Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight Deck Check Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) • ACS Area II, Task C

The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight Deck Check Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and flight skills required by FAA-S-ACS-14.

Introduction

  • Attention Getter: Present an IFR helicopter operation in which small errors, changing weather, automation, or workload can rapidly erode terrain, obstacle, power, or control margins.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with conducting a preflight check of the helicopter instruments necessary for an IFR flight.

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Materials

  • FAA-S-ACS-14.
  • Model-specific Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved checklist, IFR supplements, and installed-equipment guides.
  • Task references: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91.21-1; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/ RFM

Instructor Actions

  • Teach the task progressively in realistic helicopter IFR context and preserve aircraft control, obstacle clearance, power margin, and workload capacity.
  • Teach and assess the following knowledge elements:
    • Purpose of performing an instrument flight deck check and how to detect possible defects. (IH.II.C.K1)
    • IFR airworthiness, including helicopter inspection requirements and required equipment for IFR flight. (IH.II.C.K2)
    • Required procedures, documentation, and limitations of flying with inoperative equipment. (IH.II.C.K3)
  • Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
    • Operating with inoperative equipment. (IH.II.C.R1)
    • Operating with outdated navigation publications or databases. (IH.II.C.R2)
  • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
    • Perform preflight inspection by following the checklist appropriate to the helicopter and determine if the helicopter is in a condition for safe instrument flight. (IH.II.C.S1)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain purpose of performing an instrument flight deck check and how to detect possible defects.
    • Explain IFR airworthiness, including helicopter inspection requirements and required equipment for IFR flight in a helicopter IFR operating context.
    • Explain required procedures, documentation, and limitations of flying with inoperative equipment.
    • Assess and manage operating with inoperative equipment.
    • Assess and manage operating with outdated navigation publications or databases.
    • Perform preflight inspection by following the checklist appropriate to the helicopter and determine if the helicopter is in a condition for safe instrument flight.
  • Use the current RFM, checklist, limitations, charts, procedures, and ATC information; document deficiencies and retraining.

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Use an IFR helicopter flight involving changing weather, terrain or obstacles, route constraints, automation, and external pressure.
  • Introduce a meaningful change in clearance, equipment status, weather, landing area, fuel, power margin, or workload and require a revised decision.
  • Require a self-critique tied to every applicable ACS element and helicopter limitation.

Student Actions

  • Complete assigned study and review the RFM, checklist, charts, and procedures.
  • Explain each knowledge element in operational context.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate each applicable risk.
  • Demonstrate each applicable skill within FAA-S-ACS-14 standards and helicopter limitations.
  • Make and defend appropriate continue, delay, divert, missed-approach, or discontinue decisions.
Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight Deck Check Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight Deck Check Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with conducting a preflight check of the helicopter instruments necessary for an IFR flight.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91.21-1; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/ RFM
Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
  • IH.II.C.K1:
    Purpose of performing an instrument flight deck check and how to detect possible defects.
  • IH.II.C.K2:
    IFR airworthiness, including helicopter inspection requirements and required equipment for IFR flight.
  • IH.II.C.K3:
    Required procedures, documentation, and limitations of flying with inoperative equipment.
Risk Management 2 ACS Elements
  • IH.II.C.R1:
    Operating with inoperative equipment.
  • IH.II.C.R2:
    Operating with outdated navigation publications or databases.
Skills 1 ACS Element
  • IH.II.C.S1:
    Perform preflight inspection by following the checklist appropriate to the helicopter and determine if the helicopter is in a condition for safe instrument flight.

Conclusion

  • Review the objective, risks, performance strengths, and retraining needs.
  • Record progress and assign the next applicable lesson.