Aviation Maintenance Technology Powerplant 4

Course Description

AMT0824 — Aviation Maintenance Technology Powerplant 4 is the final course in the powerplant portion of Florida's Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) Aviation Maintenance Technology curriculum, delivered under FAA 14 CFR Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) certification (CIP 0647060704 Powerplant; Career Cluster: Transportation, Distribution & Logistics). Building on the prior powerplant coursework, this culminating course covers turbine-engine systems, advanced reciprocating-engine systems, propellers, engine instruments, and engine fire protection — preparing students for the FAA Powerplant written, oral, and practical examinations.

This course is offered at FAA-certificated AMTS schools in Florida, including Eastern Florida State College, Pinellas Technical College, Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Center at Polk State College, Broward College, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, and other Part 147 institutions.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of AMT0824, students will be able to:

• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service turbine engines: turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft theory of operation; cold and hot section components; engine performance parameters (EGT, ITT, TIT, N1, N2, fuel flow).
• Apply turbine-engine inspection: borescope inspection, hot-section inspection (HSI), shop visit, condition trend monitoring, exhaust-gas analysis.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service aircraft propellers: fixed-pitch, ground-adjustable, controllable-pitch, constant-speed, full-feathering, reversing propellers; governor operation; propeller-balance and tracking; ice protection; static and dynamic balance.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service engine fuel systems: turbine-engine fuel control units (FCU/EEC/FADEC); reciprocating-engine carburetors and fuel-injection systems; fuel-control rigging and adjustment.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service engine ignition systems: magneto ignition (single and dual); turbine-engine ignition (capacitor-discharge, ignition exciter, igniters).
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service engine starting systems: starter-generators, pneumatic starters, electric starters; cross-bleed starting; APU starting.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service engine instruments: tachometers (mechanical, electrical, electronic); EGT/ITT/TIT thermocouples; oil pressure and temperature; fuel pressure and flow; manifold pressure (reciprocating).
• Inspect and service engine fire-protection systems: continuous-loop and thermal-switch detectors; halon/clean-agent fire bottles; squib and discharge testing.
• Apply engine inspection procedures: phase inspections, hot-section inspection, condition monitoring (oil analysis, vibration analysis, ECTM/EICAS).
• Document powerplant maintenance per 14 CFR 43.9 and 43.11.
• Demonstrate knowledge sufficient to pass the FAA Powerplant written examination; be prepared for FAA oral and practical examination.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply introductory FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system service awareness.
• Apply turbine-engine borescope inspection hands-on experience where lab equipment supports.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Turbine Engine Theory: Brayton cycle; thrust equation; engine sections (inlet, compressor, combustor, turbine, exhaust); turbojet vs. turbofan vs. turboprop vs. turboshaft.
• Turbine Engine Components: Compressor types (axial, centrifugal, hybrid); combustion chambers (annular, can, can-annular); turbine sections (high-pressure, low-pressure); accessory drive section.
• Turbine Engine Systems: Lubrication (wet-sump and dry-sump); fuel control (hydromechanical, electronic, FADEC); ignition (capacitor-discharge); starting (pneumatic, electric).
• Turbine Engine Performance: Performance parameters; takeoff and continuous power ratings; engine condition trend monitoring (ECTM); engine performance check.
• Turbine Engine Inspection and Maintenance: Borescope inspection; hot-section inspection; module replacement vs. shop visit; foreign object damage (FOD) assessment.
• Reciprocating Engine Systems (Advanced): Continuation of fuel injection vs. carburetion; turbocharging and supercharging; advanced ignition (magneto timing, lead-fouling diagnosis).
• Aircraft Propellers: Fixed pitch, ground-adjustable, controllable pitch, constant-speed; propeller governor; full-feathering and reversing; balance and tracking; ice and rain protection; deicer boots and electrical heat.
• Engine Fuel Systems: Carburetor types (float, pressure); continuous-flow fuel injection (Bendix RSA, Continental); turbine fuel control (FCU, EEC, FADEC); fuel-control rigging; mixture distribution.
• Engine Ignition Systems: Magneto types (single, dual); P-leads and ignition switches; magneto timing; turbine ignition (low-tension capacitor discharge, igniter plugs).
• Engine Starting Systems: Reciprocating-engine starters (direct-cranking electric); turbine starters (electric, pneumatic, fuel-air, gas turbine starter); starter-generator combined units.
• Engine Instruments: Tachometers; temperature indicators (thermocouples for EGT/ITT/TIT); pressure gauges (oil, fuel, manifold); fuel-flow transmitters.
• Engine Fire Protection: Fire-detection systems; fire-extinguishing systems (halon, clean-agent); squib testing and discharge.
• FAA Powerplant Examination Preparation: Powerplant written-test subject areas; oral and practical preparation.

Resources & Tools

• Dale Crane Aviation Maintenance Technician Series — Powerplant (ASA)
• Jeppesen A&P Technician Powerplant Textbook
• FAA Advisory Circulars (AC 65-9, AC 43.13-1B)
• 14 CFR Parts 33, 39, 43, 65, 91, 145, 147
• Engine maintenance manuals for training engines (Lycoming O-360, Continental O-470, Pratt & Whitney PT6, GE/CFM training engines)
• Borescope equipment
• FAA Knowledge Test bank (Powerplant)
• SkillsUSA CTSO

Career Pathways

Successful completion of AMT0824 and the FAA Powerplant examination sequence qualifies students for the FAA Powerplant (P) Mechanic Certificate. Combined with the FAA Airframe rating, this becomes the full Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate. Florida's airline maintenance, FBO, business aviation, and military contractor employment markets create strong demand for newly-certificated A&P mechanics. Engine-overhaul shops (such as those at Naples, Lakeland, Fort Lauderdale Executive) provide additional employment paths specifically for powerplant-strong technicians.

Special Information

FAA Powerplant Examination

The course directly prepares for the FAA Powerplant written examination (currently 100 questions, 2-hour time limit, 70% passing score). Following written-test passage, students complete oral and practical examinations administered by an FAA-designated mechanic examiner (DME).

Turbine versus Reciprocating Career Paths

Career paths increasingly favor turbine-engine experience: airline, business jet, and turbine-helicopter operations dominate the higher-wage segments. Reciprocating-engine work remains essential in general aviation and trainer/light-aircraft maintenance. Students should plan continuing education on specific engine types after initial A&P certification.

Program Length

AMT0824 as the final powerplant course typically allocates 200–300 clock hours.