PH.V.D — Steep Approach
PH.V.D for the Private Pilot Rotorcraft ACS: official objective, references, and 30 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.
FAA-S-ACS-15, 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 | Private Pilot |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Rotorcraft |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds |
| Task | Task D. Steep Approach |
| Task code prefix | PH.V.D |
| Official references | AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-15 — Private Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with steep approach.
What the ACS code means
- PH identifies the ACS standard family used for this Private Pilot Rotorcraft document.
- V identifies Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds, the Area of Operation.
- D identifies Steep 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| PH.V.D.K1 | A stabilized steep approach. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| PH.V.D.K2 | Approach techniques and applicability. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| PH.V.D.K3 | Performance data and the height velocity (H/V) diagram. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| PH.V.D.K4 | Effects of atmospheric conditions on approach and landing performance. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| PH.V.D.K5 | Wind correction techniques. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| PH.V.D.K6 | Aircraft performance and limitations. | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| PH.V.D.R1 | Selection of approach path and landing based on aircraft performance and limitations, and wind. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R2 | Effects of: | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R2a | a. Wind Direction | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R2b | b. Windshear | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R2c | c. Turbulence, including wake turbulence | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R3 | Planning for. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R3a | a. Rejected landing and go-around | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R3b | b. Powerplant failure during the approach | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R4 | Collision hazards. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R5 | Vortex ring state (VRS). | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R6 | Landing surface. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R7 | Aircraft limitations. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R8 | 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. |
| PH.V.D.R9 | Loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE). | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| PH.V.D.R10 | Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) and flat light conditions. | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| PH.V.D.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. |
| PH.V.D.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. |
| PH.V.D.S3 | Consider the wind direction and conditions, landing surface, and obstacles. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| PH.V.D.S4 | Select a suitable termination point. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| PH.V.D.S5 | Establish and maintain a steep approach angle, (15° maximum) and proper rate of closure. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| PH.V.D.S6 | Maintain proper ground track with crosswind correction, if necessary. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| PH.V.D.S7 | Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| PH.V.D.S8 | Arrive at the termination point, on the surface or at a stabilized hover, ±4 feet. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| PH.V.D.S9 | Use runway incursion avoidance procedures, if applicable. | 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.
Related ACS tasks
- All Private Pilot Rotorcraft ACS tasks
49 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-15.
- PH.V.C — Maximum Performance Takeoff and Climb
Area of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- PH.V.E — Go-Around
Area of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- PH.V.A — Normal Takeoff and Climb
Area of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- PH.V.B — Normal and Crosswind Approach
Area of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds