PPL Checkride Study Guide

Phase 01 — Orientation

Map the territory

FAR/AIM is a reference manual, not a textbook. Reading it linearly is wasted effort. Here's the priority call, keyed to what a DPE asks.

Section	Priority	Why
Part 1 — Definitions	Skim	Clarifies 91-series terms ("operate" vs "act as PIC")
Part 39 — ADs	Concept	"What's an AD? Any on this airplane?"
Part 43 — Maintenance	Selective	App. A preventive maintenance, pilot authority 43.3(g)
Part 61 — Pilot certification	Master	Privileges, currency, logbook, endorsements
Part 67 — Medical	Concept	Broad strokes — disqualifying conditions
Part 71 — Airspace	Structure	Pairs with AIM Ch 3
Part 91 — Operating rules	Master	Biggest single oral category
Part 97, 119, 121, 125, 135, 142	Skip	IFR/commercial; not on PPL ACS
NTSB 830 — Reporting	Master	Asked every checkride
49 CFR 175 — HazMat	Basics	Lighters, medical O₂, e-cigs
AIM Ch 1 — Navigation	Selective	NAVAIDs, GPS basics
AIM Ch 2 — Lighting	Selective	Beacons, runway/taxi lights, PAPI/VASI
AIM Ch 3 — Airspace	Master	Heavy visual work — see Phase 4
AIM Ch 4 — ATC	Selective	Comms, transponder, VFR services
AIM Ch 5 — Procedures	Selective	VFR pieces — pattern, departures, arrivals
AIM Ch 6 — Emergency	Master	Lost comm, ELT, 7700/7600/7500
AIM Ch 7 — Safety	Selective	Weather, wake turb, ADM/CRM
AIM Ch 8 — Medical	Selective	Hypoxia, hyperventilation, illusions
Pilot/Controller Glossary	Reference	Look up on demand

ACS Crosswalk

~80% of FAR/AIM oral questions fall under ACS Area I (Preflight Preparation). Remaining 20% is scattered across X (Emergency Operations), XII (Night Operations), and III (Airport Ops). Each topic below is tagged to its ACS task.

C152 binding

No high-performance, no complex, no high-altitude, no type rating involved. But DPEs quiz the definitions to confirm you'd recognize when you needed each.

Phase 02 — Part 61

You, the pilot

Every oral opens here. The DPE confirms — before you walk to the airplane — that you are legally allowed to fly. ACS task: I.A — Pilot Qualifications.

What you must carry — 61.3

On your person or readily accessible in the aircraft (flight bag in cockpit qualifies; car at FBO does not):

Pilot certificate
Medical certificate, OR BasicMed documents + US state-issued photo ID
Government-issued photo ID (separate item — required since 2003)

61.51(i): a PPL is not required to carry their logbook, except to demonstrate a specific endorsement or training record needed for the operation.

Medical — 61.23

Class	Privileges	< 40 at exam	≥ 40 at exam
1st	ATP → Cmcl → Pvt	6 / 12 / 60 mo	6 / 12 / 24 mo
2nd	Commercial → Pvt	12 / 60 mo	12 / 24 mo
3rd	Private	60 calendar months	24 calendar months

"Calendar month" expires on the last day. Exam Feb 12, 2025 at age 35 → valid through Feb 28, 2030. Age at exam determines duration. Turn 40 the day after — still get 60 months.

BasicMed (Part 68)

Alternative to 3rd class. Requires: held FAA medical at some point after July 14, 2006 (not revoked); free medical education course every 24 months; physician exam every 48 months. Limits: ≤6 occupants, ≤6,000 lb MTOW, ≤250 KIAS, ≤18,000 ft MSL, US airspace only.

61.53 — Self-grounding

Must not act as PIC if you know of a medical deficiency that would prevent passing a medical, OR taking medication affecting safety. Applies under any certificate AND BasicMed.

Logbook — 61.51

Must log: training for ratings/endorsements/currency, experience used to meet currency or a future rating requirement.

Need not log: everything else. Most pilots log it all anyway for insurance and personal record.

Required columns: date, total time, departure/arrival, type & registration, pilot experience type (PIC, dual received, etc.), conditions (day/night/actual/simulated/XC).

Currency — 61.56 and 61.57

Medical · 61.23

3rd class for PPL privileges
Under 40: 60 cal months
40+: 24 cal months
BasicMed under Part 68

Flight Review · 61.56

Every 24 calendar months
≥ 1 hr ground + 1 hr flight
Any authorized CFI
WINGS phase substitutes

Day Passenger · 61.57(a)

3 T/O + 3 landings
Within preceding 90 days
Same category, class, type
Solo touch-and-go counts

Night Passenger · 61.57(b)

3 T/O + 3 full-stop landings
Within preceding 90 days
Between SS+1 hr and SR−1 hr
Day currency does NOT satisfy

Endorsements · 61.31 (never expire)

High perf (>200 HP), Complex (RG + flaps + CS prop), Tailwheel, High alt (pressurized >25k ft). Type rating (>12,500 lb or turbojet).

Three definitions of "night"

Logging night time (61.51): end of evening civil twilight to beginning of morning civil twilight
Night currency (61.57(b)): sunset + 1 hr to sunrise − 1 hr
Position lights required (91.209): sunset to sunrise

Privileges & limitations — 61.113

Default rule: PPL cannot act as PIC for compensation/hire, nor carry passengers/property for compensation/hire.

Exception	Citation	Conditions
Pro-rata cost share	61.113(c)	Pilot pays ≥ pro-rata of: fuel, oil, airport expenditures, rental. Common purpose required.
Incidental to business	61.113(b)	Flight incidental to job. No pax/property for comp/hire.
Charity / community event	61.113(d)	Must meet 91.146 (sponsor notification, 500+ hrs).
Search & rescue	61.113(e)	Specific S&R operations.
Aircraft salesperson	61.113(f)	200+ hours, demo to prospective buyer.
Glider/UL tow	61.113(g)	Per 61.69.

Common purpose doctrine

FAA reads 61.113(c) to require an independent reason for the destination. "I'm going to Vegas — pay 1/3 the fuel" is suspect if you wouldn't otherwise have gone. Mangiamele interpretation, 2009.

Endorsements — 61.31

High performance — engine of more than 200 HP. Strictly >. Not thrust, not MTOW.
Complex — retract gear + flaps + CS prop, all three. Seaplane: retract floats + CS prop.
Tailwheel — separate, requires aeronautical experience demo per 61.31(i).
High altitude — pressurized with certified service ceiling or max operating >25,000 ft MSL.
Type rating — >12,500 lb or any turbojet.

Combinations the DPE asks

Turbo 182 = high-perf, NOT complex (fixed gear). PA-28R Arrow = complex, NOT high-perf (180 HP). Bonanza V-tail = both.

Mock oral · Part 61

What must you have on your person to act as PIC of this C152?

Pilot certificate, medical (or BasicMed qual + state photo ID), and government-issued photo ID — per 61.3. No logbook required to be carried for a PPL (61.51(i)) unless I need to show a specific endorsement.

Medical issued June 10, 2024, age 38 at exam. When does it expire?

Under 40 → 60 calendar months. Expires June 30, 2029 (last day of the 60th calendar month).

Friend asks for a ride and offers to pay all the fuel. Legal?

No. 61.113(c) requires me to pay at least my pro-rata share — at minimum half the fuel/oil/airport/rental. Friend paying all fuel makes me compensated, which 61.113(a) prohibits. Plus I'd need a common purpose for the trip.

Boss tells you to fly the company plane to deliver documents. Legal?

Generally yes under 61.113(b) — flight incidental to my employment. Company isn't paying me extra to fly, and I'm not carrying property for compensation. If I were a courier whose primary job is delivery, that's commercial.

Define complex and high-performance. Is this C152 either?

Complex (61.31(e)): retract + flaps + CS prop, all three. High performance (61.31(f)): engine >200 HP. C152 is neither — fixed gear, fixed-pitch prop, 110 HP O-235.

Phase 03 — Part 91

Operating rules

The single largest oral category. Required docs, inspections, equipment, weather mins, fuel, right-of-way, altitudes, O₂, alcohol. ACS: I.B Airworthiness, I.E XC Planning, III, X.

Required documents on board — ARROW

A · R · R · O · W

A — Airworthiness certificate (91.203) — displayed at cabin/cockpit entrance
R — Registration certificate (91.203)
R — Radio station license — international flights only, FCC
O — Operating limitations (POH/AFM + placards/markings) (91.9)
W — Weight & balance data (current)

Required inspections — AV1ATED

A · V · 1 · A · T · E · D

A — Annual inspection · 12 calendar months (91.409)
V — VOR check · 30 days · IFR only (91.171)
1 — 100-hour · only if used for hire / instruction for compensation
A — Altimeter / pitot-static · 24 calendar months · IFR only (91.411)
T — Transponder · 24 calendar months (91.413)
E — ELT · 12 calendar months · battery replaced after 1 hr cumulative use OR 50% useful life (91.207)
D — Airworthiness Directives (ADs) · ongoing · check at each inspection; some are recurring (Part 39)

ADS-B Out — required wherever transponder Mode C is required (91.225/227). Tested every 24 cal months as part of transponder check.

Required equipment — 91.205

Day VFR — A TOMATO FLAMES

A Airspeed indicator
T Tachometer (each engine)
O Oil pressure gauge (each engine using oil pressure)
M Manifold pressure (each altitude engine)
A Altimeter
T Temperature gauge (each liquid-cooled engine)
O Oil temperature gauge (each air-cooled engine)
F Fuel gauge (each tank)
L Landing gear position indicator (if retract)
A Anti-collision lights (small civil planes after 3/11/1996)
M Magnetic compass
E ELT
S Seat belts / shoulder harness (front seats post-1978)

Night VFR adds — FLAPS

F Fuses (spare set — 3 of each kind OR circuit breakers)
L Landing light — if for hire
A Anti-collision lights
P Position lights (red left, green right, white tail)
S Source of electricity (alternator or generator)

Inoperative equipment — 91.213

Equipment listed in 91.205 (and the aircraft's equipment list / KOEL) that's INOP grounds you unless: covered by an MEL, OR can be deferred per 91.213(d) (not required by type cert, 91.205, AD, or KOEL — and placarded INOP and removed/deactivated by appropriate person).

VFR weather minimums — 91.155

Airspace	Visibility	Cloud clearance
Class A	IFR only — not applicable
Class B	3 SM	Clear of clouds
Class C, D, E (<10,000 MSL)	3 SM	500 below · 1,000 above · 2,000 horizontal
Class E (≥10,000 MSL)	5 SM	1,000 below · 1,000 above · 1 SM horizontal
Class G ≤1,200 AGL · day	1 SM	Clear of clouds
Class G ≤1,200 AGL · night	3 SM	500 · 1,000 · 2,000
Class G >1,200 AGL · <10k MSL · day	1 SM	500 · 1,000 · 2,000
Class G >1,200 AGL · <10k MSL · night	3 SM	500 · 1,000 · 2,000
Class G ≥10,000 MSL	5 SM	1,000 · 1,000 · 1 SM

Special VFR — 91.157

1 SM vis, clear of clouds. In Class B/C/D or Class E surface area, below VFR mins. Pilot request → ATC clearance. Day only unless instrument-rated AND aircraft IFR-equipped.

Fuel reserves — 91.151 (VFR)

Condition	Required reserve
Day VFR	To first point of intended landing + 30 min at normal cruise
Night VFR	To first point of intended landing + 45 min at normal cruise

Right of way — 91.113

Order (from most to least right of way):

Aircraft in distress
Balloon
Glider
Airship
Aircraft towing or refueling another aircraft
Powered airplane / rotorcraft (lowest)

Same category rules:

Converging: aircraft on the right has right of way
Head-on: both alter course to the right
Overtaking: overtaken aircraft has right of way; pass on the right
Landing: lower aircraft has right of way; cannot use this to cut in front

Speed limits — 91.117

Where	Max IAS
Below 10,000 MSL	250 kt
Within 4 NM of Class C or D primary, below 2,500 AGL	200 kt
Under Class B / in VFR corridor	200 kt

Minimum safe altitudes — 91.119

Anywhere: altitude allowing emergency landing without undue hazard (except T/O & landing)
Congested area: 1,000 ft above highest obstacle within 2,000 ft horizontal
Other than congested: 500 ft AGL
Sparsely populated / open water: 500 ft from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure

VFR cruise altitudes — 91.159

Above 3,000 AGL and below 18,000 MSL:

Magnetic course 0–179°: odd thousand + 500 (3,500 · 5,500 · 7,500 · 9,500 ...)
Magnetic course 180–359°: even thousand + 500 (4,500 · 6,500 · 8,500 ...)

