Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area I, Task B

The Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-15.

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    0:20
    Part 3, Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 4, Skill Development:
    0:30
    Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a helicopter scenario in which the outcome depends on sound airworthiness requirements knowledge, risk management, and technique.
    • Ask the student to identify the earliest decision or control input that determines a safe outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airworthiness requirements, including aircraft certificates.

Help Us Grow

Enjoy CFI Notebook? A one-time donation helps us create more high-quality lessons, quizzes, scenarios, graphics, and interactive tools.

One-Time Donation
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Materials

  • Required Materials:

    • Writing instrument and instructional surface.
    • FAA-S-ACS-15, Private Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards.
    • Student training record and applicable lesson records.

  • Optional Materials:

    • Model-specific Pilot's Operating Handbook or Rotorcraft Flight Manual (POH/RFM).
    • Manufacturer-approved checklist and performance data.
    • Current charts, Chart Supplement, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
    • Helicopter, cockpit procedures trainer, or approved training device, as appropriate.

  • Reference Materials:

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review the reference materials, helicopter limitations, and local operating considerations.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    • Present the attention getter and motivator.
    • Review Area of Operation I, Task B, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airworthiness requirements, including aircraft certificates.
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of General airworthiness requirements and compliance for a helicopter, including: (PH.I.B.K1)
      • Location and expiration dates of required aircraft certificates (PH.I.B.K1a)
      • Required inspections and aircraft logbook documentation (PH.I.B.K1b)
      • Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (PH.I.B.K1c)
      • Purpose and procedure for obtaining a special flight permit (PH.I.B.K1d)
      • Owner/Operator and pilot-in-command responsibilities (PH.I.B.K1e)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of pilot-performed preventive maintenance. (PH.I.B.K2)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of Equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, including: (PH.I.B.K3)
      • Flying with inoperative equipment (PH.I.B.K3a)
      • Using an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL) (PH.I.B.K3b)
      • Kinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL) (PH.I.B.K3c)
      • Required discrepancy records or placards (PH.I.B.K3d)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of special airworthiness certificate aircraft operating limitations, if applicable. (PH.I.B.K4)
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight. (PH.I.B.R1)
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to locate and describe helicopter airworthiness and registration information. (PH.I.B.S1)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to determine the helicopter is airworthy in the scenario given by the evaluator. (PH.I.B.S2)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to apply appropriate procedures for operating with inoperative equipment in the scenario given by the evaluator. (PH.I.B.S3)
    • Apply the helicopter POH/RFM, checklist, limitations, and FAA safety-of-flight guidance throughout the demonstration and practice.
  • Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead the guided scenario.
    • Evaluate the student's decisions and performance against every applicable ACS element.
  • Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Review the lesson objective, identified risks, performance strengths, and items requiring additional practice.
    • Present the re-motivation and closure.
  • Update instructor records and the student's training record, as required.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with airworthiness requirements.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight, and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to brief, perform, or explain how to Locate and describe helicopter airworthiness and registration information, as appropriate to the task and training environment.
  • Introduce a realistic change in wind, power available, landing area, traffic, system status, or external pressure and require the student to reassess the plan.
  • Conclude with a self-critique tied to the ACS knowledge, risk management, and skill elements.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • Complete assigned readings and review the model-specific POH/RFM and checklist.
  • Explain the applicable knowledge elements in scenario context rather than by rote recall.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate the risks associated with the task.
  • Demonstrate or explain each applicable skill within ACS standards and helicopter limitations.
  • Ask pertinent questions, perform a self-assessment, and make appropriate go/no-go or continue/discontinue decisions.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Airman Certification Standards

  • Task B: Airworthiness Requirements.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airworthiness requirements, including aircraft certificates.
  • References: 14 CFR parts 27, 29, 39, 43, 91; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.B.K1:
    General airworthiness requirements and compliance for a helicopter, including:
    • PH.I.B.K1a:
      Location and expiration dates of required aircraft certificates
    • PH.I.B.K1b:
      Required inspections and aircraft logbook documentation
    • PH.I.B.K1c:
      Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins
    • PH.I.B.K1d:
      Purpose and procedure for obtaining a special flight permit
    • PH.I.B.K1e:
      Owner/Operator and pilot-in-command responsibilities
  • PH.I.B.K2:
    Pilot-performed preventive maintenance.
  • PH.I.B.K3:
    Equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, including:
    • PH.I.B.K3a:
      Flying with inoperative equipment
    • PH.I.B.K3b:
      Using an approved Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
    • PH.I.B.K3c:
      Kinds of Operation Equipment List (KOEL)
    • PH.I.B.K3d:
      Required discrepancy records or placards
  • PH.I.B.K4:
    Special airworthiness certificate aircraft operating limitations, if applicable.
Risk Management 1 ACS Element
  • PH.I.B.R1:
    Inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight.
Skills 3 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.B.S1:
    Locate and describe helicopter airworthiness and registration information.
  • PH.I.B.S2:
    Determine the helicopter is airworthy in the scenario given by the evaluator.
  • PH.I.B.S3:
    Apply appropriate procedures for operating with inoperative equipment in the scenario given by the evaluator.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent airworthiness requirements performance protects the helicopter's limited margins and supports sound pilot-in-command decisions.

  • Closure:

    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.