FAA FIH Knowledge Test — Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter

Under 14 CFR 61.65(e), what is the minimum instrument flight time requirement for a pilot applying for an Instrument Rating - Helicopter?

• A40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including at least 15 hours of instrumen…
• B50 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including at least 20 hours in helicopte…
• C30 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, of which 10 hours must be in a helicopte…
• D40 hours of actual instrument time exclusively flown in actual IMC conditions.

To give instrument flight instruction to a student seeking an Instrument-Helicopter rating, what rating must a flight instructor hold under 14 CFR 61.195(c)?

• AA Flight Instructor Certificate with an Instrument-Helicopter rating on both their pilot…
• BA Flight Instructor Certificate with Airplane Single-Engine and Instrument-Airplane ratin…
• CA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument-Helicopter rating and any flight instructo…
• DAn Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with a Helicopter rating without instructor endors…

Prior to endorsing a student for the Instrument Rating - Helicopter practical test, what logbook endorsement is required under 14 CFR 61.39(a)(6)?

• AAn endorsement certifying that the student received flight training within the preceding…
• BAn endorsement certifying that the student completed at least 100 hours of instrument cro…
• CAn endorsement from an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner authorizing the student to schedule…
• DAn endorsement certifying that the student passed an Instrument Proficiency Check within…

If a pilot's instrument currency in a helicopter has lapsed beyond the 6-month grace period (12 months total without currency), how must instrument currency be re-established under 14 CFR 61.57(d)?

• ABy successfully completing an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) in a helicopter or appro…
• BBy logging 6 instrument approaches and a holding pattern with a safety pilot.
• CBy completing 3 hours of dual instrument instruction with any certified flight instructor.
• DBy passing the FAA FIH written knowledge exam again.

According to 14 CFR 61.57(c), what tasks must a helicopter pilot perform within the preceding 6 calendar months to maintain IFR PIC currency?

• A6 instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepting and tracking cour…
• B6 instrument approaches, 3 hours of night instrument time, and 1 steep turn in actual IMC.
• C10 instrument approaches, 2 holds, and a 250 NM cross-country flight under IFR.
• D4 instrument approaches, 1 precision approach, and 2 hours of hooded flight with an instr…

Under 14 CFR 91.109(c), what are the minimum qualifications for a person acting as a safety pilot during simulated instrument flight in a helicopter?

• AHold at least a Private Pilot Certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to…
• BHold a Commercial Flight Instructor Certificate with Instrument Helicopter rating.
• CHold an Instrument Rating - Helicopter and a current First Class Medical Certificate.
• DBe an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner or authorized company check airman.

Under 14 CFR 61.51(g), when may a pilot log instrument flight time?

• AOnly for that time when the pilot operates the aircraft solely by reference to instrument…
• BWhenever flying on an IFR flight plan, regardless of meteorological conditions.
• CWhenever flying at night in Class G airspace under visual flight rules.
• DOnly when flying in actual IMC with an authorized flight instructor.

How does the successful completion of an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) affect the requirement for a Flight Review under 14 CFR 61.56?

• APassing an IPC satisfies the requirement for a flight review if completed within the 24-c…
• BAn IPC has no effect on flight review requirements and both must be completed separately.
• CPassing an IPC extends the flight review requirement for 36 calendar months.
• DAn IPC satisfies the 1-hour ground training requirement but not the flight portion of a f…

Under 14 CFR 61.189, how long must a certified flight instructor retain records of endorsements given for knowledge and practical tests?

• AAt least 3 years.
• BAt least 1 year.
• CAt least 5 years.
• DIndefinitely for the duration of the instructor certificate.

Under 14 CFR § 61.197, which of the following establishes the recent experience needed to exercise flight instructor privileges?

• ACompleting an approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) within the preceding 3 c…
• BLogging 50 hours of night PIC instrument flight time in helicopters.
• CPassing a written FAA knowledge exam for any pilot certificate.
• DSubmitting a letter of recommendation from an FAA Flight Standards District Office.

Under 14 CFR 91.205(d), what instruments and equipment are required for IFR flight in addition to VFR day and night requirements?

• ATwo-way radio communication & navigation gear, gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator, slip-sk…
• BGPS WAAS unit, radar altimeter, dual FMS, autopilot, and stormscope.
• CVHF omnirange (VOR) receiver, ADF, marker beacon, DME, and transponder.
• DVFR day equipment plus a single VHF radio and a magnetic compass.

