Landing the Cessna 182T
Posted by vlv8855@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 35 comments
I have been flying the Piper Lance for 20 years or more and now I am transitioned to fly the 182. I have found it quite different to land than the Lance. My instructor told me to power right off before the flare and keep holding it off and do a full stall landing. Well I was disappointed with my landing as they were heavy. I did manage to land on the mains first but it was too heavy for my liking.
I have done some research and some pilots are saying keep on a little power during the flare until the mains are on the ground. I intend to try that on my next flight.
Has anyone any suggestions of what is the best method to land the 182.
m5er@reddit
In my 10+ years of Skylane ownership, I've grown accustomed to adding power in significant crosswind. I don't feel as much in control when cutting power completely. A slightly higher touchdown speed from a few extra RPMs (and sometimes partial flaps) can help under certain circumstances.
vlv8855@reddit (OP)
Yes, it feels strange to have no power on the round out. I am used to holding some power with the Lance.
blame_lagg@reddit
I land power off in the 182T but I've had some not-great landings especially at the beginning - it sinks a lot harder than the DA 40, that's for sure.
My technique involves 70 kts, keeping the nose down, and flaring with two hands.
makgross@reddit
Thats because you have too much nose down trim. 65 knots. It’s always 65 knots in a 182.
blame_lagg@reddit
According to the POH it's 60-70.
At the weight I typically fly it'd be like 68.
70 is close enough, there's usually some shear near the ground.
makgross@reddit
I’m telling you, it works better at 65. I know what the checklists say, but you’re too far ahead of the power curve and too nose down. Especially if you’re light.
The ideal speed is right at the top of the power curve, where it makes a lot of drag as you slow down in the flare. That isn’t the top of the range in any Cessna single.
Inevitable_Street458@reddit
I second this. My landings at 70 are never as smooth as my landings at 65.
blame_lagg@reddit
Fair enough, the ground does feel like it approaches kinda quickly power idle @ 70 knots : )
nl_Kapparrian@reddit
Electric trim? I like to start running it nose up as I cross the threshold, it certainly gets nose heavy as it slows. Like all planes you need to smoothly round out without being jerky. Eventually getting to a nose high flare attitude without climbing.
Bkclaims@reddit
I have 1000+ hours in various models of 182 and all these people commenting some version of "the only way is" is cracking me up. Just figure out what works for you. I like to pull power once I'm over the threshold if it's not super crosswindy and frequently land with 30 or even 40 flaps depending on model.
mirassou3416@reddit
I've flown the R182 for 6 years, then my TR182 for 23 years. I always keep some power in until either just before touchdown or at touchdown as it's nose heavy
DeepInsidee@reddit
Flying a turbo C182T, always landing with full flaps and powering out over the runway while approaching with 65kt on short final.
I guess that’s okay (?): https://youtube.com/shorts/Vy8722QAAys?is=QEm8rVCdUoQ9IB36
x4457@reddit
That is terrible technique so stop doing that shit right now. Great way to drive the nose strut through the firewall when you run out of elevator authority.
The correct technique is to fly the aircraft into the flare, set your flare pitch attitude, and maintain that until the main wheels touch down. 182s have a tendency to be nose heavy, so a lot of people will carry 9-12" of manifold pressure through the flare until the mains touchdown to assist with airflow over the elevator in the flare, others will just fly roughly 5 knots faster than the book approach speeds to achieve the same result.
Mean-Oil-4602@reddit
182 owner here and I approve this message.
Cutting power during or before flare is a 172 thing. I never do that in the 182. And I use ballast to balance out the nose heavy stereotype. I nonetheless still keep a little bit of power in until touchdown.
182s are notorious for having firewall damage—because so many pilots smash the engine through the firewall by failing to account for a heavy nose. When you pre-buy inspect them, you must specifically examine the firewall and look for buckling.
LikenSlayer@reddit
Agree with this 100% I also own 182G. I don't let others fly it without it for this very reason.
