Instrument Rating Helicopter — ACS Reference
The Instrument Rating – Helicopter Airman Certification Standards are the official task-by-task standards for the IRH practical test. Published November 2023, the FAA replaced the legacy Instrument Helicopter PTS with FAA-S-ACS-14 — Instrument Rating Helicopter ACS. The ACS adds explicit Knowledge codes, Risk Management codes, and Skills codes per Task. This page is a structured navigation map — every Task below shows its code count, primary references, and a link to the relevant RotaryXC content. For the verbatim K/RM/S element list, always read the live ACS PDF — that is the source of truth and the document the DPE has open at your practical test.
Source: FAA-S-ACS-14 (current ACS, November 2023); 14 CFR § 61.65; FAA-H-8083-15 Instrument Flying Handbook; FAA-H-8083-16 Instrument Procedures Handbook.
Standard tolerances throughout: airspeed ±10 kts · altitude ±100 ft · heading ±10° · course tracking within ¾-scale CDI deflection · selected bank ±5° (during turns).
How to read an ACS code
Every test element is a four-part code. IH.I.C.K2 means:
- IH = applicable ACS (Instrument Helicopter)
- I = Area of Operation (Roman numeral, I–VIII)
- C = Task within the Area (capital letter)
- K2 = element type and number — K = Knowledge, R = Risk Management, S = Skill
Sub-elements use lowercase letters (e.g., IH.I.B.K3a). The Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) reports missed questions as ACS codes so you know exactly which elements to drill before the practical. Risk-Management elements with sub-bullets — the evaluator only needs to test one sub-bullet per element to satisfy the requirement.
Instrument Rating Helicopter (IRH) knowledge test
- Test code: IRH
- Questions: 60
- Time allotted: 2.5 hours
- Passing score: 70%
- Minimum age: 15
Per 14 CFR § 61.39 and § 61.65(a)(7), the airman knowledge test must be passed before the practical test. Applicants who already hold an instrument rating in another category are not required to take an additional instrument knowledge test.
Reference library
Documents cited across the Tasks below. All FAA materials are public domain.
- 14 CFR Part 61 — Pilot Certification (esp. § 61.65 instrument rating)
- 14 CFR Part 91 — General Operating & Flight Rules
- 14 CFR Part 97 — Standard Instrument Procedures
- AC 68-1 — BasicMed
- AC 90-100 — U.S. Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations
- AC 90-105 — Approval Guidance for RNP Operations
- AC 90-107 — Guidance for Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance and LP Approaches
- AC 91-21-1 — Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft
- AC 91-74 — Pilot Guide: Flight in Icing Conditions
- AC 91-78 — Use of Class 1 / Class 2 Electronic Flight Bags
- AC 91-92 — Pilot's Guide to a Preflight Briefing
- AC 120-108 — Continuous Descent Final Approach
- AIM — Aeronautical Information Manual
- FAA-H-8083-2 — Risk Management Handbook
- FAA-H-8083-15 — Instrument Flying Handbook
- FAA-H-8083-16 — Instrument Procedures Handbook
- FAA-H-8083-21B — Helicopter Flying Handbook
- FAA-H-8083-25 — Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK)
- FAA-H-8083-28 — Aviation Weather Handbook
- Terminal Procedures Publications (TPP) — Digital approach plates
- IFR Enroute & Navigation Charts — FAA AeroNav
Area I.Preflight Preparation
IH.I.A · Pilot Qualifications 3K · 4RM · 1S · p.2
Requirements to act as PIC under IFR: certification, currency, recordkeeping, BasicMed limits, personal minimums, aeromedical fitness for instrument flight, and operating unfamiliar avionics.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 61; AC 68-1; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25
IH.I.B · Weather Information 4K · 2RM · 4S · p.2
METAR/SPECI/PIREP/TAF/GFA/FB/AIRMET/SIGMET/Convective SIGMET; IFR meteorology including stability, wind, turbulence, thunderstorms, microbursts, icing, fog, frost; alternate-airport requirement determination.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25, -28
IH.I.C · Cross-Country Flight Planning 5K · 7RM · 6S · p.4
IFR route planning: navaids, SUA, preferred routes, primary/alternate airports, enroute charts, Chart Supplements, NOTAMs, TPP. Altitude selection, IFR flight plan filing/activating/closing, fuel calc, icing recognition during all phases.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; IFR Enroute Charts; NOTAMs; IFR Navigation Charts
Area II.Preflight Procedures
IH.II.A · Aircraft Systems Related to IFR Operations 2K · 3RM · 2S · p.6
Anti-icing/de-icing systems (airframe, rotor, intake, fuel, pitot-static); flight control systems and AFCS limitations specific to IFR.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AC 91-74; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25; POH/RFM
IH.II.B · Helicopter Flight Instruments and Navigation Equipment 3K · 5RM · 2S · p.6
Pitot-static; gyro/electric; PFD/MFD; transponder/ADS-B; magnetic compass. Nav: VOR, DME, ILS, marker beacon, RNAV/GPS, WAAS, FMS, autopilot. EFB use.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AC 90-100, AC 90-105, AC 90-107, AC 91-78, AC 91-21-1; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25
IH.II.C · Instrument Flight Deck Check 3K · 2RM · 1S · p.7
Purpose of preflight instrument check; defect detection; IFR airworthiness including required equipment per § 91.205(d) and inspection currency; inoperative-equipment rules.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AC 91-21-1; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25; POH/RFM
Area III.Air Traffic Control (ATC) Clearances and Procedures
IH.III.A · Compliance with ATC Clearances 3K · 4RM · 7S · p.8
ATC clearances and pilot/controller responsibilities for departure, en route, and arrival; PIC emergency authority; lost-comm procedures; readback discipline; standard phraseology.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25
IH.III.B · Holding Procedures 1K · 4RM · 9S · p.8
Holding entry (standard, nonstandard, published, non-published); reporting criteria; airspeeds; EFC time fuel reserve recalculation; wind correction; pattern compliance.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25
Area IV.Flight by Reference to Instruments
IH.IV.A · Instrument Flight 3K · 3RM · 2S · p.10
Attitude instrument flying — straight-and-level, climbs, turns, descents — solely by reference to instruments. Tolerance: altitude ±100 ft, heading ±10°, airspeed ±10 kt, bank ±5° during turns.
