# AI.X.D — Power-On Stalls — Flight Instructor Airplane ACS

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

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

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 X. Slow flight, Stalls, and Spins
- Task: Task D. Power-On Stalls
- Task code prefix: AI.X.D
- Official references: AC 61-67; 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 power-on stalls, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

## Knowledge elements

- **AI.X.D.K1** — Purpose of and procedures for power-on stalls.
- **AI.X.D.K2** — Aerodynamics associated with stalls in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects.
- **AI.X.D.K3** — Stall characteristics as they relate to airplane design, and recognition impending stall and full stall indications using sight, sound, or feel.
- **AI.X.D.K4** — Factors and situations that can lead to a power-on stall and actions that can be taken to prevent it.
- **AI.X.D.K5** — Fundamentals of stall recovery.
- **AI.X.D.K6** — Common errors related to this Task.

## Risk management elements

- **AI.X.D.R1** — Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent power-on stall, spin, and loss of control.
- **AI.X.D.R2** — Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
- **AI.X.D.R3** — Stall warning(s) during normal operations.
- **AI.X.D.R4** — Stall recovery procedure.
- **AI.X.D.R5** — Secondary stalls, accelerated stalls, elevator trim stalls, and cross-control stalls.
- **AI.X.D.R6** — Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to power-on stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude).
- **AI.X.D.R7** — Collision hazards.
- **AI.X.D.R8** — Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

## Skills elements

- **AI.X.D.S1** — Clear the area.
- **AI.X.D.S2** — Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES).
- **AI.X.D.S3** — Establish the takeoff, departure, or cruise configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
- **AI.X.D.S4** — Set power to no less than 65 percent power.
- **AI.X.D.S5** — Transition smoothly from the takeoff or departure attitude to the pitch attitude that induces a stall.
- **AI.X.D.S6** — Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, until an impending or full stall is reached, as specified by the evaluator.
- **AI.X.D.S7** — Acknowledge the cues at the first indication of a stall (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
- **AI.X.D.S8** — Recover at the first indication of a stall or after a full stall has occurred, as specified by the evaluator.
- **AI.X.D.S9** — Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (VX) or best rate of climb speed (VY).
- **AI.X.D.S10** — Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator.
- **AI.X.D.S11** — 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.

## Official Task notes

- See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.

## 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.