Karl Bearnarth DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

Karl's oral leans heavily into aircraft systems, weather theory, and airspace rules. Reports indicate he spends significant time on engine knowledge — not just textbook definitions, but practical understanding of how things work and what to do when they don't. Weather is another major focus area, including reading METARs/TAFs, prog charts, and understanding the relationship between atmospheric conditions and flight planning. Airspace requirements (especially Class B, C, and D) and regulatory knowledge round out the exam.

• Aircraft Systems: Engine specs (make, model, type — know your Lycoming or Continental cold), magneto operation and failure scenarios, electrical system failures (ammeter discharge, battery loss in flight), pitot heat application, and avionics backup battery capabilities (e.g., Garmin GI275 backup battery duration).
• Weather: Cloud clearances and visibility by airspace class, temp/dewpoint spread implications, isobars and wind speed relationships, winds aloft sources, cold front weather, and chart interpretation.
• Regulations & Planning: Currency vs. proficiency, flight review requirements, medical certificate validity, logging takeoffs and landings, inoperative equipment flow, and equipment/clearance requirements for controlled airspace.
• Weight & Balance: He wanted current, updated aircraft W&B data — not outdated figures. Make sure yours is current.
• Aerodynamics: Stall theory (what a stall is and when it occurs), effects of aft CG, and spin recovery (PARE).
• ADM & Risk Management: PAVE and IMSAFE checklists, and scenario-based judgment questions.

Common Questions

Karl favors hypothetical, scenario-based questions that test whether you actually understand the systems — not just memorized answers. Pilots reported questions like:

• What would it mean if RPM didn't change when you turned off one magneto during the run-up? (He wants you to think through the implications, not just recite a checklist.)
• How would you handle discovering your fuel burn and time en route are higher than planned? He wants you to understand the difference between endurance and range.
• What happens if your ammeter shows a discharge in flight? What if the battery dies entirely — what keeps running and what doesn't?
• How does a wind shift affect your wind correction angle?
• When should you apply pitot heat — proactively or reactively?
• He asked about burning off carbon deposits from spark plugs by leaning the mixture, indicating he values practical engine management knowledge.
• He asked about runway hold short lines and their significance.

If you don't know something, be honest. One pilot reported not knowing the backup battery duration on their GI275s and was guided to find the answer (there's a charge indicator on the screen). Karl seems to value the process of figuring things out over having every answer memorized.

Practical Focus

The available gouge data is primarily focused on the oral exam. No detailed reports on specific flight maneuvers, areas, or altitudes were provided. Study the ACS standards thoroughly and be prepared for a flight that follows logically from the oral topics — systems awareness, risk management in real conditions, and solid fundamentals.

Examiner Style

Karl comes across as conversational and scenario-driven rather than rapid-fire or adversarial. He builds questions around realistic situations — a delayed arrival, an electrical failure, an abnormal mag check — and wants to see how you think through problems. He's thorough and covers a wide range of topics, but the tone appears to be more like a teaching conversation than an interrogation. He expects you to know your specific airplane inside and out, including exact engine specs, avionics capabilities, and current W&B data.

What Surprised Pilots

• Depth of engine systems knowledge: He went well beyond standard oral prep into practical engine management (carbon deposit removal via leaning, specific engine designation breakdown, magneto failure analysis). Know your engine like a mechanic, not just a pilot.
• Avionics-specific questions: He asked about backup battery life on specific installed avionics (Garmin GI275s). Know your panel — not just how to use it, but how it's powered and what happens when power is lost.
• Current W&B required: He specifically needed updated weight and balance data. Don't show up with outdated paperwork.