OkieAviator
Pattern Altitude
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- Aug 17, 2014
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OkieAviator
Had a Instrument lesson this morning for an hour. Then took a friend of mine to western Oklahoma where there was almost a direct 7 knot crosswind. Did one landing, full flaps on a 3500 ft paved field with no issues. Had to use a bit of brakes to make the turn off but that was about it.
Decided to not risk flying back without getting fuel (would of had just at 30 mins reserve), so flew up to Alva which has two 5,000 ft paved runways with the same 7 knot crosswind. Approach was going well, I was crabbed a bit, with my right wind dropped into the wind. As the right wing touched down it bounced a bit and pointed me about 30 degrees to the left, aiming off the runway. I tried to correct with some rudder and it just felt goofy as if I was beginning to slide. I went all in and inadvertently put all flaps up instead of 1 notch, I may have actually gone into the grass a bit but took back off. Went ahead and did the pattern and landed again with no issue.
Out of my 180 landings this takes the cakes for the scariest landing I've done. I'll learn from it and going to change some things. I think I'm pulled too far forward in the seat and may be sitting too high as well causing me to put some pressure on the brakes. Lower and back a bit I won't have to flex my foot back when on the rudders. I've also been told on 'windy' days in a 172 STOL plane you should use 2 notches of flaps, which is then followed by saying you should always try to use 3 notches on normal landings. Coming back to home field there was very little if any wind. I used 3 notches and it was a non-issue. So while I typically don't think 7 knots crosswind is 'windy', I'm going to take advantage of some of my instrument training flights and have the CFII supervise some 2 notch landings and see the difference. I've done them in the past by myself and they feel fast but they feel more controlled. Who knows I'm just glad I didn't cartwheel or nose plow the plane.
Decided to not risk flying back without getting fuel (would of had just at 30 mins reserve), so flew up to Alva which has two 5,000 ft paved runways with the same 7 knot crosswind. Approach was going well, I was crabbed a bit, with my right wind dropped into the wind. As the right wing touched down it bounced a bit and pointed me about 30 degrees to the left, aiming off the runway. I tried to correct with some rudder and it just felt goofy as if I was beginning to slide. I went all in and inadvertently put all flaps up instead of 1 notch, I may have actually gone into the grass a bit but took back off. Went ahead and did the pattern and landed again with no issue.
Out of my 180 landings this takes the cakes for the scariest landing I've done. I'll learn from it and going to change some things. I think I'm pulled too far forward in the seat and may be sitting too high as well causing me to put some pressure on the brakes. Lower and back a bit I won't have to flex my foot back when on the rudders. I've also been told on 'windy' days in a 172 STOL plane you should use 2 notches of flaps, which is then followed by saying you should always try to use 3 notches on normal landings. Coming back to home field there was very little if any wind. I used 3 notches and it was a non-issue. So while I typically don't think 7 knots crosswind is 'windy', I'm going to take advantage of some of my instrument training flights and have the CFII supervise some 2 notch landings and see the difference. I've done them in the past by myself and they feel fast but they feel more controlled. Who knows I'm just glad I didn't cartwheel or nose plow the plane.
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