# HI.XI.D — Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments — Flight Instructor Rotorcraft ACS

> HI.XI.D from FAA-S-ACS-29, including the official objective, references, notes, and 13 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

Canonical HTML: [https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/rotorcraft/flight-instructor/hi-xi-d](https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/rotorcraft/flight-instructor/hi-xi-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 Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-29
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Rotorcraft
- Certificate or rating: Flight Instructor
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations
- Task: Task D. Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments
- Task code prefix: HI.XI.D
- Official references: 14 CFR part 61; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-4, FAA-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant understands attitude instrument flying, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction, solely by reference to instruments.

## Knowledge elements

- **HI.XI.D.K1** — Elements related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents.
- **HI.XI.D.K2** — Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments.
- **HI.XI.D.K3** — Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations.
- **HI.XI.D.K4** — Common errors related to this Task.

## Risk management elements

- **HI.XI.D.R1** — Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
- **HI.XI.D.R2** — Spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
- **HI.XI.D.R3** — Flying an unfamiliar aircraft, or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.

## Skills elements

- **HI.XI.D.S1** — Maintain straight and level flight, altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
- **HI.XI.D.S2** — Make a constant airspeed climb, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet.
- **HI.XI.D.S3** — Make a constant airspeed descent, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet.
- **HI.XI.D.S4** — Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, power, maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
- **HI.XI.D.S5** — Demonstrate SRM/CRM.
- **HI.XI.D.S6** — 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.