Directional control after touchdown...

On May 19, 11:26 pm, Dan wrote:
I've got a question for the group. Suppose you find yourself in the
following situation:

You are flying a C182, landing on runway 22. The ATIS lists the winds
as 240 at 10. The windsock is not visible.

You approach at a normal airspeed, full flaps, coming over the numbers
at 65 kts. The mains touchdown, followed by the nosegear. Slight
right aileron is being maintained into the wind. Everything is
aligned properly and on the centerline at touchdown.

After touchdown the plane starts to drift to the right side of the
runway. You try to correct by pointing the nose back to the
centerline with left rudder. The nose seems to be pointed left, but
the plane is still drifting right. It feels like any more left rudder
could result in bad skidding and/or a ground loop.

What are the proper control inputs to correct the situation?

Left aileron would be in the _opposite_ direction of the indicated
crosswind. Increasing back pressure would make the nosewheel even
less effective.

--Dan
My immediate thought was to schedule some more cross wind instruction
with a good instructor! We are not talking about much wind at all.
ATIS wind is not much of a crosswind - 20deg @ 10kts? I'd be inclined
to use less aileron and more rudder if its drifting right into the
wind. I sure as hell wouldn't drop the nosewheel to the runway and try
to force nosewheel steering with the directional control in question!
And for sure I wouldn't try to correct it with any brakes. Keep in
mind, if its light enough to drift, its still light enough on the
wheels they'll lock up and skid real easy with any brakes.
I'd be putting in lots of rudder, easing full aft elevator to keep
weight off the nose gear, and whatever aileron needed to keep wings
level. If that doesn't work, I'd be giving serious consideration to
making an immediate go around to take a 2nd look at what is happening.
Makes more sense than going off into the weeds while obviously being
behind the aircraft?
Soaring Buzzard
Infamous Worldwide Pilot/Instructor

On May 19, 11:26 pm, Dan wrote:
You approach at a normal airspeed, full flaps, coming over the numbers
at 65 kts. The mains touchdown, followed by the nosegear. Slight
right aileron is being maintained into the wind. Everything is
aligned properly and on the centerline at touchdown.

Dan, a couple other things to consider...

Is there just you and an instructor in the plane?

How big are you and the instructor?

Full fuel, two up front, at 65 kts, your over the numbers speed is too
fast.

Try slowing to 55 - 60 kts over the numbers. Full stall stall speed is
going to be below 45 kts at the lighter weight.
Your are drifting because you are still too light on the wheels.

Does the stall horn go off as the wheels touch the ground?

Do you float down the runway between roundout and touchdown?

You should be maintaining pitch attitude as the aircraft settles by
steadily increasing backpressure on the yoke.

Even as the wheels touch, you continue to steadily pull backpressure and
hold it full aft until your in your parking spot and the engine is shut
down.