Supplemental oxygen — 91.211

Cabin altitude	Requirement
12,500 – 14,000 MSL	Crew must use O₂ if > 30 min
Above 14,000 MSL	Crew must use O₂ continuously
Above 15,000 MSL	O₂ must be provided to all passengers

Alcohol & drugs — 91.17

8 hours bottle to throttle
BAC < 0.04
Not under the influence of any drug affecting safety
Cannot allow a person under the influence to be on board (except medical patients with attendants, or in emergency)

Other 91-series essentials

Rule	Substance
91.3	PIC = final authority. May deviate from any 91 rule in an emergency. Written report on request.
91.7	PIC determines airworthiness. Must discontinue if unairworthy.
91.9	AFM, markings, placards required on board.
91.13	Careless or reckless operation — FAA's catch-all.
91.15	No dropping objects unless precautions avoid hazard.
91.103	Preflight action — "NWKRAFT" (NOTAMs, Weather, Known delays, Runway lengths, Alternates, Fuel, T/O & landing distance).
91.107	Seat belts: each occupant; PIC briefs; fastened for taxi, T/O, landing.
91.111	No careless formation flight; no flight in formation without prior arrangement.
91.123	Compliance with ATC clearances/instructions.

Mock oral · Part 91

Show me the airworthiness certificate. What makes it valid?

It's displayed at the cabin entrance per 91.203. It's valid as long as the aircraft is maintained per Parts 21, 43, and 91 — including required inspections current, ADs complied with, and aircraft operated in accordance with operating limitations.

What inspections must be current on this C152, and where do you find them?

Annual (12 cal months), transponder (24 cal months), ELT (12 cal months). 100-hour applies only if flown for hire/instruction. VOR and pitot-static only for IFR. I find dates in the maintenance logbook entries.

Day VFR, what's the minimum fuel I need to land at my destination?

Per 91.151: enough to reach the first point of intended landing PLUS 30 minutes at normal cruise. 45 minutes if night.

You're on a VFR cruise heading 270 magnetic at 6,500. Legal?

No. Magnetic course 180–359° requires even-thousand+500. 6,500 is correct for 0–179°. Should be 4,500, 6,500 is wrong, 8,500 would be right. Actually wait — 6,500 is even+500, so yes legal. [Note: count "even thousand + 500" = 4,500, 6,500, 8,500. So 6,500 IS legal westbound.] Correct answer: yes, legal.

VFR minimums for Class E at 11,500 MSL?

5 SM visibility, 1,000 below / 1,000 above / 1 SM horizontal from clouds. (Per 91.155 — once at or above 10,000 MSL, mins increase regardless of class.)

Last drink at 9 PM. When can you depart?

Soonest is 8 hours later — 5 AM next morning, per 91.17(a)(1). Plus BAC must be below 0.04. Plus I must not be under the influence — if I had enough to still feel it, I can't fly even if 8 hours passed.

Engine fails over a populated area. 91.119 says 1,000 above highest obstacle. You're at 800 AGL when it quits. Trouble?

No. 91.119 says "except when necessary for takeoff or landing." An engine failure forcing an emergency landing falls under PIC emergency authority (91.3(b)) — I deviate as required and may be asked for a written report afterward.

Phase 04 — Airspace

The layered cake

Where can you fly, what equipment do you need, and what are the weather mins? ACS: I.E Cross-Country Planning, I.H Operation of Systems.

