I know you have, but I also know you weren't "asked" to..unless you call getting multiple hits in the head from your instructor's kneeboard "asking" - I can't imagine landing without looking straight ahead...(my dad flew the F-8 in the USMC - heard lots of good PreFlight stories).

But anyway, I agree with you that a checkride failure would have been made very clear by the examiner in the form of FAA paperwork in triplicate, press hard, 3 copies.

And I'd still check with the feds before assuming all is well.

In accordance with FAA Order 8900.2 (Examiner's Handbook), there are (3) Three Possible Outcomes of a Practical Test:

1. PASS- Issue FAA Form 8060-4 (Temporary Airman Certificate)
2. FAIL- Issue FAA Form 8060-5 (Notice of Disapproval of Application)
3. DISCONTINUANCE - FAA Letter explaining the(typical) reasons:
-Maintenance issue with the Aircraft
-Applicant gets sick
-Adverse Weather

Applicant gets credit fror any tasks satisfactorily completed, and must finish the test within two calendar months (used to be 60 days).


Sounds to me like there was no documented "Unsatisfactory" on your Commercial Practical Test. If you were not issued FAA Form 8060-5 "Notice of Disapproval of Application" then you did not "fail" the Practical Test.

Now for the "Sidebar", it sounds to me as though your examiner did not administer a "correct" Practical Test. Here's why:

FAA Order 8900.2 specifically prohibits "stopping the test" prior to completion in order to permit the applicant further study/training!

That is not YOUR problem, it is the examiner's problem. That type of unprofessional examiner behavior is what gets their designation terminated by the FAA.

The Fed or DPE has to give you something, either a new temp, a pink slip or a letter of discontinuance. If you get a pink slip, you have to fill out a new 8710 with an Instructor's sign off.

You can get a copy of your FAA file here:

Airmen Certification: Get Copies of Airman Certification Records

I'm not sure now. It was two years ago and I don't recall any discussion about it having impact on my record... but then, who knows.

I too was shocked when he asked me to land on a spot on the runway. I didn't remember reading it in the practical standards, and had not prepared for it at all, let alone in that airplane. I had practiced power off landings - something I'd do whether it was required or not, just so I'm comfortable in the plane.

I'll get a copy of my records, so I know what to document in the future, thanks for the info.

This guy has always been by the book for everything I've ever seen him involved in, so I doubt he did anything wrong, he probably gave me a "pink" slip, but didn't make a big deal about it so I didn't realize what it was, he just said something to the effect of after you've reviewed this with John (my instructor at the time), we'll go up again and get this finished.

We did not terminate the test early, as we'd already done everything else, this was the last thing to be done... always has to be the last thing right?

Any way, thanks for the help.
-Andy

That is probably correct. As I said, I didnt' remember reading it in the practical standards, nor had I prepared for it. So I screwed the pooch.

what does your logbook say?

If you busted there should be a flight with

"unsatisfactory commercial airplane" in the remaks section,

followed by a flight with the instructor,

followd by "commercial airplane satisfactory" in the remarks section dated a day after the other two.



(or may say something like: passed, not passed, failed, ect....)

That is only if the DE fills out the logbook. Many don't.

Isn't a "spot landing" just a shortfield landing? You have +100/-0 for that one. Maybe he didn't say "Do a shortfield landing" but maybe telling you the spot was implied? Sounds like a very unclear examiner. I've never heard of a student asking if they failed a flight or not. If you have to go back up with them after a flight with an instructor, it should be assumed failure.

OK, So I must have failed. I just didn't put two and two together I guess.
thanks for your help.