What is the airplane doing?
You're hand-flying at night and glance down at the panel and see this. What attitude is the plane in right now?
Pick an answer. You can try as many as you like.
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B. Climbing right turn
Find the instrument that disagrees
The turn coordinator and the heading indicator both show a right turn. The altimeter and VSI both show a climb. The attitude indicator is the only instrument showing a left bank, so it's the one that doesn't agree. It has failed, and the airplane is in a climbing right turn.
Why this one is tricky
The attitude indicator sits in the middle of the panel and is the first instrument most pilots look at, especially at night with no outside horizon. That's exactly why a failed one is dangerous. Cross-check it against the turn coordinator, heading indicator, altimeter and VSI before you trust it.
References
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 8: Flight Instruments PDFSee "Gyroscopic Flight Instruments."
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