So failed my checkride because we exceeded Va (105 in a skyhawk) a couple times when intercepting ILS. We were around 115 which is below VNO. My question is was my DP just being a dick or was I wrong for not anticipating tailwind and adjusting power (reported surface winds were 15 g22) ? I thought as long as I wasnt doing maneuvers like stalls or whatever I could exceed VA.

 

Did you fail because you exceeded Va, or did you fail because you failed to "Maintain altitude ±100 feet, selected heading ±10°, airspeed ±10 knots, prior to beginning the final approach segment"

 

We weren't on Final. We weren't even on the approach. Were getting vectored to intercept the ILS. He mentioned it during the missed on the first approach and then when I didn't correct again on the seconded approach he just ended the check ride

 

I wonder why...?

 

Yea I mean I should have corrected after he mentioned it. But I had ten other things going on I set power to cruise, and when I turn south east I forget to correct for a tailwind so you fail me? It doesn't seem fair. Didn't have anything to do with my approaches. Plus like I said maybe I'm not understanding Va, but I wasn't conscious of it cause I wasn't preforming any stalls or maneuvers.

 

Ask the examiner for a reference specifying you should have flown below Va during that phase of flight. I'm not aware of any such guidance.

Were you in turbulent air?

 

Let me the question a little differently. Did the DPE ask what speed you intended to fly for the intercept? If he and you gave a speed, did you fly that speed +/- 10 knots?

GF

 

Something doesn’t add up here, flying the ILS has nothing to do with Va. Va, Vb Vc, Vd are all design speeds that take into account certain gusts, if it was extremely turbulent, it might be plausible that you should be less than Va, but that would a) be pretty damn turbulent and b) apply to any phase of flight, not just the ILS.

Ask the examiner what area of operation, task and skill you failed. Tell him you are having trouble figuring this out. Call the FSDO and ask to speak to the DPE manager and keep elevating this until it’s solved. You won’t get in trouble or anything for doing so.

This assumes you didn’t fail for failure to control airspeed as described in the task, but it should be understood that the ILS usually includes different speeds and configurations at different points. Usually competent schools and instructors have specific profiles to fly for approaches, giving the target speeds.

 

Thank you thats really helpful

 

That would be highly irregular for the DPE to "give you a speed for the intercept". It should be understood that the speed will vary as you are on different segments on the approach. The only situation I could see that making sense is if the DPE saw the applicant was unable to maintain speed in general, so they "gave" them a speed to see if they could do so, but at the same time it should be understood that different segments will be flown at different speeds.

I sure hope you aren't supposed to "only fly below Va" on an approach, because I've flown into many a class B in a light GA airplane and kept the speed up to keep the traffic flowing...