What’s on the Multi-Engine Checkride?

If you are getting ready for your multi-engine checkride, you are probably asking one simple question:

What exactly are they going to test me on?

The good news is that it is not a mystery. The FAA spells it out clearly in the Multi-Engine Airman Certification Standards (ACS).

The bad news is that many applicants never actually read it.

Let’s break it down in plain English.

The Two Parts of the Checkride

Like every other checkride, the multi-engine ride has two required parts:

Oral exam, the ground portion
Flight test, the flying portion

You must pass both.

Both portions are driven directly by:

The Multi-Engine ACS
The FARs, Federal Aviation Regulations

The Oral Exam

The oral exam is mostly about one core question:

Do you understand how a multi-engine airplane works, and what happens when one engine fails?

1. Regulations You Are Expected to Know

You do not need to memorize the entire FAR AIM, but you do need to understand how the rules apply.

Commonly tested regulations include:

61.123 and 61.129, eligibility and aeronautical experience
61.31, type ratings and limitations
91.103, preflight action
91.205, required equipment
91.213, inoperative equipment
91.211, oxygen requirements
91.175, IFR rules if instrument privileges apply
91.3, PIC authority

You will also be expected to understand:

Certificates
Currency
Medical requirements
Privileges and limitations

They are not looking for someone who can recite reg numbers. They want to know if you understand how the rules work in real flying.

2. Aircraft Systems

Expect detailed system questions, including:

Engines and propellers
Fuel system
Electrical system
Landing gear
Vacuum or alternator systems
Fire detection and suppression, if equipped

The key focus is this:

What is different about these systems in a twin compared to a single?

3. Performance and Limitations

This is where the multi-engine checkride gets serious.

You must understand:

Vmc, minimum controllable airspeed
Vyse, the blue line
Single-engine service ceiling
Accelerate-stop distance
Accelerate-go distance
Critical engine
Factors that affect Vmc

You will almost certainly be asked:

What happens if you lose an engine after takeoff?
Can this airplane climb on one engine, and under what conditions?

4. Weight and Balance and Performance

You will be expected to:

Complete a weight and balance
Explain how weight, CG, and density altitude affect:
- Single-engine performance
- Vmc
- Climb capability

5. Emergency Procedures and Decision Making

This is the heart of multi-engine flying.

You must understand:

Engine failure during the takeoff roll
Engine failure after liftoff
Engine failure in cruise
Engine fire
When to continue, reject, or secure an engine

Most importantly, you must understand why multi-engine accidents are often fatal when pilots make poor decisions.

The Flight Portion

Everything you fly comes directly from the Multi-Engine ACS.

1. Normal Operations

You can expect:

Normal takeoff
Normal landing
Steep turns
Slow flight

2. Engine Failure Procedures

This is the core of the checkride.

You will perform:

Simulated engine failure after takeoff
Engine failure in cruise
Engine shutdown and restart
Single-engine approaches
Single-engine go-around

You must demonstrate:

Proper aircraft control
Correct checklist usage
Correct engine identification and verification
Sound decision making

3. Vmc Demonstration

Yes, you will perform a Vmc demonstration.

You must show:

Proper setup
Proper recovery
Good judgment throughout the maneuver

4. Performance Maneuvers

These commonly include:

Steep turns
Stalls, power-on and power-off as required
Possibly an accelerated stall, depending on the aircraft and examiner

5. Instrument Work if Applicable

If the multi-engine rating is tied to instrument privileges, expect:

A single-engine ILS or other approach
An engine failure during the approach
A missed approach on one engine

What the ACS Actually Is

The ACS is literally the test.

It defines:

What tasks may be tested
What knowledge areas apply
What risk management elements are evaluated
What the passing standards are

If it is not in the ACS, it is not supposed to be on the checkride.

Why People Fail the Multi-Engine Checkride

Most applicants do not fail because they cannot fly.

They fail because:

They do not understand Vmc, critical engine, or single-engine aerodynamics
They rush or skip checklists
They misidentify the failed engine
They make poor decisions under pressure

The Bottom Line

The multi-engine checkride is not about being perfect.

It is about proving that you understand how dangerous a twin can be if mishandled, and that you can manage an engine failure calmly, correctly, and safely.

If you train to the ACS, understand the FARs, and truly know the airplane, it is a very fair checkride.

What’s on the Multi-Engine Checkride? (ACS, FARs, and What You’re Actually Tested On)