The accelerometer indicates the aircraft ______ experienced during flight.

• A. Roll rate
• B. Angle of attack
• C. Vertical velocity
• D. G load

Answer: (D)

An accelerometer measures the forces acting on the airplane, i.e., the G-load or load factor. It senses proper acceleration, including gravity, so in level flight it reads about 1 g, and it changes during maneuvers that increase or decrease the load on the aircraft. It does not directly measure roll rate (angular speed), angle of attack, or vertical velocity (rate of climb/descent). So the accelerometer best indicates the G load experienced during flight.