What must normally be done to a nose-wheel airplane before removing an engine?

• A. The tail of the airplane must be supported.
• B. The nose wheel must be removed.
• C. The wing must be detached.
• D. The tail cone must be blocked.

Answer: (A)

When removing an engine from a nose-wheel airplane, the front end becomes lighter as the heavy engine is taken away, shifting the center of gravity aft. That can cause the airplane to pivot on the main landing gear and the tail to drop toward the ground, making the airframe unstable and risking tail strike or damage. Supporting the tail with a tail stand or appropriate blocks keeps the fuselage level and stable while you work, allowing safe access to the engine mounts and hardware. The other options—removing the nose wheel, detaching the wing, or blocking the tail cone—aren’t required steps for this procedure.