What is the maximum permissible operational error for a VOR ground check when conducting IFR operations under 14 CFR 91.171?

• APlus or minus 4 degrees.
• BPlus or minus 6 degrees.
• CPlus or minus 2 degrees.
• DPlus or minus 8 degrees.

Under 14 CFR 91.173, what is required before operating an aircraft in controlled airspace under IFR?

• AFiling an IFR flight plan and receiving an appropriate ATC clearance.
• BFiling a VFR flight plan and requesting flight advisories.
• CLogging 5 hours of instrument time within the last 30 days.
• DObtaining a special VFR clearance from the tower controller.

Which of the following events must be reported to ATC immediately without a specific request while operating under IFR under 14 CFR 91.183 and AIM guidance?

• AAny unforecast weather condition, safety of flight hazard, or loss of primary navigation…
• BEvery change in rotor RPM during normal cruise flight.
• CWhenever passing every 1,000 ft increment during a normal climb in radar contact.
• DAny change in passenger weight prior to landing.

Under 14 CFR 91.177, what is the minimum IFR clearance altitude over non-mountainous terrain when no applicable minimum altitude (such as MEA or MOCA) is prescribed?

• A1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles fr…
• B2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles fr…
• C500 feet above the highest obstacle within 2 nautical miles.
• D1,500 feet above ground level across the entire flight path.

Under 14 CFR 91.179, what altitude rule applies to an IFR flight in uncontrolled airspace (Class G) on a magnetic course of 090 degrees?

• AOdd thousand-foot MSL altitudes (e.g., 3,000, 5,000, 7,000 feet).
• BEven thousand-foot MSL altitudes (e.g., 4,000, 6,000, 8,000 feet).
• COdd thousand-foot MSL altitudes plus 500 feet (e.g., 3,500, 5,500 feet).
• DAny altitude chosen by the pilot-in-command without restriction.

If a helicopter pilot-in-command deviates from an ATC clearance during an in-flight emergency under 14 CFR 91.123, what action is required?

• ANotify ATC of the deviation as soon as possible, and submit a detailed written report to…
• BLand at the nearest military airfield and file a formal report within 24 hours.
• CFile a NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) form within 12 hours.
• DSurrender the pilot certificate to the nearest FAA Flight Standards District Office withi…

Where are Mode C transponders and ADS-B Out equipment mandatory for IFR helicopter operations under 14 CFR 91.215 and 91.225?

• AIn Class A, B, and C airspace, within 30 NM of Class B primary airports (Mode C Veil), an…
• BOnly when operating above 18,000 feet MSL in Class A airspace.
• CIn all controlled and uncontrolled airspace regardless of altitude.
• DOnly within 5 NM of tower-controlled airports.

Under 14 CFR 91.121, what altimeter setting must be used when operating an instrument helicopter below 18,000 feet MSL?

• AThe current reported altimeter setting of a station along the route within 100 nautical m…
• BAlways set 29.92 inHg regardless of station reports.
• CThe departure airport altimeter setting for the entire flight.
• DThe destination airport altimeter setting as soon as climbing above 3,000 feet AGL.

Under 14 CFR 91.411, how frequently must the altimeter, static pressure system, and automatic altitude reporting equipment be tested and inspected for IFR flight?

• AWithin the preceding 24 calendar months.
• BWithin the preceding 12 calendar months.
• CWithin the preceding 100 hours of flight time.
• DWithin the preceding 6 calendar months.

According to the Aviation Instructor's Handbook, which law of learning states that a student learns best when they have a clear purpose, strong motivation, and a definite goal (Readiness)?

• ALaw of Readiness.
• BLaw of Primacy.
• CLaw of Recency.
• DLaw of Effect.

During instrument scanning instruction in a helicopter, a student repeatedly stares at the attitude indicator for extended periods while allowing altitude and heading to drift. What common scan error is the instructor observing?

• AFixation.
• BOmission.
• CEmphasis.
• DInversion.

While instructing a student on level turns under instruments in a helicopter, the student fails to look at the torque meter when entering a turn, causing rotor RPM and altitude to decay. This is an example of which scan error?

