PA.IX.E — Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)

PA.IX.E for the Private Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 8 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-6C, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

PA.IX.E official ACS context
Certificate or ratingPrivate Pilot
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation IX. Emergency Operations
TaskTask E. Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)
Task code prefixPA.IX.E
Official referencesFAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-25; FAA-P-8740-66; POH/AFM
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-6C — Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
FAA source libraryOpen the official ACS library

Official task objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with engine failure during takeoff before minimum controllable airspeed (VMC).

What the ACS code means

  • PA identifies the ACS standard family used for this Private Pilot Airplane document.
  • IX identifies Emergency Operations, the Area of Operation.
  • E identifies Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES), 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

Official ACS knowledge items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IX.E.K1Factors affecting minimum control airspeed with an inoperative engine (VMC).Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
PA.IX.E.K2VMC (red line) and best single-engine rate of climb airspeed (VYSE) (blue line).Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
PA.IX.E.K3Accelerate/stop distance.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.

Risk management elements

Official ACS risk management items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IX.E.R1Potential engine failure during takeoff.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IX.E.R2Configuring the airplane.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IX.E.R3Distractions, 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

Official ACS skills items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IX.E.S1Close the throttles smoothly and promptly when a simulated engine failure occurs.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PA.IX.E.S2Maintain directional control and apply brakes (AMEL), or flight controls (AMES), as necessary.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.

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