determine cruise power?
Cruise power is determined based on altitude. A power setting (55% to 75% RPM) is chosen, but the RPM capability of the engine depends on altitude. The performance charts from the POH are used to determine cruise power.

Which control surface produces “negative lift?”
The stabilator (stabilizer in some aircraft) produces negative lift.

What is a beneficial effect of negative lift on the horizontal stabilizer?
In the event of a stabilizer stall the loss of negative lift will cause the nose to drop and lower the angle of attack, reducing the stall.

What is a detrimental effect of negative lift on the horizontal stabilizer?
The detrimental effect of negative lift on the horizontal stabilizer is that total lift needs to be zero for straight and level flight and so the wing needs to provide an increase in lift. Both positive and negative lift of the wing and stabilizer, respectively, creates an increase in induced drag.

When do we use the trim?
Trim is used to alleviate the control pressure necessary to maintain straight and level flight. The straight and level flight attitude is assumed (power and pitch) and the trim is used to alleviate the pressure needed to maintain pitch.

If the trim control tab is up, which way will the nose go?
The nose will drop when the trim control tab is up. The up control tab causes the stabilator to drop resulting in a downward pitch.

If a front passenger jumped into the rear seat, what would happen?
The center of mass of the airplane would shift aft. This would cause the airplane to pitch upward.

What happens to the aircraft pitch attitude when the flaps are deployed?
When the flaps are deployed the airplane will pitch upward.

What happens to the aircraft pitch attitude when the throttle is reduced?
When the throttle is reduced the aircraft will pitch downward.

Takeoff Briefings

Elements of a good takeoff briefing:

• Who will perform the takeoff?
• Which runway will you depart from?
• What type of takeoff will you perform?  Normal, rolling, short-field, soft-field?
• What will you do if you lose an engine during each phase?  Roll, after rotation, with insufficient runway, at pattern altitude, at cruise altitude?
• What are the critical V speeds?  V_X, V_Y, V_G
• What are the departure instructions?  Is there an obstacle departure procedure that I need to be aware of?  Does my departure clearance include a SID
• Which airport would I go to in case of emergency if the airplane is still flyable (if not the departure airport?  Can the departure airport handle the emergency?)

example: “I will be performing a normal takeoff.  We will be departing on runway two niner.  VR is 60, VY is 76.  If we have any problems or loss of power before rotation I will reduce throttle to idle, smoothly brake, and exist the runway.  The abort point is the third taxiway on the right.  If we have any problem or loss of power after rotation with sufficient runway remaining I will reduce throttle to idle, flare, and land, then exit the runway.  If there is insufficient runway remaining I will pitch for VG, 76, and choose a landing spot 30 degrees to the left or right.  There is a field to the left that I can land at.  We will not think about returning to the runway unless we are at 1000 AGL.”

Archer II V Speeds

V_S1 – 54 KIAS – clean configuration stall speed
V_{SO –} 48 KIAS – landing configuration stall speed
V_R 55-60 KIAS – rotation speed
V_X 64 KIAS – best angle of climb
V_Y 76 KIAS – best rate of climb
V_NO 125 KIAS – maximum structural cruising speed
V_FE 102 KIAS – maximum flap extension speed
V_A – 113 KIAS – maneuvering speed
V_NE – 154 KIAS – never exceed
V_G 76 KIAS – best glide flaps up
Cruise Climb – 87 KIAS
Max. Demo. Crosswind – 17 KIAS

Links

https://ti.arc.nasa.gov/m/profile/adegani/Cockpit%20Checklists.pdf
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/january/flight-training-magazine/technique-the-level-off
https://aopalive.aopa.org/detail/video/5550428298001/putting-on-the-step-to-the-test
https://www.askacfi.com/618/sample-takeoff-briefing.htm