Which propeller type requires no blade pitch adjustment by the pilot?

• A. Variable Pitch Propeller
• B. Fixed Pitch Propeller
• C. Constant Speed Propeller
• D. Feathered Propeller

Answer: (B)

Blade pitch is the angle at which the propeller blades meet the airflow. A fixed pitch propeller uses a single blade angle set during manufacture and cannot be changed in flight, so no pitch adjustments by the pilot are ever required or possible during operation. This simplicity means thrust and efficiency vary with engine power and airspeed, but the blade angle remains fixed.

In contrast, a variable pitch propeller lets the pilot adjust the blade angle to optimize performance, and a constant speed propeller uses a governor to automatically maintain a set rpm by changing pitch as conditions change. A feathered propeller is pitched to a high angle to minimize drag, typically after an engine failure, which is a specialized condition and not part of normal pitch adjustment. Therefore, the fixed pitch propeller is the one that requires no blade pitch adjustment by the pilot.