← swipe to explore →

Classes at a glance

Class	Vertical	Equipment to enter	VFR mins
A	18,000 MSL to FL600	IFR clearance, Mode C, ADS-B Out	IFR only
B	SFC to ~10,000 MSL (inv. wedding cake)	Clearance, Mode C, 2-way radio, ADS-B Out	3 SM, COC
C	SFC to 4,000 AGL; 5/10 NM rings	2-way est., Mode C, ADS-B Out	3 SM, 500/1000/2000
D	SFC to ~2,500 AGL; ~4 NM	2-way est.	3 SM, 500/1000/2000
E	Everything controlled, not A/B/C/D	None below 10k MSL (Mode C+ADS-B above 10k MSL excl. ≤2500 AGL)	Depends on altitude
G	SFC up to base of E (700/1,200 AGL typical)	None	Reduced — see Phase 3

Two-way radio — "established"

Class C and D require two-way radio communication established before entry. That means ATC used your callsign in their reply. "N12345, standby" = established. "Aircraft calling, standby" = NOT established. The difference matters.

Special Use Airspace

Type	What it means
Prohibited (P-)	No flight allowed. P-40 Camp David, P-49 Crawford, etc.
Restricted (R-)	Hazards to non-participating aircraft. Entry requires controlling agency permission. Check NOTAM and chart for hours.
Warning (W-)	Same hazards as restricted but over international waters (3+ NM offshore). No US authority to prohibit, but avoid.
MOA	Military Operations Area. VFR may enter — exercise caution, get flight following.
Alert (A-)	High volume training. Both transiting and participating pilots are responsible for collision avoidance.
CFA	Controlled Firing Area. Activities suspended when an aircraft is detected. Not charted (no need to avoid).
NSA	National Security Area. Voluntary avoidance requested; can be made temporarily prohibited by NOTAM.

TFRs — Temporary Flight Restrictions

Rule	Subject
91.137	Disaster / hazard areas
91.138	National disaster in Hawaii
91.141	Presidential / VIP movement
91.143	Space flight operations
91.145	Major sporting events / large gatherings (Super Bowl, NASCAR, etc.)

Check tfr.faa.gov before every flight. TFRs are published by FDC NOTAM.

Mock oral · Airspace

Coming back to your home Class D — describe what you do, comm-wise.

10 NM out I call: "Tower, N12345, 10 to the south, 2,500, inbound for landing with [ATIS]." Two-way radio is established once they use my callsign. Then I follow their instructions per 91.123.

What's the difference between a Restricted Area and a Warning Area?

Restricted: hazardous activity, US-territory airspace, entry requires controlling agency permission. Warning: same hazards but over international waters where the US has no airspace authority — avoidance is recommended, not legally required, but practically the same idea.

You're at 4,500 MSL, 25 NM from a Class B primary airport. What equipment is required?

Within the Mode C veil (30 NM from B primary, surface to 10,000 MSL): operable transponder with Mode C AND ADS-B Out (91.215, 91.225). I'm 25 NM out, so yes.

Weather drops below VFR mins approaching your Class D home field. Options?

Request Special VFR from approach/tower per 91.157: 1 SM vis, clear of clouds. Day only unless I'm IFR-rated and the aircraft is IFR-equipped. If denied or unsafe, divert to a VFR airport.

Phase 05 — AIM Essentials

Procedures, comms, human factors

The AIM is non-regulatory but operationally authoritative. DPEs ask the bits that affect every flight — comms, light gun, NOTAMs, wake, ADM, aeromedical. ACS: I.G Human Factors, III, X.

Light gun signals — AIM 4-3-13

Steady green

Ground: cleared for takeoff · Air: cleared to land

Steady red

Ground: stop · Air: give way / continue circling

Flashing green

Ground: cleared to taxi · Air: return for landing

Flashing red

Ground: taxi clear of runway · Air: airport unsafe, do not land

Flashing white

Ground only: return to starting point on airport

Alternating red/green

Exercise extreme caution

NOTAMs

Type	What it covers
D (Domestic)	Runway/taxiway closures, NAVAID outages, lighting, airport services
FDC	Flight Data Center — regulatory: TFRs, IAP amendments, special instructions
Pointer	Cross-references another NOTAM
Military	Military bases
International (ICAO)	Outside US

Always check via 1800wxbrief.com or your EFB. NOTAMs are a 91.103 preflight requirement.

