AA.VII.B — Powerplant Failure During Takeoff
AA.VII.B for the Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 17 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.
FAA-S-ACS-11A, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.
Official task context
| Certificate or rating | Airline Transport Pilot |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Airplane |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation VII. Emergency Operations |
| Task | Task B. Powerplant Failure During Takeoff |
| Task code prefix | AA.VII.B |
| Official references | FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-25; FSB Report (type specific); POH/AFM |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-11A — Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with powerplant failure during takeoff.
What the ACS code means
- AA identifies the ACS standard family used for this Airline Transport Pilot Airplane document.
- VII identifies Emergency Operations, the Area of Operation.
- B identifies Powerplant Failure During Takeoff, the Task within that Area.
- K, R, and S identify knowledge, risk-management, and skill elements. The number selects the item; a trailing lowercase letter identifies a listed sub-element.
Knowledge elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.VII.B.K1 | The procedures used during a powerplant(s) failure on takeoff, the appropriate reference airspeeds, and the specific pilot actions required. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.VII.B.K2 | Operational considerations, including: airplane performance (e.g., sideslip, bank angle, rudder input), takeoff warning systems, runway length, surface conditions, density altitude, wake turbulence, environmental conditions, obstructions, and other related factors that could adversely affect safety. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
Risk management elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.VII.B.R1 | Planning for a potential powerplant failure during takeoff considering operational factors (e.g., takeoff warning inhibit systems, other airplane characteristics, runway/takeoff path length, surface conditions, environmental conditions, obstructions, and land and hold short operations. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R2 | Briefing the plan for a powerplant failure during takeoff, in a crew environment. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R3 | Selection of the procedures or checklists to follow in an emergency. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R4 | Identifying the inoperative engine (AMEL, AMES). | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R5 | Inability to climb or maintain altitude with an inoperative powerplant (AMEL, AMES). | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R6 | Altitude, wind, terrain, and obstruction considerations in an emergency. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R7 | Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VII.B.R8 | Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
Skills elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.VII.B.S1 | Following the powerplant failure, maintain positive airplane control and adjust the powerplant controls as recommended by the manufacturer for the existing conditions. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VII.B.S2 | Establish a power-off descent approximately straight-ahead if the powerplant failure occurs after becoming airborne and before reaching an altitude where a safe turn can be made (ASEL, ASES) or the performance capabilities and operating limitations of the airplane do not allow the climb to continue (AMEL, AMES). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VII.B.S3 | Continue the takeoff if the (simulated) powerplant failure occurs at a point where the airplane can continue to a specified airspeed and altitude at the end of the runway commensurate with the airplane’s performance capabilities and operating limitations (AMEL, AMES). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VII.B.S4 | After establishing a climb, maintain the desired airspeed, ±5 knots. Use flight controls in the proper combination as recommended by the manufacturer, or as required, to maintain best performance and trim as required (AMEL, AMES). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VII.B.S5 | Maintain the appropriate heading, ±5°, when powerplant failure occurs (AMEL, AMES). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VII.B.S6 | Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) following the powerplant failure. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VII.B.S7 | Communicate with air traffic control (ATC) and the evaluator, as appropriate for the situation. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
Difficulty data
Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. A difficulty estimate is published only with a sufficiently large, privacy-preserving first directly recorded assessment sample. Any observed difficulty comes from Checkride AI mock-oral practice assessments and is a practice-data proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate.
Difficulty calibration remains ongoing until an item clears the private reporting threshold. Percentages, when available, describe the share who needed review on their first directly recorded assessment. Underlying sample sizes are never published, and historical final states are not backfilled into this measure.
Official task notes
- See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.
How to use this in a mock oral
A mock examiner can ask you to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport scenario, identify risks, and defend a decision. The prompts are practice scenarios; they are not claimed to be actual FAA examiner scripts or a prediction of the questions you will receive.
Related ACS tasks
- All Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS tasks
48 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-11A.
- AA.VII.A — Emergency Procedures
Area of Operation VII. Emergency Operations
- AA.VII.C — Powerplant Failure (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES)
Area of Operation VII. Emergency Operations
- AA.VII.D — Inflight Powerplant(s) Failure and Restart (AMEL, AMES)
Area of Operation VII. Emergency Operations
- AA.VII.E — Approach and Landing with a Powerplant Failure (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)
Area of Operation VII. Emergency Operations