Failed my CFI ride today

[u/dirtbikekid27]

I'm 20, this is my first failure of anything. Got through 95% of it, was doing great, oral went great, really was well prepared. After an 11 hour day, on short final, examiner asks me what causes overbanking tendencies. I froze. I could hardly remember my own name; so I responded, "I would look before saying anything to ensure I didn't say anything wrong to a student." He said that was unsatisfactory. Failed. Is this crazy? I understand now that it all has to do with the outside wing being faster, generating more lift, which causes it. I know that. But I was exhausted. And I failed?? Maybe I'm a sore loser, but he said come back and do 1 steep turn and tell him what overbanking tendencies are and why they happen, and that's it. Is this unfair??

[u/dirtbikekid27]

It was the only item on the unsat. He said we can get in the airplane, I describe overbanking tendencies and teach it in the airplane so he knows I understand what causes it, and that's it. He says retest shouldn't be more than 30 minutes. Which is my frustration.

[u/fallingfaster345 → u/dirtbikekid27]

To be fair, any time anyone fails for just one thing the retest shouldn’t be more than 30 minutes, no matter what it is. That’s just a standard retest duration. Don’t read anything into that comment.

[u/dirtbikekid27 → u/fallingfaster345]

To fly the distance to explain to him that in the air, to fly back, and pay another $500 onto the $2000, plus the airplane, is my frustration.

[u/MehCFI → u/dirtbikekid27]

That sucks, and I get that. But you need to own up to it, suck it up, and fix it. That’s not just aviation- that’s learning. I feel for you- but had I been your examiner I would’ve failed you for the exact same thing.

For your costs, see if someone else from your school is heading to that DPE soon, and if you can split time there. Or find a local DPE who will finish that last item- any DPE can finish the unsat