PI.VIII.C — Missed Approach

PI.VIII.C for the Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift ACS: official objective, references, and 17 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-28, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

PI.VIII.C official ACS context
Certificate or rating	Flight Instructor – Instrument
Aircraft category	Powered Lift
Area of operation	Area of Operation VIII. Instrument Approach Procedures
Task	Task C. Missed Approach
Task code prefix	PI.VIII.C
Official references	14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25; Terminal Procedures Publications
FAA document	FAA-S-ACS-28 — Flight Instructor – Instrument Rating Powered-Lift Airman Certification Standards
FAA source library	Open the official ACS library

Official task objective

To determine the applicant understands performing a missed approach procedure solely by reference to instruments, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

What the ACS code means

PI identifies the ACS standard family used for this Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift document.
VIII identifies Instrument Approach Procedures, the Area of Operation.
C identifies Missed Approach, 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 code	Official description	How a mock oral can probe it
PI.VIII.C.K1	Elements related to missed approach procedures and limitations associated with standard instrument approaches, including while using a flight management system (FMS) or autopilot, if equipped.	Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
PI.VIII.C.K2	Common errors related to this Task.	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 code	Official description	How a mock oral can probe it
PI.VIII.C.R1	Deviations from prescribed procedures or ATC instructions.	Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PI.VIII.C.R2	Holding, diverting, or electing to fly the approach again.	Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PI.VIII.C.R3	Aircraft configuration during an approach and missed approach.	Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PI.VIII.C.R4	Factors that might lead to executing a missed approach procedure before the MAP or to a go-around below DA, DH, or MDA, as applicable.	Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PI.VIII.C.R5	Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.	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 code	Official description	How a mock oral can probe it
PI.VIII.C.S1	Promptly initiate the missed approach procedure and report it to ATC.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S2	Apply the appropriate power setting and aircraft configuration for the flight conditions to obtain the desired performance.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S3	Comply with the published or alternate missed approach procedure.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S4	Advise ATC or the evaluator if unable to comply with a clearance, restriction, or climb gradient.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S5	Follow the recommended checklist items appropriate to the missed approach/go-around procedure.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S6	Maintain the recommended airspeed ±10 knots; heading, course, or bearing ±10°; and altitude(s) ±100 feet during the missed approach procedure.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S7	Use an MFD and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position and track to help navigate the missed approach.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S8	Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S9	Request ATC clearance to attempt another approach, proceed to the alternate airport, holding fix, or other clearance limit, as appropriate, or as directed by the evaluator.	Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VIII.C.S10	Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.	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.

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.

Practice in a mock oral

Related ACS tasks

All Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift ACS tasks
37 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-28.
PI.VIII.B — Precision Approach
Area of Operation VIII. Instrument Approach Procedures
PI.VIII.D — Circling Approach
Area of Operation VIII. Instrument Approach Procedures
PI.VIII.A — Non-precision Approach
Area of Operation VIII. Instrument Approach Procedures
PI.VIII.E — Landing from an Instrument Approach
Area of Operation VIII. Instrument Approach Procedures