Refs: FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25
IH.IV.B · Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes 4K · 9RM · 2S · p.10
Unusual-attitude prevention and recovery (nose-high and nose-low) solely by reference to instruments. IIMC/UIMC procedures. Risk includes low-G mast bumping if applicable.
Refs: FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25; POH/RFM
Area V.Navigation Systems
IH.V.A · Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs 2K · 3RM · 10S · p.12
Ground-based and satellite-based nav (incl. RAIM, WAAS); intercept and track courses, radials, bearings; DME arc maintenance ±1 NM. Standard tolerances apply.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; POH/RFM
IH.V.B · Departure, En Route, and Arrival Operations 2K · 3RM · 10S · p.13
Departure procedures (DP) with climb gradients; STAR with associated constraints; pilot/controller responsibilities; checklist and weather-product use during all three phases.
Refs: 14 CFR Parts 91, 97; AC 90-100, AC 91-74; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; POH/RFM
Area VI.Instrument Approach Procedures
IH.VI.A · Non-precision Approach 5K · 7RM · 15S · p.14
NPA execution including LP, LNAV, RNAV; Copter Point-in-Space (PinS) approaches; stabilized-approach concept. Altitude tolerances: ±100 ft, MDA +100/-0 ft; ¾-scale CDI.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AC 120-108; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; Terminal Procedures Publications
IH.VI.B · Precision Approach 4K · 7RM · 17S · p.15
ILS and other precision approaches including LPV. Stabilized descent at predetermined rate; ¾-scale lateral and vertical guidance from FAF to DA/DH.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AC 90-105, AC 90-107; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; Terminal Procedures Publications
IH.VI.C · Missed Approach 1K · 5RM · 9S · p.16
Missed approach initiation at DA/DH/MAP when required visual references are not visible/identifiable. Apply power, configure for positive climb per RFM, comply with published or alternate procedure.
Refs: 14 CFR Parts 91, 97; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; Terminal Procedures Publications
IH.VI.D · Landing from an Instrument Approach 3K · 4RM · 5S · p.17
Transition at DA/DH/MDA/VDP from instrument to visual references; airport signs, markings, lighting, approach lighting systems; safe normal landing.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25; POH/RFM
Area VII.Emergency Operations
Note: Task B tested in addition if applicant supplies a multiengine helicopter.
IH.VII.A · Loss of Communications 1K · 2RM · 5S · p.19
Lost-comm procedures — when to deviate from clearance, when to begin approach at destination, attempts to re-establish communication.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -16, -21, -25
IH.VII.B · Instrument Approach with Inoperative Engine (Multiengine, Simulated) 1K · 6RM · 12S · p.19
Engine failure recognition; positive helicopter control within OEI limits; published instrument approach to DA/DH or MDA with one engine inoperative.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25; POH/RFM; Terminal Procedures Publications
IH.VII.C · Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indicators 2K · 3RM · 3S · p.20
Recognize inaccurate/inoperative primary flight instruments; use secondary displays; complete a non-precision approach without primary instruments using NPA Task skill elements (see VI.A).
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; FAA-H-8083-2, -15, -21, -25; POH/RFM; Terminal Procedures Publications
Area VIII.Postflight Procedures
IH.VIII.A · Checking Instruments and Equipment 1K · 1RM · 1S · p.22
Postflight inspection of instruments and equipment; document discrepancies and servicing requirements.
Refs: 14 CFR Part 91; FAA-H-8083-2, -21, -25; POH/RFM
Practical test outcomes & combined-rating notes
- Pass: Notice of Issuance, Temporary Airman Certificate.
- Notice of Disapproval: Failure of any Task fails the test. Retest under the ACS in effect on the retest date.
- Letter of Discontinuance: Test stopped for non-applicant reason. Credit for completed Tasks under the same ACS edition.
Combined Private + Instrument: Per 14 CFR § 61.65(a) and (g), applicants for a combined PPL Helicopter + Instrument practical must pass all areas of both ACS documents (FAA-S-ACS-15 + FAA-S-ACS-14). Evaluators need not duplicate Tasks — only one preflight demonstration is required, but the IRH preflight is more extensive.
Aviation English Language Standard (AELS): Per AC 60-28, applicants must communicate in English in a discernible/understandable manner. Failure may suspend the test pending FSO referral.