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Interpreting a cable tensiometer dial reading

Aviation Mechanic Airframe (AMA) practice question 1 of 16 on Flight Controls. ACS element AM.II.C.R4 · difficulty: standard. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Aviation Mechanic Airframe (AMA) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONA mechanic places a tensiometer on a control cable and observes a dial reading of 30. What must be done with that reading?

  1. ARecord it directly as 30 pounds of cable tension
  2. BMultiply it by the riser number in use
  3. CConvert it to pounds with the conversion chart
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Convert it to pounds with the conversion chart

  • A — incorrect The dial reading is not in pounds; it must be converted before it means anything as a tension value.
  • B — incorrect The riser number identifies which riser suits the cable size; it is not a multiplier for the dial reading.
  • C — correct A conversion chart is included with each tensiometer and is used to convert the dial reading to pounds of tension.

BACKGROUND

Cable tension is determined with a tensiometer, which measures the force needed to make an offset in the cable between two hardened steel blocks called anvils; a riser or plunger presses against the cable to form the offset. Different numbered risers are used with different cable sizes, and each riser has an identifying number and is easily inserted into the tensiometer. Included with each tensiometer is a conversion chart, which is used to convert the dial reading to pounds of tension. When properly maintained, a tensiometer is 98 percent accurate, and tensiometers are calibrated to maintain that accuracy. Because the dial can be hard to see in the aircraft, a pointer lock is built in: push it in to lock the pointer, remove the tensiometer from the cable, read the dial, then pull the lock out to return the pointer to zero.

STUDY TIP

Never treat the dial number as pounds; identify the cable size, pick the correct riser, then read the conversion chart.

KEY POINTS

  • The tensiometer dial reading must be converted to pounds using the supplied chart.
  • Riser number is selected by cable size, not used as a multiplier.
  • A properly maintained tensiometer is 98 percent accurate.

SOURCES

  • sources/ama-airframe/ch02.txt "Cable Tension" (tensiometer and conversion chart)
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SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on FAA-H-8083-31B Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – Airframe, and 14 CFR part 43. Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.