Landing a DR400 issues
Join Date: Jan 1999
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Please do pass this thread onto the inspectors, simply servicing the legs IAW the MM will make all these problems go away. Then you can enjoy flying a one of the best light aircraft on the market
Join Date: Mar 2008
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I flew our club robin today and tried to "think" about what I was doing (It's become second nature as been flying DR400's for 5 years).
As you land and the aircraft decelerates, keep the stick coming back (reasonably quickly but not so quickly that you end up back in the air) - it should feel very light on the nose, the nosewheel if set up properly should be locked. When the stick is all the way back and aircraft at a gentle jogging pace, ease the stick forward - you should feel a bit of a "thud" as it unlocks with the stick slightly aft of the middle. You'll then have no problem steering with the rudder - if this doesn't happen with the stick pretty much in the middle or slightly aft, it's been badly rigged. Do this on an in to wind runway and make sure the rudder is central.
As you land and the aircraft decelerates, keep the stick coming back (reasonably quickly but not so quickly that you end up back in the air) - it should feel very light on the nose, the nosewheel if set up properly should be locked. When the stick is all the way back and aircraft at a gentle jogging pace, ease the stick forward - you should feel a bit of a "thud" as it unlocks with the stick slightly aft of the middle. You'll then have no problem steering with the rudder - if this doesn't happen with the stick pretty much in the middle or slightly aft, it's been badly rigged. Do this on an in to wind runway and make sure the rudder is central.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I agree with AandC and all the others, in that the nosewheel strut should be serviced properly, and if that has been done, the landing technique is not significantly different from other GA aircraft.
But... If you find yourself careening off the runway and into the grass or towards solid objects, with no nosewheel steering, there's no time for niceties: You have to force that nosewheel out of the lock somehow. So a firm dab of the brakes, combined with a serious stick forward is what is called for in that situation. Don't worry, the prop will not hit the runway, but you will have some explaining to do to the passengers who expect a greaser.
But... If you find yourself careening off the runway and into the grass or towards solid objects, with no nosewheel steering, there's no time for niceties: You have to force that nosewheel out of the lock somehow. So a firm dab of the brakes, combined with a serious stick forward is what is called for in that situation. Don't worry, the prop will not hit the runway, but you will have some explaining to do to the passengers who expect a greaser.
I know nothing about this particular aircraft, but from a mechanical point of view, if there is no weight on the front wheel, it will not steer. I have seen this on many other pieces of machinery; if the front wheels go light you loose all steering and just slip the wheels on the ground.
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Cambridge UK
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Thanks to everyone for all the advice. The plane has had its annual and in addition to some minor oleo adjustmenents, I have had some additional instruction to ensure that man and machine are all working and safe. All seems good now
