Ken Sheppard DPE Checkride Gouges

Ken Sheppard puts applicants at ease early with dad jokes and friendly small talk, then gets to work. He starts the oral by checking documents, endorsements, the IACRA application, and maintenance logs. Know your tachometer time and time since major overhaul, because he watches engine hours closely and won't fly a plane over 3000 hours. Tab out your FAR/AIM and POH, since nearly every question comes as a scenario.

For private applicants, expect pilot and aircraft airworthiness scenarios covering required documents, medicals, alcohol, currency for day and night, and proficiency versus currency. He digs into the four-stroke engine cycle, the fuel system, the carburetor and carb ice, and the electrical system including the low voltage light flow. He loves the sectional and asks many questions on airspace, cloud clearances, symbology, and protected wildlife areas. Know fuel requirements, weight and balance, crosswind limits, and takeoff and landing distance calculations from given weather.

Instrument and CFII applicants get heavy systems teaching. He wants you to teach exactly what is in your panel, whether that is dual G5s or the traditional six pack. Be ready on the PFD, AHRS, ADC, pitot static errors, GPS segments, RAIM, FDE, and WAAS. He covers electrical power sources, alternator failure, G5 backup battery life, and currency using the six HITS with real dates.

The flight commonly runs a cross country from KSEE toward the coast, then a diversion. Maneuvers include steep turns, slow flight, power on and off stalls, unusual attitudes, and lost procedures. Expect an engine fire, emergency descent, and engine out, plus soft field, short field, and forward slip no flap landings. He wants your eyes outside and gives you chances to fix mistakes.

These notes come from 32 reports on file.