← All explained questions · Supplemental · VIII — Basic Instrument Maneuvers
If the vacuum system fails and you lose the attitude indicator and heading indicator, what instruments remain for IMC flight?
Choices
None — must descend immediately.
Partial panel allows continued flight if practiced.
✓ PARTIAL PANEL.correct
airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator (pitot-static), turn coordinator (electric), magnetic compass. Practice partial panel maneuvers to develop the scan that uses these instruments to maintain straight-and-level and turns. Partial-panel scan after vacuum loss: airspeed (pitch by primary at constant power — nose-low = fast, nose-high = slow), altimeter (primary for altitude — trend tells you pitch), VSI (trend instrument), turn coordinator (electric, gives bank info), magnetic compass (heading reference, with errors). Private Pilots cover partial-panel basics; Instrument students master it.
Only the GPS.
GPS is great for nav but not for attitude.
Only the radios.
Radios don't help with attitude.
Why
airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator (pitot-static), turn coordinator (electric), magnetic compass. Practice partial panel maneuvers to develop the scan that uses these instruments to maintain straight-and-level and turns. Partial-panel scan after vacuum loss: airspeed (pitch by primary at constant power — nose-low = fast, nose-high = slow), altimeter (primary for altitude — trend tells you pitch), VSI (trend instrument), turn coordinator (electric, gives bank info), magnetic compass (heading reference, with errors). Private Pilots cover partial-panel basics; Instrument students master it.
FAA source: AFH Ch 16, IFH Ch 7; AFH Chapter 16 — Emergency Proceduresbrowse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.