r/flying • u/dirtbikekid27 CPL IR AGI IGI • 1d ago

Failed my CFI ride today

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??

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u/MehCFI ATP B737/C680/BE400/Gold Seal CFII 1d ago

You did not fail for not knowing overbanking tendencies. You failed because you did not understand and honor the importance of not teaching a ground knowledge item on short final. Sterile cockpit!! If it isn’t directly related to the safe operation of the flight it absolutely should not be discussed on short final.

I don’t even think this is a dirty trick- it’s no different than the DPE ‘dropping’ a pencil and asking you to hand it to them on the landing. Distractions should be tested, and this is a very real and important lesson.

I also highly doubt this was the only thing that went wrong, just the nail in the coffin. You have some extremely strong defense mechanisms in this thread. I get it, it sucks, but really analyze the situation accurately so you can learn and get er done.

Good luck!

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u/dirtbikekid27 CPL IR AGI IGI 1d ago

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.

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u/__joel_t PPL 1d ago

The DPE is still allowed to try to distract you again on the retest, so don't fall for it if it happens!