HI.XI.A — Powerplant Failure in a Hover in a Single-Engine Helicopter
HI.XI.A for the Flight Instructor Rotorcraft ACS: official objective, references, and 22 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.
FAA-S-ACS-29, 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 | Flight Instructor |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Rotorcraft |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations |
| Task | Task A. Powerplant Failure in a Hover in a Single-Engine Helicopter |
| Task code prefix | HI.XI.A |
| Official references | FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-4, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-29 — Flight Instructor for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant understands power failure in a ground effect hover, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
What the ACS code means
- HI identifies the ACS standard family used for this Flight Instructor Rotorcraft document.
- XI identifies Emergency Operations, the Area of Operation.
- A identifies Powerplant Failure in a Hover in a Single-Engine Helicopter, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HI.XI.A.K1 | Elements related to powerplant failure in a hover, including energy management concepts. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.XI.A.K2 | Effects of wind, weight, temperature, and density altitude. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.XI.A.K3 | High and low inertia of rotor systems. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.XI.A.K4 | Aerodynamics associated with powerplant failure in a hover. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.XI.A.K5 | Proper orientation, division of attention, and proper planning. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.XI.A.K6 | 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| HI.XI.A.R1 | Powerplant failure in a hover. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| HI.XI.A.R2 | Flight control inputs. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| HI.XI.A.R3 | Helicopter movement. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| HI.XI.A.R4 | Dynamic rollover. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| HI.XI.A.R5 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HI.XI.A.S1 | Complete the appropriate checklist(s). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S2 | Make radio calls 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. |
| HI.XI.A.S3 | Clear the area. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S4 | Select a suitable landing area. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S5 | Establish a stationary or forward hover into the wind. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S6 | Simulate 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. |
| HI.XI.A.S7 | Maintain a heading, ±5°, throughout the maneuver. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S8 | Touchdown with minimum sideward movement and no rearward movement. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S9 | Use appropriate flight control inputs to cushion the touchdown. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S10 | After touchdown, lower collective and neutralize flight controls. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.XI.A.S11 | 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.
Official task notes
- Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight.
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 Flight Instructor Rotorcraft ACS tasks
65 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-29.
- HI.X.C — Autorotation with Turns in a Single-Engine Helicopter
Area of Operation X. Performance Maneuvers
- HI.XI.B — Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter
Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations
- HI.XI.C — Approach and Landing with One Engine Inoperative (OEI) (Simulated) (Multiengine Helicopter Only)
Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations
- HI.XI.D — Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments
Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations
- HI.XI.E — Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations