Quinton Smith DPE Checkride Gouges

Quinton Smith works out of MYF and CRQ and starts most rides around 0700 with IACRA paperwork. He keeps the logbook check focused on the cross country requirements that matter for your rating, like the long 300nm flight and the day and night cross countries. On commercial rides he asks how you know the plane is legal to fly, so be ready to walk the airframe, engine, and propeller logs, the ADs, and the inspections with due dates. He likes hearing your inop equipment flow using 91.205, the type certificate, the KOEL, and the difference from an MEL. He also asks how you qualify yourself, covering currency under 61.56 and 61.57 and the documents you carry.

The flight plan dominates the oral, and he gives the scenario in advance. Reported routes include KCRQ to KSBA, KMYF to KVNY to KMRY, and KCRQ to KVGT to KCDC, often with a 200 pound baggage pickup and him riding as a 180 pound passenger. He cares most about weight and balance and climb performance. One applicant ran adjusted max rate of climb in feet per minute, then tied it to the IFR departure using feet per nautical mile and groundspeed. Run your numbers by hand and double check the climb rate is acceptable.

On IFR rides the oral covers PAVE, lost communication decision making, observed and forecast weather, and takeoff and departure performance with specific answers. He wants direct, concise replies and will not accept extra information. He discourages outside notes and study guides, so lean on ForeFlight and your tabbed FAR/AIM.

The flight is straightforward. IFR applicants flew a published hold, an RNAV approach with a circle to land, and an LPV, plus a failed Aspen PFD into CRQ. Multi applicants saw slow flight, stalls, steep turns, an engine shutdown with checklist use, and a Vmc demo, so know your crossfeed and baggage limits. Seven reports are on file for him.