Wake turbulence — AIM 7-3

Generated by lift production — strongest when aircraft is heavy, slow, clean configuration
Sinks behind and below the wingtips; descends ~400–500 fpm; usually levels 900 ft below flight path
Drifts with the wind

Avoidance:

Landing behind a heavy: stay above their glide path, land beyond their touchdown point
Departing behind a heavy: rotate before their rotation point, climb above their flight path
Crossing behind: cross above or upwind
Helicopter wake: in forward flight, comparable to a fixed-wing of similar weight; while hovering, intense downwash

ADM — mnemonics

PAVE — preflight risk

P Pilot (IMSAFE, currency, experience)
A Aircraft (airworthy, equipped, fueled)
V enVironment (weather, terrain, airport, lighting)
E External pressures (get-there-itis, schedules, ego)

IMSAFE — personal minimums

I Illness
M Medication
S Stress
A Alcohol
F Fatigue
E Emotion / Eating

5P — in-flight check

P Plan
P Plane
P Pilot
P Passengers
P Programming (avionics, automation)

3P — perceive / process / perform

P Perceive the hazard
P Process the level of risk
P Perform risk management

Hazardous attitudes (5): Anti-authority, Impulsivity, Invulnerability, Macho, Resignation. Each has a verbal antidote.

Aeromedical — AIM Ch 8

Hazard	Cause	Recognition	Response
Hypoxia (hypoxic)	Low partial pressure of O₂ at altitude	Tingling, euphoria, blue lips, drowsiness, poor judgment	O₂, descend below 10,000 MSL
Hypoxia (hypemic)	CO poisoning, anemia, smoking	Headache, blurred vision	Vent cabin, off heat, O₂, descend, land
Hyperventilation	Stress, anxiety — exhaling too much CO₂	Rapid breathing, dizzy, tingling, light-headed	Slow breathing; talk; breathe into bag
Spatial disorientation	Loss of visual reference (IMC, night, haze)	Leans, graveyard spiral, somatogravic illusion	Trust instruments, transition to instruments
Motion sickness	Inner ear vs visual mismatch	Nausea, cold sweat	Fresh air, focus on horizon, avoid heavy meals
Scuba flying	Nitrogen bubbles in joints	The bends — joint pain	Wait 12 hr after nondecompression / 24 hr after decompression dive before flight to 8,000 MSL; 24 hr regardless above 8,000

Visual illusions — landing

Wider runway than usual: illusion of being too low → tendency to flare high → hard landing
Narrower runway: illusion of being too high → flare low → land short
Upsloping runway: appears higher than actual → may land short
Downsloping runway: appears lower than actual → may overshoot
Featureless terrain / black hole approach: appears higher than actual → flies a low approach
Rain on windscreen: runway appears lower → may flare high
Atmospheric haze: distance appears greater → flies high approach

Phase 06 — Emergency & Reporting

When things go wrong

PIC emergency authority, NTSB 830 reporting, lost comm, transponder codes. Easy points often botched. ACS Area X.

PIC emergency authority — 91.3(b)

91.3(b) verbatim, paraphrased

In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the PIC may deviate from any rule of Part 91 to the extent required to meet that emergency. The PIC may be required to send a written report to the Administrator upon request.

This is the single most important rule in 91. It is your shield. You don't need permission to do what's safe.

Transponder codes

Code	Meaning
1200	VFR default (squawk on initial check)
7500	Hijack
7600	Lost comm (radio failure)
7700	Emergency

Don't pass through 7500/7600/7700 when changing codes

Spinning the knob from 1200 to 1234 may briefly display 7500 — counts as a discrete code declaration. Set tens/hundreds digits last, or use the IDENT-after-set technique.

Lost communication — VFR

Squawk 7600
Stay VFR. Land as soon as practicable at a suitable airport.
At a tower-controlled airport: enter pattern from above, look for light gun signals.
Day: rock wings as ack. Night: blink landing/nav lights as ack.

ELT — 91.207

Required on most US-registered aircraft (some exceptions: training within 50 NM of base, etc.)
Inspect within 12 calendar months
Replace battery after 1 hour cumulative use OR when 50% of useful life expires
Test only during the first 5 minutes of each hour (so SAR doesn't think it's real)
May be removed for repair / replacement up to 90 days; placard "ELT not installed"
406 MHz preferred (digital, satellite, GPS-encoded); 121.5 MHz legacy

NTSB 830 — what's reportable

Two categories: Accident (always reportable, immediately) and Listed Incident (always reportable). Everything else is non-reportable unless NTSB requests.

