Breaking Down an ACS Code: AM.II.E.K3 Explained
AM.II.E.K3 points to one specific ACS element: landing gear strut servicing/lubrication. Break the address into its parts, then use the exact element text to choose what to review for your oral and practical (O&P) test.
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How do I read AM.II.E.K3?
Read the code as an address in the Aviation Mechanic ACS. FAA guidance groups it into four components: AM, II, E, and K3. The last component combines the element type with its number.
FAA-G-ACS-1, Changes 1 & 2, printed 11, PDF 11
| Component | Read it as |
|---|---|
| AM | Aviation Mechanic ACS |
| II | Section II: Airframe |
| E | Subject E: Landing Gear Systems |
| K3 | Knowledge element 3: Landing gear strut servicing/lubrication. |
What does K3 actually ask me to know?
In Section II, Subject E, AM.II.E.K3 is “Landing gear strut servicing/lubrication.” Use that complete wording when making a study note. The code identifies an ACS element. The questions you are actually asked come from the test the evaluator generates with the FAA’s Mechanic Test Generator (MTG), and that test is not provided to the applicant.
FAA-S-ACS-1, printed 26, PDF 31 · FAA-G-ACS-1, Changes 1 & 2, printed 21, PDF 21 · FAA-G-ACS-1, Changes 1 & 2, printed 22, PDF 22
Does changing K to R or S keep the same topic?
Not by the number alone. K, R, and S identify different element types, and a shared number does not make the elements interchangeable. In the same Landing Gear Systems subject, compare the four entries below. K3 is not the same element as R3 or S3. The skill element closest to K3’s topic is S9, “Service landing gear air/oil shock strut,” which carries a different number. Match elements by their text, not their number.
FAA-S-ACS-1, printed 26, PDF 31
| Code | Type | Exact element |
|---|---|---|
| AM.II.E.K3 | Knowledge | Landing gear strut servicing/lubrication. |
| AM.II.E.R3 | Risk management | High pressure fluids and gases. |
| AM.II.E.S3 | Skill | Locate and explain procedures for checking operation of an anti-skid warning system. |
| AM.II.E.S9 | Skill | Service landing gear air/oil shock strut. |
What does that address mean for my oral preparation?
Your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) uses a code to identify a specific subject element associated with a missed written question. Deficient areas identified on the report are assessed during the oral. For how those codes affect the number of oral questions, see our ACS codes and AKTR guide. Here, keep the task smaller: locate the element and read its actual wording before choosing study material.
FAA-G-ACS-1, Changes 1 & 2, printed 19, PDF 19
Read the ACS codes and AKTR oral guide.
How can I turn this code into a useful study card?
Copy the full code and exact element text. Add the FAA reference pages you used and leave space for a short spoken explanation. For a skill element, record the action verb as well as the system name. Review the card against the actual ACS entry before practicing. This is our suggested routine, not an FAA requirement or a servicing procedure.
What else should I know?
Are “inspect” and “check” interchangeable instructions in a practical project?
No. Inspect means to examine (with or without inspection enhancing tools/equipment). Check means to verify proper operation.
FAA-G-ACS-1, Changes 1 & 2, printed 22, PDF 22
Can questions asked during a practical project test knowledge and risk management?
Yes. The MTG includes knowledge and risk-management questions specific to selected projects, asked in context during the practical demonstration. You may use reference material for those questions, unlike the oral.
FAA-G-ACS-1, Changes 1 & 2, printed 21, PDF 21
Does previous education or experience lower the standard I must meet?
No. Every applicant must demonstrate knowledge and skill to a minimum satisfactory level regardless of previous education, experience, or background.
How can I practice with DMEReady?
DMEReady is an AI voice examiner for the A&P oral in your phone or computer browser. You answer out loud, and it asks follow-up questions the way a DME would. You can also rehearse an oral built from the ACS codes on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). After each session, the report shows what you covered, what you missed, what a complete answer includes, and where to read in the FAA handbooks. You can save it as a PDF study sheet and share a result image that never shows your answers or name. The first drill is free, with no sign-up. DMEReady is an AI examiner, not a human DME. It is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA; it does not predict or guarantee results.
Start your free drillWhich guide should I read next?
- A&P ACS Codes: Know Your Codes Before the Oral
- Landing Gear Oral Exam Questions and Answers
- Airframe Oral Exam Questions: What a DME Asks
Which sources support this guide?
FAA PDF citations identify the printed and 1-based PDF pages.
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Paste the ACS codes on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). We’ll email you a study plan now, then two short tasks built from your codes: one on day 3, one on day 7. That’s all.
About this guide: drafted with AI from the FAA sources listed on this page and checked claim by claim against them. Not reviewed by an A&P mechanic or DME. How we make our guides
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