Need help answering question

[helidave]

I had a student ask a question I wasn't sure about: If you have, or are in, an accident as a student pilot does that accident go on your permanent record? What if the NTSB says the probable cause is Instructor action?

[rotormandan]

I think it will if the student is solo. If the student is with the instructor it will probably go on the instructor. I've wondered what will happen if the student is a private or better working on more advanced ratings. I assume if both pilots are logging pic then it would go on both. This is all my guess. I have no experience or reference material to back any of this up.

[Bootcamp]

I've wondered what will happen if the student is a private or better working on more advanced ratings. I assume if both pilots are logging pic then it would go on both. This is all my guess. I have no experience or reference material to back any of this up.

 

Before the flight, the student and the instructor are supposed to establish who is the PIC. While both can log PIC time, there can be only one operational PIC. He/she is ultimately responsible for the outcome of the flight, both from a physical perspective and a legal perspective (busting airspace, etc.)

[rotormandan]

Well say neither fess up to being established as PIC, (2 low time pilots trying to save their butts/careers) or both are hurt to the point where they can't say who was established as pic? (Though at that point who cares about the permanent record) What standpoint would the faa take? Is it the instructor's responsibility or the commercial pilot's responsibility getting warmed up for their ATP ride?

[kodoz]

I was reading an AOPA legal briefing where a CFI agreed to fly with a commercial pilot. Before the flight, the CFI established that he would not be acting as CFI and the CPL would be acting as PIC. Something happened on landing resulting in an accident. Then NTSB initially ruled that the CFI was at fault, but later reversed that finding. Here's the article.