Really? Don't you reckon its a bit harsh?
He was asked to demonstrate a diversion. Which he did. He didn't run out of fuel, he didn't violate airspace and by all accounts the diversion was undertaken safely and successfully.
Surely so far there would have to be a tick in the diversion item on the assessment.
So, he didn't contact anyone and amend the flight plan. So, what? AIP ENR 1.10-8 section 4 only says that "When flight notification details have previously been notified to ATS, pilots
SHOULD advise....."
Note its a should and not a must. Considering flight plans are not a requirement for VFR flight, and the AIP doesn't mandate a notification of change. To fail the guy on these grounds is stretching the limits of fairness. Sure the ATO should ask further questions to ensure the candidate is aware of good airmanship, etc.
Honeslty, at PPL level, if the flight was conducted safely and the candidate showed he was competant, then this seems a bit harsh to fail on. Maybe in this case it was more the straw that broke the camels back.
But to say that its a definite fail....have you seen the standards that other pilots are passing their PPL's with? If this is all he did wrong...solid pass in my book.