Definition
A substance added to a chemical mixture, such as a resin or adhesive, to speed up the rate of curing or hardening. In aircraft maintenance, accelerators are commonly used with two-part resins, fiberglass repairs, and certain paints or sealants to shorten the time required for the material to set.
Plain English
Something you add to a chemical mix to make it harden faster.
Context Anchor
Seen in piston-engine aircraft with carburetors, especially in engine operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting discussions.
Derivation
From the Latin 'accelerare', meaning 'to hasten' or 'to speed up'. The aviation use keeps that core idea: an accelerator is anything added to make a process happen sooner.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents engine hesitation or backfire during rapid throttle application in critical phases such as takeoff or go-around.
Analogy
Works like the accelerator pump in an older car carburetor that squirts extra fuel when you stomp on the gas pedal.
Intuition Check
Accelerator does not mean the throttle itself here. It means the carburetor device that helps the engine respond when the throttle is moved quickly.
Example Sentence 1
The technician added a small amount of accelerator to the resin so the composite patch would cure before the end of the workday.
Example Sentence 2
During the run-up, a weak accelerator caused a slight hesitation when the throttle was opened quickly.