# AI.IX.B — Steep Spiral (ASEL, ASES) — Flight Instructor Airplane ACS

> AI.IX.B from FAA-S-ACS-25, including the official objective, references, notes, and 19 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

Canonical HTML: [https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/flight-instructor/ai-ix-b](https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/flight-instructor/ai-ix-b)

Site reference: [https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt](https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt)

## Official Task context

- FAA document: Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-25
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Airplane
- Certificate or rating: Flight Instructor
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation IX. Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
- Task: Task B. Steep Spiral (ASEL, ASES)
- Task code prefix: AI.IX.B
- Official references: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant understands steep spirals, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

## Knowledge elements

- **AI.IX.B.K1** — Purpose of and procedures for a proper steep spiral.
- **AI.IX.B.K2** — Relationship to emergency landing procedures.
- **AI.IX.B.K3** — Maintaining a constant radius about a point.
- **AI.IX.B.K4** — Effects of wind on ground track and relation to a ground reference.
- **AI.IX.B.K5** — Common errors related to this Task.

## Risk management elements

- **AI.IX.B.R1** — Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
- **AI.IX.B.R2** — Collision hazards.
- **AI.IX.B.R3** — Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- **AI.IX.B.R4** — Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- **AI.IX.B.R5** — Uncoordinated flight.
- **AI.IX.B.R6** — Effects of wind.
- **AI.IX.B.R7** — Airframe or airspeed limitations.

## Skills elements

- **AI.IX.B.S1** — Clear the area.
- **AI.IX.B.S2** — Select an altitude sufficient to continue through a series of at least three, 360° turns.
- **AI.IX.B.S3** — Establish and maintain a steep spiral, not to exceed 60° angle of bank, to maintain a constant radius about a suitable ground reference point.
- **AI.IX.B.S4** — Apply wind-drift correction to track a constant radius circle around selected reference point with bank not to exceed 60° a steepest point in turn.
- **AI.IX.B.S5** — Divide attention between airplane control, traffic avoidance and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.
- **AI.IX.B.S6** — Maintain the specified airspeed, ±10 knots and roll out toward an object or specified heading, ±10°, and complete the maneuver no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).
- **AI.IX.B.S7** — Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.

## Difficulty methodology

Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. Observed difficulty is a privacy-thresholded check-ride.ai mock-oral practice proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate. Underlying sample sizes and the private reporting threshold are not published.

## Use in practice

A mock examiner can ask a pilot to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport context, identify risks, and defend a decision. Practice prompts are not represented as actual FAA examiner scripts or predictions of the questions a candidate will receive.