Kevin Dunlevy wrote:

I flunked my checkride for private.

So did I. In my case, it was the hoodwork that did me in. I find it a
little ironic therefore that I'd little difficulty with the instrument
ride. However, I had a bit of "help".

The first demonstration I had to do was hold at an IAF and then execute that
approach. I was flying an aircraft to which I wasn't used ("mine" had just
been rented away for several weeks), and I guess I just became nervous or
something. I became very frazzled during the hold entry.

I did manage to keep it on the correct side, and I maintained situational
awareness. I think I even commented on my poor execution and how I was
planning to fix it, but I don't recall for sure. However, I was *certain*
that I'd blown the ride, even though the DE said nothing. Just as I'd
settled down into a rhythm in the hold, the DE told me to begin the
approach.

From that point on, everything was good. My one other error was letting the
HI slip a bit (I didn't check the compass enough) during the NDB approach.
But I was still in PTS. Did I mention that "my" airplane didn't have an
NDB?

My ILS earned a compliment.

I'm sure that I'd have done much less well had I been worried about the
checkride. But my certainty at having failed let me relax enough that it
was "just another flight" for me.

When I go for my commercial ride, I'll try to be sure to make my screw-up as
early as possible.

- Andrew