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PH.VIII.A — Powerplant Failure in a Hover in a Single-Engine Helicopter

PH.VIII.A for the Private Pilot Rotorcraft ACS: official objective, references, and 20 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

PH.VIII.A official ACS context
Certificate or ratingPrivate Pilot
Aircraft categoryRotorcraft
Area of operationArea of Operation VIII. Emergency Operations
TaskTask A. Powerplant Failure in a Hover in a Single-Engine Helicopter
Task code prefixPH.VIII.A
Official referencesFAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-15 — Private Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating 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 powerplant failure in-ground effect (IGE) hover

What the ACS code means

  • PH identifies the ACS standard family used for this Private Pilot Rotorcraft document.
  • VIII 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

Official ACS knowledge items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PH.VIII.A.K1Elements 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.
PH.VIII.A.K2Effects 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.
PH.VIII.A.K3High 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.
PH.VIII.A.K4Aerodynamics 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.
PH.VIII.A.K5Proper 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.

Risk management elements

Official ACS risk management items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PH.VIII.A.R1Powerplant failure in a hover.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PH.VIII.A.R2Flight control inputs.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PH.VIII.A.R3Helicopter movement.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PH.VIII.A.R4Dynamic rollover.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PH.VIII.A.R5Distractions, 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
PH.VIII.A.S1Complete 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.VIII.A.S2Make 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.VIII.A.S3Clear 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.
PH.VIII.A.S4Select 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.
PH.VIII.A.S5Establish 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.
PH.VIII.A.S6Simulate 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.
PH.VIII.A.S7Maintain a heading, ±10°, 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.
PH.VIII.A.S8Touchdown 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.
PH.VIII.A.S9Use 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.
PH.VIII.A.S10After 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.

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.

Practice in a mock oral

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