Private Pilot (Helicopter) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

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

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

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Performance and Limitations 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 performance and limitations 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 operating a helicopter safely within the parameters of its performance capabilities and limitations.

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) Performance and Limitations 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) Performance and Limitations 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 F, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with operating a helicopter safely within the parameters of its performance capabilities and limitations.
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance. (PH.I.F.K1)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of Factors affecting performance, including: (PH.I.F.K2)
      • Atmospheric conditions (PH.I.F.K2a)
      • Pilot technique (PH.I.F.K2b)
      • Helicopter configuration (PH.I.F.K2c)
      • Airport, heliport, helipad, or unprepared surface environment (PH.I.F.K2d)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of loading and weight and balance. (PH.I.F.K3)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of aerodynamics. (PH.I.F.K4)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of height/Velocity (H/V) diagram according to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). (PH.I.F.K5)
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with use of performance charts, tables, and data. (PH.I.F.R1)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with helicopter limitations. (PH.I.F.R2)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance. (PH.I.F.R3)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with exceeding weight limits. (PH.I.F.R4)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with operating outside of CG limits. (PH.I.F.R5)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with shifting, adding, and removing weight. (PH.I.F.R6)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with retreating blade stall. (PH.I.F.R7)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with situations that lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness (LTE). (PH.I.F.R8)
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to compute the weight and balance, correct out-of-center of gravity loading errors and determine if the weight and balance remains within limits during all phases of flight. (PH.I.F.S1)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to use appropriate helicopter performance charts, tables, and data. (PH.I.F.S2)
    • 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) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with performance and limitations.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Use of performance charts, tables, and data, and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to brief, perform, or explain how to Compute the weight and balance, correct out-of-center of gravity loading errors and determine if the weight and balance remains within limits during all phases of flight, 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) Performance and Limitations 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) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Performance and Limitations Airman Certification Standards

  • Task F: Performance and Limitations.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with operating a helicopter safely within the parameters of its performance capabilities and limitations.
  • References: FAA-H-8083-1, FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 5 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.F.K1:
    Elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance.
  • PH.I.F.K2:
    Factors affecting performance, including:
    • PH.I.F.K2a:
      Atmospheric conditions
    • PH.I.F.K2b:
      Pilot technique
    • PH.I.F.K2c:
      Helicopter configuration
    • PH.I.F.K2d:
      Airport, heliport, helipad, or unprepared surface environment
  • PH.I.F.K3:
    Loading and weight and balance.
  • PH.I.F.K4:
    Aerodynamics.
  • PH.I.F.K5:
    Height/Velocity (H/V) diagram according to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM).
Risk Management 8 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.F.R1:
    Use of performance charts, tables, and data.
  • PH.I.F.R2:
    Helicopter limitations.
  • PH.I.F.R3:
    Possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance.
  • PH.I.F.R4:
    Exceeding weight limits.
  • PH.I.F.R5:
    Operating outside of CG limits.
  • PH.I.F.R6:
    Shifting, adding, and removing weight.
  • PH.I.F.R7:
    Retreating blade stall.
  • PH.I.F.R8:
    Situations that lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness (LTE).
Skills 2 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.F.S1:
    Compute the weight and balance, correct out-of-center of gravity loading errors and determine if the weight and balance remains within limits during all phases of flight.
  • PH.I.F.S2:
    Use appropriate helicopter performance charts, tables, and data.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent performance and limitations 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.