Practical projects

How the practical works and how to prepare for common projects, from FAA sources.

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How the practical works

• A&P Practical Projects: What the DME Evaluates on the O&P

  Understand A&P practical projects: ACS skills, the FAA sample PDF, project questions, reference use, and what to confirm with your O&P examiner.

• FAA A&P Practical Test Changes 2026: What's New

  FAA A&P practical test changes 2026: new project-tied practical questions, activation dates by section, the retest rule, and what stays the same for the oral.

• What to Practice in the Hangar Before Your A&P Practical

  Plan practice for A&P practical skills with seven exact ACS elements, FAA handbook chapters, and supervised study tasks that preserve safety and source limits.

Projects

• Safety Wire Practical Test: Double-Twist and Turnbuckles

  Prepare for a safety wire practical test with FAA-based steps for torque checks, routing, pliers, three-bolt patterns, and turnbuckle safetying.

• Cotter Pins and Safety Methods for the A&P Practical

  Study cotter pin installation A&P tasks with a castellated-nut workflow, bend and inspection checks, and safety methods other than wire.

• Torque on the A&P Practical: Wrench Use, Extensions and Values

  Prepare for A&P practical torque work with wrench technique, an inline extension formula, a worked example, and a torque values table with its limits.

• Precision Measuring for the A&P Practical: Micrometers and Dial Indicators

  Prepare for A&P practical precision measuring with micrometer readings, a vernier example, dial indicator runout, and FAA-based cautions.

• Identifying Aircraft Hardware for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical hardware identification: read AN, MS and NAS markings and part numbers, check grip length, and recognize prohibited substitutions.

• A&P Practical Weight and Balance: A Worked Problem

  Work an A&P practical weight and balance illustration: subtract tare, calculate signed moments, find empty-weight CG, and check aircraft-specific data.

• Writing a Maintenance Record Entry for the A&P Practical

  Prepare an A&P practical logbook entry using 14 CFR 43.9: work description, completion date, performer, approval signature, and an illustration.

• Measuring Voltage, Resistance and Voltage Drop for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical multimeter work: voltage connections, de-energized resistance checks, and voltage drop measured across a resistor.

• Wire Terminals and Splices for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical wire splicing: approved repair data, stripping precautions, terminal selection, crimp tools and dies, splice limits, and inspection.

• Dye Penetrant Inspection for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical dye penetrant inspection: surface preparation, penetrant dwell time, developer, indications, and ACS safety expectations.

• Identifying and Removing Corrosion for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical corrosion removal: inspect the metal, choose compatible tools, preserve protection and use manufacturer damage limits.

• A&P Practical Sheet Metal Layout: Bends and Rivet Rows

  Practice A&P practical sheet metal layout with a labelled bend-allowance calculation, setback, developed width, and an illustrative rivet row.

• Rivet Installation for the A&P Practical: Drill, Drive and Inspect

  Prepare for A&P practical riveting: drill and deburr, drive and inspect solid rivets, check shop head dimensions, and remove a rivet without enlarging the hole.

• Fiberglass and Composite Damage Repair for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical composite repair: map damage, control resin and dust risks, follow the SRM for layup and cure, then inspect the repair.

• Fluid Line Flaring for the A&P Practical: Single and Double Flares

  Prepare for A&P practical flaring with a sourced workflow for tube bending, single and double flares, inspection, and fitting torque.

• Flexible Hose Assembly and Installation for the A&P Practical

  A&P practical hose fabrication: select hose and fittings, proof-test the assembly, and check lay line, slack, bend radius, and clearance for the O&P.

• Control Cable Tension and Rigging for the A&P Practical

  A&P practical cable tension: use a tensiometer and temperature chart, adjust and safety the turnbuckle, then check travel for the O&P.

• Aircraft Tire and Wheel Inspection for the A&P Practical

  A&P practical tire inspection: check pressure, tread, wheels, and bearings, with deflation and inflation-cage precautions for the O&P.

• Bleeding Hydraulic Brakes for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical brake bleeding: choose the system’s method, use correct fluid, remove air, and check operation, leaks, and reservoir level.

• Servicing an Air/Oil Shock Strut for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical shock strut servicing: release stored pressure, check fluid level, service the valve, and inflate per manufacturer instructions.

• Aircraft Battery Inspection and Servicing for the A&P Practical

  A&P practical battery servicing: inspect lead-acid and NiCd batteries, check electrolyte, and follow charging, ventilation, and separation precautions.

• Inspecting an Aircraft Fire Extinguisher for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical fire extinguisher inspection: pressure and weight checks, discharge indicators, hydrostatic date and cartridge precautions.

• Spark Plug Removal, Inspection and Installation for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for spark plugs on the A&P practical: removal, inspection, spark plug gap, plug rotation, torque, anti-seize cautions, and manufacturer instructions.

• Magneto Timing on the A&P Practical: Internal and External Timing

  Prepare for A&P practical magneto timing: internal timing, E-gap, engine position, timing-light indications, and a general method governed by manufacturer data.

• Differential Compression Test for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for an A&P practical compression test with differential pressure tester principles, leak sources, propeller cautions, and engine-specific limits.

• Oil Filter, Screen and Chip Detector Inspection for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical oil filter inspection: open the filter, inspect screens and chip detectors, identify metal findings, and use manufacturer limits.

• Inspecting a Reciprocating Engine Exhaust System for the A&P Practical

  A&P practical exhaust system inspection: cowling access, marking prohibitions, cracks, heat exchangers, baffles, leaks, carbon monoxide and repair boundaries.

• Borescope Inspection of a Turbine Engine for the A&P Practical

  Prepare for A&P practical borescope inspection: use designated access, identify and record findings, and judge damage against the engine manufacturer’s limits.

• Propeller Track and Blade Inspection for the A&P Practical

  A&P practical propeller tracking: perform a static track check, inspect blades, and follow ignition precautions and manufacturer repair limits.

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