Airworthy PrepArea IX of 11
Emergency Operations
7% of the Private Pilot test, about 4 of the 60 questions. The FAA's test standard lists 7 tasks and 50 knowledge elements and 31 risk management elements for this area. Here is every one, plus sample questions to try.
What the FAA tests
From the Private Pilot Airplane test standard, FAA-S-ACS-6C.
Task A. Emergency Descent
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.A.K1Situations that would require an emergency descent (e.g., depressurization, smoke, or engine fire).
- PA.IX.A.K2Immediate action items and emergency procedures.
- PA.IX.A.K3Airspeed, including airspeed limitations.
- PA.IX.A.K4Aircraft performance and limitations.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.A.R1Altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, gliding distance, and available landing distance considerations.
- PA.IX.A.R2Collision hazards.
- PA.IX.A.R3Configuring the airplane.
- PA.IX.A.R4Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Task B. Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES)
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.B.K1Immediate action items and emergency procedures.
- PA.IX.B.K2Airspeed, including:
- PA.IX.B.K2aImportance of best glide speed and its relationship to distance
- PA.IX.B.K2bDifference between best glide speed and minimum sink speed
- PA.IX.B.K2cEffects of wind on glide distance
- PA.IX.B.K3Effects of atmospheric conditions on emergency approach and landing.
- PA.IX.B.K4A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
- PA.IX.B.K5Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) and other emergency locating devices.
- PA.IX.B.K6Air traffic control (ATC) services to aircraft in distress.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.B.R1Altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, gliding distance, and available landing distance considerations.
- PA.IX.B.R2Following or changing the planned flightpath to the selected landing area.
- PA.IX.B.R3Collision hazards.
- PA.IX.B.R4Configuring the airplane.
- PA.IX.B.R5Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- PA.IX.B.R6Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Task C. Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.C.K1Causes of partial or complete power loss related to the specific type of powerplant(s).
- PA.IX.C.K1a[Archived]
- PA.IX.C.K1b[Archived]
- PA.IX.C.K1c[Archived]
- PA.IX.C.K1d[Archived]
- PA.IX.C.K2System and equipment malfunctions specific to the aircraft, including:
- PA.IX.C.K2aElectrical malfunction
- PA.IX.C.K2bVacuum/pressure and associated flight instrument malfunctions
- PA.IX.C.K2cPitot-static system malfunction
- PA.IX.C.K2dElectronic flight deck display malfunction
- PA.IX.C.K2eLanding gear or flap malfunction
- PA.IX.C.K2fInoperative trim
- PA.IX.C.K3Causes and remedies for smoke or fire onboard the aircraft.
- PA.IX.C.K4Any other system specific to the aircraft (e.g., supplemental oxygen, deicing).
- PA.IX.C.K5Inadvertent door or window opening.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.C.R1Checklist usage for a system or equipment malfunction.
- PA.IX.C.R2Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- PA.IX.C.R3Undesired aircraft state.
- PA.IX.C.R4Startle response.
Task D. Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.D.K1Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) operations, limitations, and testing requirements.
- PA.IX.D.K2Fire extinguisher operations and limitations.
- PA.IX.D.K3Emergency equipment and survival gear needed for:
- PA.IX.D.K3aClimate extremes (hot/cold)
- PA.IX.D.K3bMountainous terrain
- PA.IX.D.K3cOverwater operations
- PA.IX.D.K4When to deploy a ballistic parachute and associated passenger briefings, if equipped.
- PA.IX.D.K5When to activate an emergency auto-land system and brief passengers, if equipped.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.D.R1Survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
- PA.IX.D.R2Use of a ballistic parachute system.
- PA.IX.D.R3Use of an emergency auto-land system, if installed.
Task E. Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.E.K1Factors affecting minimum control airspeed with an inoperative engine (VMC).
- PA.IX.E.K2VMC (red line) and best single-engine rate of climb airspeed (VYSE) (blue line).
- PA.IX.E.K3Accelerate/stop distance.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.E.R1Potential engine failure during takeoff.
- PA.IX.E.R2Configuring the airplane.
- PA.IX.E.R3Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Task F. Engine Failure After Liftoff (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.F.K1Factors affecting minimum controllable speed (VMC).
- PA.IX.F.K2VMC (red line), VYSE (blue line), and safe single-engine speed (VSSE).
- PA.IX.F.K3Accelerate/stop and accelerate/go distances.
- PA.IX.F.K4How to identify, verify, feather, and secure an inoperative engine.
- PA.IX.F.K5Importance of drag reduction, including propeller feathering, gear and flap retraction, the manufacturer’s recommended control input and its relation to zero sideslip.
- PA.IX.F.K6Simulated propeller feathering and the evaluator’s zero-thrust procedures and responsibilities.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.F.R1Potential engine failure after lift-off.
- PA.IX.F.R2Collision hazards.
- PA.IX.F.R3Configuring the airplane.
- PA.IX.F.R4Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- PA.IX.F.R5Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Task G. Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated)(AMEL, AMES)
Knowledge: what you must know
- PA.IX.G.K1Factors affecting minimum controllable speed (VMC).
- PA.IX.G.K2VMC (red line) and best single-engine rate of climb airspeed (VYSE) (blue line).
- PA.IX.G.K3How to identify, verify, feather, and secure an inoperative engine.
- PA.IX.G.K4Importance of drag reduction, including propeller feathering, gear and flap retraction, the manufacturer’s recommended control input and its relation to zero sideslip.
- PA.IX.G.K5Applicant responsibilities during simulated feathering.
Risk management: hazards you must be able to spot and manage
- PA.IX.G.R1Potential engine failure inflight or during an approach.
- PA.IX.G.R2Collision hazards.
- PA.IX.G.R3Configuring the airplane.
- PA.IX.G.R4Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- PA.IX.G.R5Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- PA.IX.G.R6Possible single-engine go-around.
Try a sample question
Emergency Operations · PA.IX.B.R4
In a forced landing you are on base to a field, and you judge that you will only just reach it. When should you extend full flaps?
Practice all of emergency operations
The full course has questions on every element listed here, with an explanation and FAA source for each.