Common errors

Turns around a point errors cluster around one root cause: the pilot is fighting the wind instead of matching it. The instinct to bank harder when the wind feels strongest (i.e., on the upwind side, away from the point) produces the opposite of what's needed. The seven below cover the common faults.

1. Not steepening enough on the downwind side → drift outward

What it looks like: the track bulges outward away from the point on the downwind half. The point appears to slide toward the nose as you pass through the downwind portion.

Why: under-banking when groundspeed is highest — the wind carries the airplane further out from the point than the air-circle would.

Fix: at the downwind point of the turn, the bank should be near the steepest of the maneuver (up to 45° within the band). If the point is sliding nose-ward, increase bank.

2. Banking too much on the upwind side → drift inward

What it looks like: the track tightens inward on the upwind half. The point appears to slide toward the tail as you cross through the upwind portion.

Why: holding the same bank or banking harder when groundspeed is lowest — the air-circle is smaller than the ground circle requires, so you spiral in.

Fix: at the upwind point, the bank should be near the shallowest of the maneuver (around 30°). If the point is sliding tail-ward, shallow further.

3. Altitude bust during the steep downwind portion

What it looks like: altitude unwinds 50–100 ft as the bank steepens past 40°.

Why: not adding back pressure as bank increases — same physics as the steep turn altitude bust (A).

Fix: anticipate the back pressure. Call out "back pressure" aloud as bank passes 30°.

4. Airspeed bleed in the steep portion

What it looks like: airspeed drops 10–15 kt at the steepest bank.

Why: over-pulling on the elevator to hold altitude — the wing is loaded and dragging.

Fix: reduce bank if altitude is sinking; don't pull harder at the same bank.

5. Entry too close to the point

What it looks like: at the downwind portion you're at the bank limit (45°) and still drifting outward; or worse, you exceed 45° trying to hold the radius.

Why: chose a radius too small for the wind. At 45° bank max, the maximum tolerable groundspeed delta is bounded — strong wind + tight radius can require more than 45° at the downwind point.

Fix: pick a wider radius. The target is that the steepest required bank comes out around 40°, leaving 5° of headroom.

6. Losing the reference point

What it looks like: mid-maneuver, the pilot can't see the point — it's lost under the wing or in haze.

Why: chose a poor reference (too small, too low contrast, or low on the horizon) or banked so steep that the wing blocks the view.

Fix: pick a high-contrast reference before entry — barn, isolated tree, distinct intersection. If the wing keeps blocking the view, consider whether you're over-banked.

7. Entering on the wrong heading

What it looks like: entered upwind or crosswind instead of on a downwind tangent.

Why: didn't identify wind direction first, or rushed the entry.

Fix: verbalize wind direction and the planned tangent point to the DPE before turning toward the entry. Downwind tangent puts the steepest bank at entry, which is the easiest place to recognize and set the bank for the maneuver.

How errors compound. Errors #1 and #2 are symmetric versions of the same root cause — pilot is treating bank as constant or modulating it in the wrong direction. The reference point's apparent motion is the diagnostic: nose-ward = bank more; tail-ward = bank less. Trust the visual cue; if the point drifts, the bank is wrong.