Failed private pilot checkride

ajb3

ajb3

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Jun 23, 2019
Messages
12
Display Name
Display name:
ajb
On steep turns to the left a had too shallow a bank and was told that the maneuver was not satisfactory. I opted to continue with the checkride and everything else was perfect or, in the case of soft field landings, acceptable if not particularly soft. DPE opted not to do soft field takeoff or short field landing as we needed to retest for steep turns to the left (strangely my steep turn to the right was perfect -- dead on 45° back through the turn).

I'm disappointed but only have three things to do next time to get my certificate. I'm really hoping for a flawless checkride next weekend.
 
You can have it done by end of next week easy. You just had a bad day, we have all had them at one point or another.
 
No biggie. You got this.

On another note, I didn’t think the DPE could decide not to do stuff unless the applicant is unsafe. I thought only the applicant could make that call.
 
Salty said:
No biggie. You got this.

On another note, I didn’t think the DPE could decide not to do stuff unless the applicant is unsafe. I thought only the applicant could make that call.
Click to expand...

DPE can't continue without applicant's consent but either DPE or applicant can stop the exam. We were running really behind due to weather and I think she figured we have to do one take off and landing anyways in order to do the steep turn at the re-test.
 
ajb3 said:
On steep turns to the left a had too shallow a bank and was told that the maneuver was not satisfactory. I opted to continue with the checkride and everything else was perfect or, in the case of soft field landings, acceptable if not particularly soft. DPE opted not to do soft field takeoff or short field landing as we needed to retest for steep turns to the left (strangely my steep turn to the right was perfect -- dead on 45° back through the turn).

I'm disappointed but only have three things to do next time to get my certificate. I'm really hoping for a flawless checkride next weekend.
Click to expand...

Ah, steep turns to the left. I had the same problem. Could nail them to right but not the left. Always had to much left rudder. Not enough left bank could be a natural response to this. I don’t remember doing that, just skidding. I got over it when someone explained to me that coordinated rudder is needed while rolling into the turn. Once you are established at the bank you need for the turn, you don’t need the rudder anymore. Do you think that’s what you are doing? Holding the left rudder you used to enter the turn after you are established in the turn.
 
Hey, it happens. Definitely don’t get discouraged, it’s an easy mistake that can happen.

I have confidence you’ll do great next time!

Can’t wait to hear how well it went!
 
1 - You haven’t failed unless you quit. You simply need more than one ride before passing everything. No biggie.

2 - If anyone did fail it was your CFI for not ensuring you were ready. So go practice some more and insist that your CFI is certain you’ll nail it next time.

Good luck! Get ‘er done!
 
Thanks everyone for your encouragement. A couple of additional details on what turned into a tough day.

Checkride was scheduled at noon at an airport about 50 nm away. Plan was to meet my CFI at our home airport at 10 and fly together to the test airport. Ceilings in the morning were low across the region and it was unclear whether they would lift. After an hour of watching the metars and forecasts, my CFI called the DPE and she said I could drive up if I wanted and she would check my documents and do the oral exam and then we would discontinue if the weather didn't improve but if it did my CFI would fly the plane up to her airport.

When I got up there the weather was still too low to do the flight test so we did the oral and I nailed it. Suddenly in that one hour, ceilings lifted to 3500 ft so I called my CFI and he flew up but it was still IFR at home and it took him 30 minutes to get an IFR clearance and then 30 minutes to fly up so there was a lot of waiting around and that played with my nerves. I was pretty frazzled by the time we got in the plane at 2:15 and the instructor was behind on her next appointment so I felt some pressure to go faster (my problem, not her fault... She could have just said she didn't have time and issue a notice of discontinuance). So not ideal situation and I guess on balance I'm glad we got everything done except 3 manouvers.
 
I don’t get this. The standard for these procedures isn’t perfection. I mean the overall approach to every check ride I have had is whether the pilot is safe. Good decision making, understands what happening, isn’t behind the plane, etc. I find it difficult to envision someone failing a check ride for not “nailing” the steep turn to the left. Short of the DPE having to recover the aircraft I just don’t see that as resulting in a busted check ride. That’s just frustrating and uncalled for if the DPE announced you were done because of steep turn to the left.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Tommar98 said:
I don’t get this. The standard for these procedures isn’t perfection. I mean the overall approach to every check ride I have had is whether the pilot is safe. Good decision making, understands what happening, isn’t behind the plane, etc. I find it difficult to envision someone failing a check ride for not “nailing” the steep turn to the left. Short of the DPE having to recover the aircraft I just don’t see that as resulting in a busted check ride. That’s just frustrating and uncalled for if the DPE announced you were done because of steep turn to the left.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

ACS requires 45° of bank +/- 5°. She said I was consistently under 40° hence performance of the maneuver did not meet the ACS requirements.
 
ajb3 said:
ACS requires 45° of bank +/- 5°. She said I was consistently under 40° hence performance of the maneuver did not meet the ACS requirements.
Click to expand...