• AOmission.
• BFixation.
• CPrimacy.
• DSubstitution.

An instrument student pilot relies almost exclusively on the altimeter for pitch control during climbs, resulting in large pitch oscillations and unstable airspeeds. What scan error is being demonstrated?

• AEmphasis.
• BFixation.
• COmission.
• DSomatogyral error.

When teaching instrument attitude flying in helicopters, how is the Control and Performance concept defined?

• AEstablishing a specific attitude and power setting on control instruments, then cross-che…
• BUsing only primary pitch, bank, and power instruments without consulting the attitude ind…
• CAdjusting collective and pedals based strictly on visual cues outside the cockpit.
• DRelying entirely on automated flight control systems (AFCS) during all instrument maneuve…

Which barrier to effective communication occurs when a flight instructor uses specialized aviation jargon or acronyms that the student does not yet understand?

• ALack of common experience.
• BConfusion between the symbol and the symbolized object.
• COveruse of abstractions.
• DInterference from physiological noise.

Why is Scenario-Based Training (SBT) particularly effective in helicopter instrument flight instruction?

• AIt places maneuvers into realistic operational contexts, encouraging Single-Pilot Resourc…
• BIt eliminates the need for learning basic instrument control maneuvers.
• CIt allows students to skip ground school knowledge test preparation.
• DIt guarantees 100% pass rates on practical checkrides.

An instrument student who performs poorly on a COPTER approach blames the ATC controller for issuing confusing vectors rather than acknowledging poor scanning technique. Which defense mechanism is being exhibited?

• AProjection.
• BRationalization.
• CDenial.
• DCompensation.

When teaching Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) for IFR helicopter flights, what do the letters in the 'PAVE' checklist represent?

• APilot-in-command, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures.
• BPlan, Altitude, Velocity, Equipment.
• CPower, Attitude, Visibility, Emergency.
• DPerformance, Airspeed, Vectors, Entry.

Under the FAA Instrument Rating Helicopter Airman Certification Standards (ACS), what is the allowable altitude tolerance during straight-and-level flight under instruments?

• A+/- 100 feet.
• B+/- 50 feet.
• C+/- 200 feet.
• D+/- 150 feet.

Why do unaugmented single-rotor helicopters present unique control challenges during instrument flight compared to fixed-wing aircraft?

• AHelicopters lack inherent positive static pitch stability, requiring continuous micro-cor…
• BHelicopters automatically level their wings when cyclic controls are released under instr…
• CRotor blades generate zero lift when flying through instrument meteorological conditions.
• DTail rotors become completely ineffective in cloud layers.

In helicopter instrument flight, how do cyclic control and collective control interact to maintain a constant-altitude climb at a specific target airspeed?

• ACollective controls rate of climb (power), while cyclic controls airspeed (pitch attitude…
• BCyclic controls rate of climb, while collective controls airspeed.
• CPedals control airspeed, while collective controls heading.
• DCollective controls pitch attitude, while cyclic controls engine torque.

When raising collective to initiate an instrument climb in a standard counter-clockwise rotating single-rotor helicopter, what pedal input is required to maintain trim and heading?

• AIncrease left pedal pressure to counteract increased main rotor torque.
• BIncrease right pedal pressure to counteract main rotor drag.
• CApply equal pressure to both pedals simultaneously.
• DPedal pressure is only adjusted when flying below 30 KIAS.

What is the primary function of a Stability Augmentation System (SAS) in an IFR-certified helicopter?

• ATo provide short-term rate dampening in pitch, roll, and yaw axes to improve aircraft sta…
• BTo automatically navigate along a GPS airway without pilot intervention.
• CTo prevent main rotor overspeed during autorotation.
• DTo lock collective controls at a fixed torque setting.

What is the key functional difference between a 2-axis AFCS and a 4-axis AFCS in an advanced IFR helicopter?

• AA 2-axis AFCS controls pitch and roll, while a 4-axis AFCS controls pitch, roll, yaw, and…
• BA 2-axis AFCS is for land operations, while a 4-axis AFCS is required for offshore oil ri…
• CA 2-axis AFCS uses GPS, while a 4-axis AFCS relies solely on VOR navigation.
• DA 2-axis AFCS operates only in VMC, while a 4-axis AFCS operates in actual IMC.