Friend of mine had to take the belly of the skin off to fix the left side by rudder from buckling & repair firewall. It's almost a brand new airplane now.
flyhighdivelow@reddit
Ive put a lot of hours into three different 182s all with different engines and I've never once even come close to running out of elevator authority cutting power before flaring
makgross@reddit
Really old 182s with far forward CG will do that. 182Ts? No.
You can run out of elevator prior to stall warning in a 182P with full tanks, full flap, and empty back seat and cargo. Not anything later, or with more sensible loading. That’s where a lot of the myths in this thread come from. A 182T (or Q,R,S) lands just fine power idle and full flap.
x4457@reddit
Not before flaring, in the flare.
vlv8855@reddit (OP)
Yes, this is what I am used to with the Lance and I have always had safe landings and felt in control. When I did power off landings with the instructor I didn't feel in control.
x4457@reddit
That's an instructor who probably doesn't regularly fly or teach in anything other than a trainer. You can get away with that in a 172, but once you get bigger than that it becomes a really bad idea.
jimcarroll_cfi@reddit
You keep power with the lance because without power its a flying rock. Landing with power in a 182 is ok if you’re landing on a long runway, but will have less pleasant outcomes on a shortfield.
The difference between the two is landing sight picture. In the lance, you land relatively flat with just a slight nose up. In the 182 to get a soft touch down you need more nose up. Not covering the far end if the runway, but almost touching it.
RecentAmbition3081@reddit
Put 100lbs of weight in backseat area or baggage compartment. Otherwise start working out at the gym.
99frc@reddit
CFI here with a couple students in a 182T. Don’t cut power short final. Ensure your approach speed is where it needs to be (low 60’s you won’t have much of a flare, 70+ an it will tend to balloon), then a smooth transition to idle during the round out / flare is key. Get that nose in the air and keep that back pressure even after you’re on the ground to protect the nose gear.
aftcg@reddit
Add 50-100 lbs in the baggage? Works great for most little planes with full fuel and 2 people
tehmightyengineer@reddit
I don't have as much time in the 182 as some but I've always felt my landings were better keeping power into the flare and going slowly into power off right at touchdown. I also roll a couple of nose up trim inputs in the flare to help with elevator back pressure (caution for a last-second go-around as you may need nose down pressure on the elevator).
CSRAFlightCoach@reddit
I’m a decent transition also and have found this works well for me.
Select_Respond_8627@reddit
Do not trim in the flare or on short final to help with back pressure, it’s bad technique and I’ve seen several students put themselves into really bad situations because of using trim as a crutch for the flare in a 182. Besides making go arounds more complicated it can lead to trimming too early and getting too slow, very dangerous habit to build and to teach.
vlv8855@reddit (OP)
Yes, this is what I am used to with the Lance.
Nnumber@reddit
I haven’t flown a 182 in a long time but I remember needing some sort of wash over the elevator for authority, it being nose heavy, and lack of cushioning from ground effect compared to brand P or M made it want to plop down unless you carried it into the flare.
Entire_Ad3411@reddit
What flap setting are you using? During my time flying 182Ts for my instrument rating, we usually only used 20° and reserved full flaps for short field only. Tbf my home field had a 7k' runway though...
vlv8855@reddit (OP)
I am going in with full flap. I will try 20 degrees and see how that goes.
Infamous-Ad-140@reddit
They are nose heavy especially compared to a 172. I always carry a little power into the flare for a normal landing.
vlv8855@reddit (OP)
Yes, I think this is the way to go.
Skynet_lives@reddit
I usually come in power off. If I have the runway length I will carry about 70kts into the flare and use trim to help hold the nose wheel off. Then just put it down on the mains, it makes for a smooth landing.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I have been flying the Piper Lance for 20 years or more and now I am transitioned to fly the 182. I have found it quite different to land than the Lance. My instructor told me to power right off before the flare and keep holding it off and do a full stall landing. Well I was disappointed with my landing as they were heavy. I did manage to land on the mains first but it was too heavy for my liking.
I have done some research and some pilots are saying keep on a little power during the flare until the mains are on the ground. I intend to try that on my next flight.
Has anyone any suggestions of what is the best method to land the 182.
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