Landings and Crosswinds and Go 'Rounds, oh my
Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 12:47 pm
This weekend, I came back home from a lovely trip to Madison, WI, and had a bit of a crosswind on landing. Nothing substantial, really: landing runway 22 with a 240@7-9. Normal everyday landing stuff I've never had any problems with. But this day was different.
Just as I touched down in a 3-point attitude, the tires started squealing and I'm being pushed to the left. I kept it straight, no problem, so less likely there'll be a ground loop, but the runway edge is coming up fast. I realized that I didn't have enough right aileron in, and that's why I was drifting. I decided I was going to go around, because when in doubt, get out, right? Well, I "gave it the onion" the BCA guy says, and damn it all if the engine didn't all but stall. So now I'm committed.
I kept it on the runway and got it stopped, pulled the seat cushion out of my backside, and followed the controller's direction back to the ramp. Once I got on the taxiway, he told me I could ask for turf if I wanted (just opened), but I'd have to request it. He wouldn't offer it to me without me asking. Good to know.
So the question isn't why did I slide across the runway. I know the answer to that one. I wasn't keeping it stuck down with enough aileron (that and I could probably retract the flaps sooner and fly in a little slower, perhaps, with less flaps). The real question is, why in the world did my engine give up when I floored it?
On the way back in, my wife mentioned the smell of gas was fairly high in the exhaust. I concur. Smelled pretty rich to me. Chance that the carb needs some adjustment or a cleanup? Did I flood it? Was there too much air and not enough fuel and I leaned it? Other thoughts?
Appreciate your replies,
Chris
Just as I touched down in a 3-point attitude, the tires started squealing and I'm being pushed to the left. I kept it straight, no problem, so less likely there'll be a ground loop, but the runway edge is coming up fast. I realized that I didn't have enough right aileron in, and that's why I was drifting. I decided I was going to go around, because when in doubt, get out, right? Well, I "gave it the onion" the BCA guy says, and damn it all if the engine didn't all but stall. So now I'm committed.
I kept it on the runway and got it stopped, pulled the seat cushion out of my backside, and followed the controller's direction back to the ramp. Once I got on the taxiway, he told me I could ask for turf if I wanted (just opened), but I'd have to request it. He wouldn't offer it to me without me asking. Good to know.
So the question isn't why did I slide across the runway. I know the answer to that one. I wasn't keeping it stuck down with enough aileron (that and I could probably retract the flaps sooner and fly in a little slower, perhaps, with less flaps). The real question is, why in the world did my engine give up when I floored it?
On the way back in, my wife mentioned the smell of gas was fairly high in the exhaust. I concur. Smelled pretty rich to me. Chance that the carb needs some adjustment or a cleanup? Did I flood it? Was there too much air and not enough fuel and I leaned it? Other thoughts?
Appreciate your replies,
Chris