Crosswind landing

[rturbett]

So- as I build up my experience and start stretching some of my comfort zones-

I'm used to adding 1/2 the gust factor to my approaches. Usually not a problem, as there is usually part of the wind component coming down the runway. Last flight, the wind was 90 degrees to the runway. I accepted that I would have some extra speed, and touched down further down the runway. (no other runway options)  Any tidbits on what you do when presented with this situation?

Thanks

Rob 

[PT20J]

Everybody's got their favorite technique. I usually approach with takeoff flaps if it's gusty. This allows a higher deck angle for less flare, less drag and a higher approach speed. I add 5 knots above what I would use with full flaps at my weight and if it's gusty and the airspeed is bouncing around I adjust so that the lowest airspeed hits my planned approach speed. I fly a crabbed approach until about 50 feet where I adjust to a wing low attitude to test if I have enough rudder to straighten out. There is a limit to how low you drop a wing since the tips are not very far above the ground.

[Fritz1]

Slowly expand your envelope, the Mooney can be landed safely at much higher crosswinds than the 12 kt listed in most POHs if the runway is long enough, you land the upwind wheel first

[midlifeflyer]

As mentioned, techniques vary.I don’t add speed for direct crosswinds with no headwind gust factor. And I gave up the reduced flaps 26 years ago in favor of a slower touchdown.

Beyond that it depends on how strong a crosswind. With most, a simple crab down the runway, transitioning to a slip in the earliest part of the round out. Stringer winds might have me test out the slip higher as a reality check. 

And don’t forget the most important part - movement to full taxi crosswind correction in touchdown. That’s where most crosswind landing accidents happen. The pilot neutralizes the controls and gets pushed off the runway,

[Danb]

Skip and Mark pretty much nailed it for basically what I do, I also fly utilizing the crab and kick method in gusty conditions I try to do an extended final to ascertain that I have enough crab built in and then slip the remaining. On the long final you’ll know the amount of crab when slipping to landing you should have a good idea of the amount or wing correction needed to maintain centerline, stay on top of it once transited to the runway don’t be afraid to use quite a bit of rudder if necessary to stay centered, if your losing it go around. Thinking of speeds with the equipment we have AOAmeters, etc I don’t really pay a lot of attention to speeds any more. Good idea to go out on a blustery day and play

D

[exM20K]

Here's a useful (to me) drill to get comfortable with crosswind landings:

On a good X-wind day,  do a normal approach, in landing configuration, crab or slip, and keep a little power in during the flare. Fly down the runway centerline, maintaining centerline with the slip.  then go around and repeat or land.  It may feel strange at first, but it should really raise your comfort level with your ability to be pilot-in-command rather than subject to the x-wind.

-dan

[EricJ]

As others are mentioning, I just fly it and compensate for whatever drift is happening with either a crab (at higher altitude) and either kick it out at the end of the flare or transition to a slip, whatever seems to be best at the time.   I usually use full flaps even in heavy crosswinds.  If you add speed, it'll have to come off, anyway, for the airplane to land, and you want a fairly firm landing rather than skipping along with too much speed, so it's kind of a tradeoff to add speed for gusts.   Just don't slow down too much until you're low if there is a gusty headwind component.

Coming back from a long cross-country we landed in the remains of Hurricane Hillary as it was passing over Deer Valley, and it was something like 23 kits gusting 35 directly across the runway.   That's the only time I've used the *entire* runway, and I landed on the upwind side of the centerline, but it wasn't nearly as dramatic or difficult as I'd anticipated.   Landed in 21 kts gusting 27 directly across the runway the other day and the GF thought it was a normal landing...so I felt like I did my job okay. 

[rturbett]

All great advice- Thank you!

Rob

[Yetti]

If there is a Gusty part to the cross wind (Spring flying in Texas) then having the upwing wing level to the ground and doing a one wheel landing seems to keep the gust from picking that wing up.   The low profile of the Mooney makes it so it does not get thrown around as much as some planes with a larger side profile.