AME Exam Sample Questions: What to Expect on Transport Canada Tests
One of the most common questions we hear from AME apprentices is: what do the actual exam questions look like? Transport Canada does not publish official sample questions for its written exams, which leaves many candidates guessing about question format, difficulty level, and what exactly they need to know. This article walks through realistic sample questions from each of the five AME written exams — CARs, Standards, Airframe, Powerplant, and Electrical — with detailed explanations of the answers and the reasoning behind them.
Sky Licence Team
AME exam preparation specialists — helping engineers earn their Transport Canada license since 2025
About These Sample Questions
These questions are designed to match the style, difficulty, and format of actual Transport Canada AME written exams. They are based on the TP14038E syllabus and drawn from the topics that are most heavily tested. Each question is multiple-choice with four options, and we have included the CARs or Standards reference where applicable.
Note: These are samples to illustrate question formats and reasoning strategies. For full-length practice exams covering all topics, Sky Licence offers a comprehensive question bank with hundreds of exam-style questions, adaptive difficulty, and detailed explanations for every answer.
CARs Exam Sample Question
Question 1 (CARs — Part V, Airworthiness)
"According to CAR 571.02, who is responsible for ensuring that maintenance performed on an aircraft is carried out in accordance with the approved data?"
- A) The owner of the aircraft
- B) The AME who signs the maintenance release
- C) The holder of the maintenance organization (AMO) certificate
- D) The manufacturer of the aircraft
Show Answer
Answer: C
Under CAR 571.02, the holder of the AMO certificate is ultimately responsible for ensuring maintenance complies with approved data. While the AME signing the release has personal responsibility for the work performed, regulatory accountability rests with the AMO certificate holder. This is a classic CARs question — it tests your understanding of where regulatory responsibility lies, not just who does the hands-on work.
This question illustrates a key pattern in CARs exam questions: they test regulatory accountability structures, not just practical knowledge. Many candidates choose B because the AME is the one physically performing and signing off the work. But the regulation is clear — the AMO certificate holder bears the ultimate responsibility.
Standards Exam Sample Question
Question 2 (Standard 571 — Maintenance)
"An AME performing a 100-hour inspection on a Cessna 172 finds a crack in the engine mount. According to Standard 571, how should this be classified?"
- A) Minor defect — can be deferred
- B) Major repair — requires approved data and an AMO
- C) Normal wear — no action required
- D) Precautionary replacement — log entry only
Show Answer
Answer: B
Standard 571 classifies a cracked engine mount as a major repair because it involves a structural component whose failure could affect the safe operation of the aircraft. Major repairs require approved data and must be performed by an AMO or under an AMO's quality system. A simple log entry is not sufficient — the repair must be documented with the specific approved data reference and signed off by the appropriate authority.
Airframe Exam Sample Question
Question 3 (Airframe — Structures)
"What type of corrosion is most commonly found in the lap joints of aluminum aircraft fuselages?"
- A) Stress corrosion cracking
- B) Pitting corrosion
- C) Crevice corrosion
- D) Galvanic corrosion
Show Answer
Answer: C
Crevice corrosion occurs in confined spaces where moisture and contaminants become trapped — exactly the conditions found in lap joints, overlapping skin panels, and riveted seams on aluminum fuselages. While pitting corrosion can occur in similar environments, crevice corrosion is specifically associated with the tight, overlapping geometry of lap joints. The Airframe exam frequently tests the ability to match corrosion types to specific aircraft locations and conditions.
Powerplant Exam Sample Question
Question 4 (Powerplant — Turbine Engines)
"During a ground run, a turbofan engine exceeds the maximum exhaust gas temperature (EGT) limit for the current ambient conditions. What is the most likely cause?"
- A) Excessive fuel flow
- B) Low oil pressure
- C) Worn compressor blades
- D) Bleed air leak
Show Answer
Answer: A
High EGT during a ground run is most commonly caused by excessive fuel flow relative to the airflow through the engine. This could be due to a faulty fuel control unit, a misadjusted fuel metering system, or a problem with the engine's electronic control system. Low oil pressure would cause other symptoms (bearing distress, warnings) but not directly cause high EGT. Worn compressor blades cause reduced efficiency but usually manifest as higher fuel flow for a given thrust, not necessarily a sudden EGT exceedance during a ground run.
Electrical Exam Sample Question
Question 5 (Electrical — Systems)
"In a 28-volt DC aircraft electrical system, what is the purpose of a reverse current cutout relay in the generator control circuit?"
- A) To disconnect the battery from the bus during an overvoltage condition
- B) To prevent the generator from motoring when the generator voltage is lower than battery voltage
- C) To regulate the generator output voltage
- D) To protect the generator from overheating
Show Answer
Answer: B
The reverse current cutout relay (or reverse current relay) is designed to automatically disconnect the generator from the bus when the generator voltage falls below battery voltage. Without it, current would flow from the battery back through the generator, causing the generator to act as a motor (motoring) — which can damage the generator and drain the battery. This is a fundamental protection device in older DC generating systems and frequently appears in the Electrical exam.
Common Question Patterns Across All Exams
Based on analysis of thousands of AME exam questions, several patterns emerge that can help you prepare more effectively:
- Definition questions — Expect 8–12 questions that test your knowledge of specific definitions from CARs Part 101, Standard 571, or Standard 573. These are often the easiest marks if you have studied the definitions.
- Scenario-based application — 20–30% of questions present a real-world maintenance scenario and ask you to identify the correct regulatory response, troubleshooting step, or classification. These test applied knowledge.
- Numerical and time-limit questions — The CARs and Standards exams are full of questions asking how many days, months, or hours apply to specific requirements. These are very common and require precise memorization.
- "Most likely" and "best" questions — Many questions ask for the "most likely cause" or "best course of action." These test your ability to prioritize and reason through competing possibilities.
How to Use Sample Questions Effectively
Simply reading sample questions and checking the answers is not enough to prepare for the real exam. Here is a proven approach:
Step 1: Try to answer each question without looking at the options. If you cannot recall the answer without prompts, you do not know the material well enough yet.
Step 2: For every question you get wrong, write down the specific CARs section, Standard reference, or technical principle that applies. Do not move on until you understand why the correct answer is right and the others are wrong.
Step 3: Re-test yourself on the same questions 48 hours later. If you still get them right, your brain has begun encoding the information into long-term memory. If you get them wrong, repeat Step 2.
Step 4: Use a platform like Sky Licence to access hundreds of additional questions organized by exam and topic, with adaptive difficulty that automatically increases as your scores improve.
Practice with Sky Licence sample questions →
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Final Advice
The biggest mistake AME candidates make with sample questions is treating them as a passive reference — reading through them once and assuming they understand the material. The candidates who pass on their first attempt actively engage with every question, look up the references, and re-test themselves until the information sticks. The questions in this article are a starting point. Build on them with structured practice, and you will walk into your exam with genuine confidence.