FAA AMT Airframe Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Study Guide to Master Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification!

When swaging aircraft control cable terminals, it is crucial to ensure that the swaged portion has been properly compressed to the correct diameter and shape. Using a terminal gauge to check the diameter of the swaged portion is a common method to ensure that the swaging process has been done correctly. This helps in verifying that the terminal has been swaged to the manufacturer's specifications, ensuring a secure connection and proper operation of the control cables.

Option A, visual inspection for discoloration, is not a reliable method for ensuring correct swaging as discoloration may not always be an accurate indicator of proper swaging.

Option B, measuring the length after swaging, does not provide information about the diameter of the swaged portion, which is essential for the integrity of the connection.

Option D, applying a magnetic particle inspection, is a method used for detecting surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials, and is not typically used to check the quality of swaging on control cable terminals.