FAA Flight Controls Practice Test

A pilot may experience unexpected flight characteristics primarily due to misalignment of control surfaces. Control surfaces, which include ailerons, elevators, and rudders, are crucial for maintaining and altering the aircraft's attitude and direction. If these surfaces are not properly aligned, they will not respond as intended when the pilot inputs commands through the control yoke or stick. This misalignment can lead to a variety of issues, such as undesired turns, unanticipated pitching movements, or difficulty maintaining altitude.

In contrast, while an aircraft being too lightweight or having a full fuel tank might influence performance, they do not typically lead to unexpected flight characteristics in the same direct manner as misaligned control surfaces do. Additionally, clear weather usually does not contribute to unexpected behaviors but, instead, provides favorable conditions for flying. Therefore, the primary reason unforeseen flight characteristics arise is the improper alignment of the control surfaces, which directly impacts the aircraft's handling and stability.