How to Properly Land a C-172.....

[VW Pilot]

Hi...

Just how is it done??? How do you properly land a C-172???
This week I went for my lesson. It was my first time in a C-172 SuperHawk....Big difference. This thing just wanted to haul A$$!

It begs to get off the ground! Anyways, I had trouble getting it back to the ground... I was told or have heard several times to land a C-172 that you have to stall it...Is this true? I have found this difficult in all the other Cessnas I've flown...which is why I do not like them....They all seem to float down the runway....I normally use the Piper warrior....my favourite...But it was in the hangar for 100Hr maintenence...

So how is it done? I keep bouncing my landings and this is extremely embarrasing and dangerous...I hold 65-70 Kts all the way to the runway,
but I bounce everytime!

My instructor likes the speed control but seems to think that I'm concentrating on a single spot to land on the runway rather than looking at the opposing end....I look further away but bounce anyways...Sigh...

Once I landed a c-172 fine without a bounce, and with that aircraft I have not been able to do it again.....Any advice helpful. Thanks.

 

[skiandsurf]

Hi...

Just how is it done??? How do you properly land a C-172???

Its been over 16 years since I have flown a 172, but I am sure it hasnt changed too much over the years. I was a CFI for 1745.1 hours. I always taught my students to fly above the runway at about 12 inches above the ground. With the throttle at idle, use the nose wheel as the pivot point...keep the nose at 12 inches above the ground...holding the nose up with the yoke..... and let the mains fall towards the ground. Once the mains are on the ground, keep the back pressure on the yoke, then slowly lower the nose.

It may not be the "proper way", but it worked for all of my students to get the feel of what is going on.

Good luck.

 

[pilotyip]

Your approach speed is too high, I teach cross the threshold at 60 KTs flaps 20 and 55 KTS flAPs full. Reduce the power, being mindful the nose will want to drop when you reduce power. Flatten the apporach, look at the far end of the runway, and watch the airplane sink, gentely apply back pressure, land in a nose high attitude. Never lower the nose. Just keep practicing, anyone can learn to land an airplane. But looking at the far end of the runway and sensing your sink rate is the key to pulling off decent landings.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Of course, without being there, it's hard to tell which of the many possible errors you are making, but let's try this one:

To me, that 65-70, while maybe a bit higher than necessary, is too low to account for a land and takeoff type bounce. The bounce may indicate that you are landing on the nosewheel, which means you're not keeping the nose off the ground at touchdown.

I see from you profile that you've flown PA-28 aircraft. One of the biggest differences between it and a 172 is the height of the nose during touchdown.

In general, the view out the window in a PA-28 at the point of touchdown allows see the runway in front of you while still keeping the nosewheel off the ground. The view out the window in a CE-172 does not - for most pilots, the nose of the airplane will block the runway. Unless you are really tall or your seat is cranked way up, if you can see the runway during the flare, the best you will do will be to land flat, but you are more likely to touch nose first and bounce.

The difference in the height of the nose off the ground during touchdown is one of the biggest differences I see among light singles. My tip is to notice the nose position when the mains first leave the ground on takeoff - that's the position the nose should be in when the mains touch down on landing.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

See if your instructor will let you slow fly it the length of the runway a few times(5 to 20 feet agl or so). Teaches control and a light touch. Used to work well with my students on working out many landing problems..X-wind, hard landings etc etc.

Of course be mindful of any obstructions at the ends.

 

[pilotyip]

There are some great points here that everyone can use. Each instructor has a technique they use to teach, and althought they may be different, they all work. That is why if it not working with one instructor try another who may have a different approach to the same problem.

 

[Launchpad]

If watching 172's land at BFI is any indication, I would landing on all three wheels at the same time is the proper way to land a 172. Yikes!

Good luck-

 

[UA-RESURRECTED]

I fly an older PA-28, with the airspeed indicator calibrated in MPH. So, I'm used to seeing like 85 on final, and maybe 70-75 over the numbers.

If the day comes where I ever fly a Cessna, it's gonna feel strange to look down and see 60, even if that is KTS and not MPH. You don't dare get a Cherokee down to 60 unless you want to stall...

 

[USMCmech]

Ditto about the 65-70 on final. That is too fast, I like to see 60. It dosen't sound like much, but it makes a huge differance.



Try this excercise next time you and your instructor go flying.

Fly your normal aproach all the way to the flare,

Then just when you think you are about 1 foot from the ground add some power and fly down the runway at that altidue of 1 foot AGL,

If you do touch down it will be very smooth, and you will lift off again with a little bit more power,

Don't forget to maintain directional controll, and start your go around with enough runway remaining.

On the next pass do the same thing without adding the power and you will make a very nice smooth landing.



I started demonstrating this to my students to show them what the flare picture should look like, and I have found it helpfull for fine tuneing the flare.

 

[DCAinstructor06]

Something that worked for my students with the 172 while trying to nail soft field landings, was to set 1700RPM and leave it alone. Think slow flight above the runway. At 1700rpm, it WILL not want to fly and you will land it like butter.
Just slowly raise the nose as the speed decreases. Try it, this worked for lots of my kids. The 172 does not land like the 152. It wants to stay airborne, just remember you can never force any airplane onto the ground, it will land when it's ready to land. PERIOD.
We used 85kts downwind, abeam TD point, Carb heat, power to 1700 flaps 10.
On base, flaps 20 and the plane will slow to 75. Then flaps 30 on final and it will slow almost magically to 65. If it was trimmed on downwind and you trim when the power is first reduced to 1700, you "should" never have to touch the trim wheel again. Cessna actually designed this in the airplane.
See more here on http://www.whittsflying.com/
This guy's site is AMAZING! I am surprised I dont see more of his stuff here.
But, BOOKMARK it, you'll need it someday.