Aircraft accident definition

Occurrence associated with operation of an aircraft, from boarding to deplaning, where:

A person suffers death (within 30 days of accident), OR
A person suffers serious injury, OR
Aircraft receives substantial damage

Term	Definition
Serious injury	Requires hospitalization >48 hrs (within 7 days); OR fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); OR severe hemorrhage, nerve/muscle/tendon damage; OR injury to internal organ; OR 2nd or 3rd degree burns over >5% of body
Substantial damage	Damage that adversely affects structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics — normally requiring major repair or replacement. Excludes: engine failure or damage limited to an engine, bent fairings/cowling, dented skin, small punctures, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades, damage to landing gear/wheels/tires/flaps/engine accessories/brakes/wingtips

Listed incidents — always reportable

Flight control system malfunction or failure
Crewmember unable to perform normal duties due to injury or illness
Failure of a structural component of a turbine engine (excluding compressor/turbine blades and vanes)
In-flight fire
Aircraft collision in flight
Damage to property other than the aircraft > $25,000
For large multi-engine: in-flight evacuation slide deployment; airframe icing; engine failure resulting in shutdown
Release of all or a portion of a propeller blade from an aircraft (excluding from groundings)
Aircraft is overdue and believed to have been involved in an accident

Reporting timeline

Event	Notification	Written report
Accident	NTSB immediately, by phone	Within 10 days (Form 6120.1)
Listed incident	NTSB immediately, by phone	Only if requested
Overdue aircraft (still missing)	NTSB immediately	Within 7 days

Mock oral · Emergencies

In flight, your nose gear tire blows on landing rollout. Reportable to NTSB?

No. Damage limited to landing gear / wheel / tire is explicitly excluded from "substantial damage" under NTSB 830.2. Not reportable.

Passenger trips deboarding and breaks a finger. Reportable?

Probably not — "serious injury" excludes simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose. Even if it occurred between boarding and deplaning, the injury doesn't meet the threshold.

In flight you encounter a flight control failure. Land safely. Reportable?

Yes — flight control system malfunction is a listed incident under NTSB 830.5(a). Immediate notification to NTSB. Written report only if requested.

Engine quits, you make an off-airport landing. No injuries, prop bent, gear damaged. Reportable?

No substantial damage (gear and prop excluded). No serious injury. Not technically an accident under 830.2. But engine failure forcing off-airport landing is borderline — most pilots and the FAA would treat it as one. Honest answer: report and let NTSB decide.

Phase 07 — Synthesis

Top traps and cross-cutting orals

The questions that don't fit cleanly in one phase. Memorize these and you've front-run 80% of DPE gotchas.

Top 20 gotchas

#	Gotcha
1	Three different definitions of "night": logging (61.51) = civil twilight; currency (61.57) = SS+1 to SR−1; lights (91.209) = SS to SR.
2	Day passenger currency allows touch-and-goes. Night requires full-stop landings.
3	Cost sharing limited to fuel, oil, airport expenditures, rental — nothing else. Plus common purpose.
4	"High performance" = engine >200 HP strictly. Not 200 exactly. "Complex" = retract + flaps + CS prop, all three.
5	Two-way radio "established" requires ATC use of your callsign. "Aircraft calling, standby" doesn't count.
6	VFR mins jump at 10,000 MSL regardless of class — 5 SM / 1000 / 1000 / 1 SM.
7	Special VFR is day only unless instrument-rated AND aircraft IFR-equipped.
8	Fuel reserve: 30 min day, 45 min night, at normal cruise. Not approach.
9	Right of way descending order: distress → balloon → glider → airship → tow/refuel → powered. Powered is lowest.
10	91.3(b) lets PIC deviate from any rule of Part 91 in an emergency. Written report on request, not automatic.
11	Substantial damage excludes engine, propeller, landing gear, wing tips, fairings, cowling. Easy way to think: if the airframe is intact, it's probably not substantial.
12	O₂ rules: 12,500–14,000 MSL crew if >30 min · 14,000+ crew continuous · 15,000+ passengers provided.
13	Mode C veil = 30 NM from Class B primary, surface to 10,000 MSL. ADS-B Out required wherever Mode C is.
14	Cruise altitudes apply only above 3,000 AGL. Below that, no hemisphere rule.
15	91.119 minimum altitudes have an "except for takeoff and landing" carve-out. Engine failure falls under 91.3(b).
16	Annual is 12 calendar months. So is ELT inspection. Transponder and altimeter are 24 cal months.
17	BFR ≥ 1 hr ground AND ≥ 1 hr flight. Not "1 hour total." Both minimums apply.
18	ARROW = required on board. The radio station license is only required for international flights.
19	61.53 self-grounding applies even under BasicMed, even with no medical issued, if you know you have a disqualifying condition.
20	Logbook is not required to be carried by a PPL (61.51(i)) — except to show a specific endorsement needed for the operation.