During an IFR climb through turbulence, why must a helicopter instructor train students to monitor the torque meter carefully?

• ATurbulence and collective adjustments can cause momentary torque spikes that exceed maxim…
• BTorque automatically drops to zero whenever clouds are encountered.
• CTorque indicates rotor blade track angle during instrument flight.
• DHigh torque increases altimeter errors by 500 feet.

According to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, what is the fundamental formula of attitude instrument flying?

• AAttitude + Power = Performance.
• BAirspeed + Altitude = Heading.
• CPitch + Bank = Torque.
• DLift + Weight = Thrust.

When flying partial panel (attitude indicator failure) in a helicopter, how should the pilot maintain level pitch attitude?

• ABy cross-checking the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and VSI, applying small cyclic corre…
• BBy pulling collective to maximum limit and holding constant right pedal.
• CBy looking outside the side window to reference the horizon.
• DBy relying solely on the turn coordinator ball.

If the vacuum system fails in an instrument helicopter equipped with vacuum-driven attitude and directional gyros, what indications will first warn the pilot?

• AA drop in suction gauge pressure, followed by slow, sluggish gyro movement and gradual pr…
• BImmediate full deflection of the airspeed indicator to Vne.
• CRapid oscillation of the torque meter and rotor RPM warning horn.
• DComplete blackout of all electronic GPS displays.

If the static port becomes completely blocked by ice during an IFR descent in a helicopter, what will the altimeter and VSI display?

• AThe altimeter will freeze at the altitude where the blockage occurred, and the VSI will r…
• BThe altimeter will read zero, and the VSI will indicate a continuous 2,000 fpm climb.
• CThe altimeter will rapidly climb to FL 180, and the VSI will freeze at max deflection.
• DBoth instruments will continue to function normally using pitot pressure.

Which organ within the inner ear vestibular system is responsible for detecting angular acceleration in pitch, roll, and yaw?

• AThe three semicircular canals.
• BThe otolith organs (utricle and saccule).
• CThe cochlea.
• DThe tympanic membrane.

What causes 'The Leans', the most common spatial disorientation illusion in instrument flight?

• AAn undetected slow roll rate below human sensory threshold, followed by a rapid return to…
• BRapid forward acceleration during a missed approach causing a sensation of pitching nose-…
• CStaring at a single stationary light in dark IMC causing it to appear to move.
• DA sudden head movement during a bank causing the pilot to feel like they are tumbling.

Why is tilt-head motion during a constant-rate turn under instruments hazardous for helicopter pilots (Coriolis Illusion)?

• AMovement of endolymph fluid in multiple semicircular canals creates an overwhelming false…
• BIt causes immediate mechanical binding of the collective stick.
• CIt alters the static pressure in the altimeter casing.
• DIt creates visual double-vision due to cockpit lighting.

What physiological mechanism causes a pilot in a prolonged constant-rate turn in IMC to re-enter the turn after rolling the wings level (Graveyard Spiral)?

• AEndolymph friction stops fluid movement in the semicircular canals during a prolonged tur…
• BThe main rotor loses lift in level flight after banked turns.
• CEngine torque automatically pulls the nose back into the turn.
• DThe directional gyro freezes in a fixed position.

During a rapid night IMC instrument takeoff, a helicopter accelerates rapidly forward. The pilot senses an extreme nose-high pitch attitude despite flat flight instruments. What illusion is occurring?

• ASomatogravic illusion.
• BCoriolis illusion.
• CInversion illusion.
• DElevator illusion.

An abrupt transition from a rapid instrument climb to level flight in a helicopter can cause which sensory illusion?

• AInversion illusion (sensation of tumbling backward).
• BGraveyard spiral.
• CAutokinesis.
• DFalse horizon.

When flying at night over unlit terrain toward a sloping cloud layer, a pilot misaligns the helicopter's attitude with the cloud deck rather than the flight instruments. What visual illusion is this?

• AFalse horizon.
• BAutokinesis.
• CSomatogyral illusion.
• DStructural refraction.

How can a helicopter pilot prevent autokinesis while flying under night IFR conditions?

• AAvoid staring continuously at a single light source; scan across visual targets and rely…
• BIncrease instrument panel lighting to maximum brightness.
• CPerform periodic 360-degree pedal turns.
• DWear dark polarized sunglasses during night IMC operations.