No, ACS says "approximately" 45 degrees, then you have to maintain within 5. Approximately is a judgement call.
 
ajb3 said:
ACS requires 45° of bank +/- 5°. She said I was consistently under 40° hence performance of the maneuver did not meet the ACS requirements.
Click to expand...

You’ve got the right attitude. Just go up and fix it and you’ll be joining the ranks of the League of Temporary Airmen. :)
 
denverpilot said:
You’ve got the right attitude. Just go up and fix it and you’ll be joining the ranks of the League of Temporary Airmen. :)
Click to expand...

I’m not critical of the OP. I think if a DPE failed him on that one maneuver I think it’s ridiculous - assuming everything else was okay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Tommar98 said:
I’m not critical of the OP. I think if a DPE failed him on that one maneuver I think it’s ridiculous - assuming everything else was okay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I tend to agree in all honesty, especially if he was only off by five degrees. That’s a pretty small deviation to detect by the naked eye, but it’s their word against yours.
 
Well you screwed the Pooch. This will always be bad for your record if you ever want to be a professional pilot.

Just Kidding. Your fine. You will Ace this next time. Happy Flying
 
Tommar98 said:
I’m not critical of the OP. I think if a DPE failed him on that one maneuver I think it’s ridiculous - assuming everything else was okay.
Click to expand...

Uh, it doesn't matter if "everything else is okay"; if you fail one maneuver you fail the checkride. The DPE was adhering to the FAA rules. Whether that's ridiculous or not is on the FAA, not the DPE following FAA orders.
 
When you are out of an ACS standard, one thing that helps to to tell the DPE that you are and either abandon that maneuver and try again or try to correct and finish it. It's when you are both out and unaware (or aware and not doing anything about it) that you get failed. This is exactly how I busted my first ride, altitude in turns around a point.

The OP's story almost mirrors mine. My DPE is based in a field that is in a mountain valley that is frequently IFR in the morning. My instructor and I flew up in the morning IFR. He was a bit rusty copying clearances and the controller had a thick accent, so it took a while to get going, I had my first 30 min of actual on the way up. Did not realize how much that stressed me out and put me a bit behind. Aced the oral and when we went out to fly, the day had turned super turbulent. Was doing great up until the turns around a point. Got too relaxed and was trying to keep my circle clean and didn't pay any attention to altitude. DPE said nothing and we finished the rest of the flight to standard. Got the word after shutting down, a true gut punch.

Did three practice flights before the next test, one with CFI, two solo. For the next one, I flew up the night before (solo), stayed in hotel near the airport and had a 20 minute flight the next day which consisted of getting to the maneuver area, doing a turn around a point once in each direction and flying back. To the OP - don't sweat it, just work on what you need to do for the next ride and have a plan to get to the exam in a good state of mind.
 
dmspilot said:
Uh, it doesn't matter if "everything else is okay"; if you fail one maneuver you fail the checkride. The DPE was adhering to the FAA rules. Whether that's ridiculous or not is on the FAA, not the DPE following FAA orders.
Click to expand...

This is true.
 
ajb3 said:
On steep turns to the left a had too shallow a bank and was told that the maneuver was not satisfactory. I opted to continue with the checkride and everything else was perfect or, in the case of soft field landings, acceptable if not particularly soft. DPE opted not to do soft field takeoff or short field landing as we needed to retest for steep turns to the left (strangely my steep turn to the right was perfect -- dead on 45° back through the turn).

I'm disappointed but only have three things to do next time to get my certificate. I'm really hoping for a flawless checkride next weekend.
Click to expand...

I failed my PPL check ride too on the engine-out landing item. Took it again and nailed it. It happens, do not be discouraged.
 
Ryanb said:
I tend to agree in all honesty, especially if he was only off by five degrees. That’s a pretty small deviation to detect by the naked eye, but it’s their word against yours.
Click to expand...
I’d agree if that’s what occurred, but that’s not what the OP said. He said, “consistently under 40 degrees.” Which means it could have been varying by 20 or 30 degrees, or even more for all we know, which is cause for a fail.

Not a big deal, and he’ll get it next time easily. Just spend some time with your CFI on the remaining maneuvers and it’s a formality.
 
