Instrument Rating ACS Question
Looking for help double checking something in the ACS for Instrument Rating. Probably a dumb question splitting hairs, but I just want to double check.
Nonprecision Approach:
Skills - 8. Maintain, "prior to beginning the final approach segment," altitude within +/- 100 feet, heading within +/- 10 degrees, and allows less than 3/4 scale deflection of the CDI, and maintain airspeed within +/- 10 knots.
Skills - 12. Maintain the MDA, when reached, within +100 feet, -0 feet to the MAP.
A step-down fix with an altitude (underlined) PRIOR to reaching the final approach fix still must adhere to Skill #12 of that "MDA" for the segment of +100 feet and -0 feet, rather than Skill #8 "prior to beginning the final approach segment, +/- 100 feet correct?
The Terminal Procedures Publication defines any underlined altitude as the "Minimum Altitude" which should obviously be one that you would not descend below, but in a gray area might be legally defined as something different than the published "MDA" that you'd maintain to the MAP (you're not 'maintaining' it if it's a stepdown).
Clearly it'd be smartest to stay above the step down minimum altitude regardless (for safety reasons as well as the ACS), but for pass/fail standards in the ACS what is the result if you drop 50 feet below a minimum altitude at a stepdown fix prior to the FAF?
For those curious, I didn't bust it. Just reviewing the ACS. Thanks in advance for any feedback.