Cross-cutting mock oral

Q · Full preflight scenario

It's 8 AM, you're departing on a 2-hour cross-country at 6,500 MSL on a heading of 270°, returning at 3,500 MSL on 090°, landing back at home Class D after sunset. Walk me through everything you've checked.

Me (61.3, 61.23, 61.56, 61.57): certificate + medical + photo ID on me. BFR current. Day-pax current (3 in 90). Will I land after sunset+1? If yes, I need night-pax currency. IMSAFE check.

Aircraft (91.203, 91.205, 91.207, 91.213, 91.409, 91.413): ARROW docs on board. ATOMATOFLAMES for day; FLAPS components for return-after-dark (position lights, anti-collision, source of power, spare fuses or CBs, landing light if for hire). Annual, transponder, ELT all current. Maintenance logs reviewed.

Environment (91.103): NWKRAFT — NOTAMs (incl. TFRs), weather (departure, en route, destination, alternate), known delays, runway lengths, alternates, fuel, T/O & landing distance per POH/W&B.

Flight plan (91.151, 91.155, 91.159): Westbound 270° at 6,500 MSL — even thousand + 500, legal. Eastbound 090° at 3,500 MSL — wait, 090° is 0–179°, needs odd thousand + 500 → 3,500 works. Fuel for trip + 45 min reserve (planning the after-dark leg). VFR mins en route — 3 SM, 500/1000/2000 in Class E below 10k.

External pressures (PAVE): Schedule pressure? Get-there-itis? Passengers expecting on-time arrival? I budget a divert option.

Sequence to close the oral

Confirm the legal framework (61, 91, NTSB 830)
Confirm the aircraft is airworthy and properly equipped
Confirm the environment is within your personal limits
Confirm you have an out — alternate, divert, abort criteria
Confirm you have authority under 91.3(b) if it all goes sideways

Speak this aloud during the oral. DPEs love seeing the framework, not just answers.

The book is the reference.The checkride is the test.

Map the territory

You, the pilot

What you must carry — 61.3

Medical — 61.23

Logbook — 61.51

Currency — 61.56 and 61.57

Privileges & limitations — 61.113

Endorsements — 61.31

Mock oral · Part 61

Operating rules

Required documents on board — ARROW

Required inspections — AV1ATED

Required equipment — 91.205

Day VFR — A TOMATO FLAMES

Night VFR adds — FLAPS

VFR weather minimums — 91.155

Fuel reserves — 91.151 (VFR)

Right of way — 91.113

Speed limits — 91.117

Minimum safe altitudes — 91.119

VFR cruise altitudes — 91.159

Supplemental oxygen — 91.211

Alcohol & drugs — 91.17

Other 91-series essentials

Mock oral · Part 91

The layered cake

Classes at a glance

Special Use Airspace

TFRs — Temporary Flight Restrictions

Mock oral · Airspace

Procedures, comms, human factors

Light gun signals — AIM 4-3-13

NOTAMs

Wake turbulence — AIM 7-3

ADM — mnemonics

Aeromedical — AIM Ch 8

Visual illusions — landing

When things go wrong

PIC emergency authority — 91.3(b)

Transponder codes

Lost communication — VFR

ELT — 91.207

NTSB 830 — what's reportable

Aircraft accident definition

Listed incidents — always reportable

Reporting timeline

Mock oral · Emergencies

Top traps and cross-cutting orals

Top 20 gotchas

Cross-cutting mock oral

The book is the reference.
The checkride is the test.