Advice needed

S

Skyway

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone, I need some advice. I Have been flight instructing for a total of 2.5 years and have successfully signed off 9 students for private pilot checkrides and they have all passed first time up. However today I had a student attempt a private checkride and 30 min into the oral exam he started getting nervous and unsure of himself and the examiner basically gave him a pink slip. Instead of going about his merry way, he blew up at the examiner and started yelling and shouting violently. (This was told to me from the examiner herself). Without going into to much detail about what was said, the DPE felt that a report to the FSDO about this incident was warranted. This student has gotten frusturated with me only once during his training but never out of control. I didn't think that I needed to file a report. This said student did well with me and did okay on his final stage check so I then signed him off.
My question to you all is, do you think that the FAA is going to investigate me for all of this? I have worked real hard with this guy and so has he. All of his stage checks went well. I have never seen any indication of this guy being unstable before. The examiner is worried about his mental capacity to fly an airplane, that is why she filed a report about this to the FAA. I have worked real hard to get where I am and have always been safe, I really do not want to get into with the FAA. Any feedback is much appreciated thanks.
 
Yes, the FAA will come talk to you. Contrary to popular belief on message boards, the FAA is not the devil and isn't going to chastise YOU for your STUDENT blowing up at the examiner. They will ask you about him/her, and try and get a feel for the student to see if further action, possibly certificate denial pending a psych eval is warranted. Be truthful with the FAA and explain to them you haven't had an issue with this student before and you'll be fine.

I had a student run off the runway during solo flight. The FAA came by and spoke with me about him. I showed her the training I had done with the student and explained how he had never had an issue before and that was that, simple case of a student pilot making a student mistake.
 
Skyway said:
My question to you all is, do you think that the FAA is going to investigate me for all of this?
Click to expand...

Well, even if they do I don't think you have much to worry about. No experience here personally, but I think this:

I Have been flight instructing for a total of 2.5 years and have successfully signed off 9 students for private pilot checkrides and they have all passed first time up.

Speaks for itself.
 
You have no exposure here. If the student flew into a cloud thats one thing but you can't control his attitude.

I saw this happen once. After a visit to the FSDO the student took his ride with another examiner....and busted.

Common denominators are what they are.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about this. The worst thats going to happen is the FSDO will call you or come by and talk to you about the student and get your impression of him. They mainly will be looking for a pattern of behavior from this student.

You may be his instructor but you cannot be responsible for everything this guy does 24/7 Either around an airplane or not.

So the guy turns out to be a nutcase, learn what you can so you can spot it again in the future. Part of the job is weeding out those that should not be allowed to fly but in this case there may not have been a way to know till now.
 
Non-issue.

The FSDO may talk to you about him, not about you.

The FSDO is not out to get you at all times.
 
sounds like a nn issue. If they do come talk with you, simply tel them you have had no problem with him, and He has been a normal student compared to all your other student. of course that's if he is a normal student.

Did you try to discuss this with him after wards to find out his side of the story?
 
Non event, the fsdo will talk to you about him. They don't care about you. It may be a good thing, if this guy is unstable then he shouldn't be up in the air.

I hope you got your gold seal, shiny things are nice. :laff:
 
Hey thanks for the input :). I feel alittle better about the situation now. I guess I am alittle bit intimidated to talk with the FAA. It sure would have been nice to have had the gold seal to put on an resume but oh well.
 
First time I talked with the FAA on a student situation (other than the semi-sporadic ramp checks) I was pretty nervous too. But I found out this was like any other interaction with the FAA I've ever had - fact gathering, information checking and educating.

They're not out to get you. They are there to look at improving safety, and if responsibility or blame needs to be placed somewhere, they try to do it appropriately. Obviously, you cannot control another human (unless you're a Jedi, and I am assumint not.)

If you're not the CFI in the plane at the time of incident, it's going to be hard to pin blame on you. As stated, don't worry about it.

If at any time you find yourself frowning when you answer some of their questions just think "bewbies" It'll put a smile on your face.
 
Skyway said:
Hey thanks for the input :). I feel alittle better about the situation now. I guess I am alittle bit intimidated to talk with the FAA. It sure would have been nice to have had the gold seal to put on an resume but oh well.
Click to expand...


I think you can still get the Gold Seal.
 
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