Starting a new ownership with a flat spot

[aaronk25]

If your not hearing the stall horn going off when the wheels touch the ground your landing to fast.

Tires are less likely to lock up, when braking if a majority of the weight has been transfers to the wheels and in order to get that the plane has to be done flying.

Ymmv

[ArtVandelay]

If your not hearing the stall horn going off when the wheels touch the ground your landing to fast.

 

The problem is the plane tends to squat down if you wait for the stall horn, I'm still new at this, but all my greasers have been with the stall horn off.

[DrBill]

I did mine when I landed downwind.   Took off, flew around for about 30 mins and returned.  "Assumed" no wind change and landed same direction as takeoff.    When I almost ran out of runway, I got stopped and back at the hangar checked the tires and wind.. Wind had shifted and spotted only one.

Now I check the sock on downwind  EVERY LANDING .

BILL

[David Mazer]

I've noticed a lot of comments by Cs and Js and I think there are major differences in those vs a Rocket in terms of weight (momentum) and speeds (even though landing speeds are pretty close).  As I mentioned, I don't recall ever putting a flat spot in a tire until my Rocket.  Also, I never had a flat spot in my Rocket until after my brakes were "fixed" with replacement of the 25 year old brake lines and them finally actually slowing the plane down and holding it still during run up.  Always a trade off, isn't there.

[aaronk25]

The problem is the plane tends to squat down if you wait for the stall horn, I'm still new at this, but all my greasers have been with the stall horn off.

That's because when your doing your "greasers" your flying it to the runway. Sure your slower and it's starting to settle and you might even have a decent rate of settling in....but the tricks to, as you become more comfortable is to get the plane to completely quit flying 2" above the ground so it greases on.

Just take seat time. Given you have enough runway, practice coming in at the same speed you have been but hold the plane 1'-2' the ground and down let it touch down until you here the stall horn. Then after you get good at greasing thoes landings slow up your across the numbers speed so it's one big smooth transition to the ground.

Report back let us know how it goes!

[David Mazer]

All true, but Rocket or not, unless one is regularly flying into marginally short runways, IMHO if one is routinely flat spotting tires in an M20 the problem is to be found in the left front seat. That shouldn't be normal.

 

The problem is always in the left seat and regular is a relative term.  I've had zero in 20 years of flying in other planes (including other Mooneys other than the Rocket) and 2 in 6 years, all after the brakes were fixed, in a Rocket.  Still the pilot's fault but there maybe something about a Rocket, my Rocket, or a change in me that is contributing.

[Houman]

The problem is always in the left seat and regular is a relative term.  I've had zero in 20 years of flying in other planes (including other Mooneys other than the Rocket) and 2 in 6 years, all after the brakes were fixed, in a Rocket.  Still the pilot's fault but there maybe something about a Rocket, my Rocket, or a change in me that is contributing.

I agree, even my ATP instructor with 4000 hours, and the other owners at 10K hours ATP, they told me they have done the same on the Rocket, it's just a bit heavier and harder that the other mooneys...

[Houman]

Two in six years isn't so bad, David. I wasn't trying to pick on you. Far be it from me as I have never even flown a Rocket. I'm sorry. I know my post came over that way.

I did'nt take your comments personally and hopefully David did'nt either. Every pilot makes mistakes from time to time and we are not perfect, if we landed and did everything perfectly all the time, we would be more like robots, what's the pleasure in that ?

[Houman]

Yep, one of my early mentor's in my IT career said to me, the day you stop learning is the day you start dying... We all have different experiences, lives and it is the melting pot that makes us all a bit better...

[N601RX]

With the heavier engine in front of the front tire, there will be less weight on the mains.  Does the Rocket upgrade also include the dual puck calipers like are on the later models?

[PMcClure]

The problem is the plane tends to squat down if you wait for the stall horn, I'm still new at this, but all my greasers have been with the stall horn off.

If I'm going for a greaser to impress the ladies I tend to land a little faster and stay off the brakes. Trying to avoid the trees at the end of a short runway means a stall horn landing and hard breaking and maybe dump flaps too. I have scolded a couple tires too. I don't see a reason to have a minimum roll out on every landing.

[Danb]

Dave, my Bravo also has a heavy hunk of iron out front, I've had 2 J models prior to my Bravo and ruined a few tires in 20 yrs flying my 201's but not so in the Bravo, not sure if it's the difference in weight or the long body, I have more trouble though with speed control in my Bravo than in my J models, it most likely is the problem in the left seat currently I'm having problems keeping my patience on short final which will only change with more practice in landings or possibly a new set of eyes are needed?

[jlunseth]

I got my Commercial last year.  The practice at short field and power off landings was good for a set of tires not to mention a couple of hard bounces.

[Houman]

Well I am mad now, the mechanic that went to change my tires said he found the brakes were almost to the metal and the bearing not greased.

It seemed that the shop my partner used to import the plane did not do a good job. I purchased the plane conditional to a successful import, since several mechanics told me that the import process is like an annual, but much more involved and that if the import is done properly, then the plane should be A1, I guess it was not necessarily done A1.

Anyway, that was my afternoon of talking to mechanics...