The goal is to be a safe pilot once you have your certificate in-hand (which you obviously will have - soon!). Don't sweat it. Just a bump in the road.
 
Hang 4 said:
...DPE said nothing and we finished the rest of the flight to standard. Got the word after shutting down, a true gut punch...
Click to expand...
I was under the impression the DPE was supposed to immediately tell an applicant that the checkride was failed and then decide whether to complete remaining tasks or just end it at the point of failure.
 
Hang 4 said:
When you are out of an ACS standard, one thing that helps to to tell the DPE that you are and either abandon that maneuver and try again or try to correct and finish it. It's when you are both out and unaware (or aware and not doing anything about it) that you get failed. This is exactly how I busted my first ride, altitude in turns around a point.

The OP's story almost mirrors mine. My DPE is based in a field that is in a mountain valley that is frequently IFR in the morning. My instructor and I flew up in the morning IFR. He was a bit rusty copying clearances and the controller had a thick accent, so it took a while to get going, I had my first 30 min of actual on the way up. Did not realize how much that stressed me out and put me a bit behind. Aced the oral and when we went out to fly, the day had turned super turbulent. Was doing great up until the turns around a point. Got too relaxed and was trying to keep my circle clean and didn't pay any attention to altitude. DPE said nothing and we finished the rest of the flight to standard. Got the word after shutting down, a true gut punch.

Did three practice flights before the next test, one with CFI, two solo. For the next one, I flew up the night before (solo), stayed in hotel near the airport and had a 20 minute flight the next day which consisted of getting to the maneuver area, doing a turn around a point once in each direction and flying back. To the OP - don't sweat it, just work on what you need to do for the next ride and have a plan to get to the exam in a good state of mind.
Click to expand...
I knew I was off standard on a maneuver during my checkride, and asked if I could do it over, and he said “if I let you try again, then you failed. But you did it good enough in this rough weather, so proceed with the next maneuver”.
 
Good job on the rest. I always thought the oral was the tough part. At least all you have to do is go fly for an hour. Good luck!!!
 
lancie00 said:
Good job on the rest. I always thought the oral was the tough part. At least all you have to do is go fly for an hour. Good luck!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks... She said it would just be 45 minutes. Hopefully it will be even less. One soft field takeoff, one steep turn to the left, one short field landing.
 
dmspilot said:
Uh, it doesn't matter if "everything else is okay"; if you fail one maneuver you fail the checkride.
Click to expand...
Is this a change? For some reason I thought it was that there are certain maneuvers the DPE had to see (stalls being one) and you had to get right. And everything else was up to the DPE whether you're tested on it and up to the DPE whether your performance is acceptable not. Busting someone on steep turns in one direction but not the other when everything else was good just sounds like someone was looking for a retest fee to me but I'm jaded like that I guess.
 
Salty said:
I knew I was off standard on a maneuver during my checkride, and asked if I could do it over, and he said “if I let you try again, then you failed. But you did it good enough in this rough weather, so proceed with the next maneuver”.
Click to expand...

I think the distinction is that if you have completed the maneuver it's too late to say, I want a do over. What I was saying is if you are in the middle of it, and a bit out, you can let the DPE know and fix it, or abandon it and do it over. Think about a go around on a landing - short or soft, that you've set up poorly for. You do a go around and demonstrate that you know enough not to dig a deeper hole. They are looking for judgement and situational awareness in addition to sticking to performance standards. At least that's what my DPE told me, YMMV
 
Random question, but my curiosity has got the better of me. Why did you include the masculinity symbol in your post heading?
 
Tantalum said:
Random question, but my curiosity has got the better of me. Why did you include the masculinity symbol in your post heading?
Click to expand...

That's really weird. I didn't notice that. I didn't add that so not sure what the deal is with the symbol. Maybe I think I'm the Prince of aviation.
 
I see in your avatar that you are standing in front of one of Fly Carolina's planes. Where about in the Charlotte area are you?
 
SkyDog58 said:
I see in your avatar that you are standing in front of one of Fly Carolina's planes. Where about in the Charlotte area are you?
Click to expand...

Live in Union County so based out of Monroe.
 
Tantalum said:
Random question, but my curiosity has got the better of me. Why did you include the masculinity symbol in your post heading?
Click to expand...
Thanks for pointing that out... I fixed it.
 
ajb3 said:
Thanks... She said it would just be 45 minutes. Hopefully it will be even less. One soft field takeoff, one steep turn to the left, one short field landing.
Click to expand...

Tell the DPE you need a 4-6 minute check ride, initiate the overhead break into a left hand 45* turn to the soft field landing;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top