This approach gets challenging since there is a tight turn just before the landing area.
Tried different approaches but coming high like in the video works best since the tight turn to the right can be made with the nose down and just a small amount of power.
At least the go around its easy

The need for the steep turn was more visible on the takeoff. In either takeoff or landing where a close to LZ turn is necessary, a rudder turn in ground effect may be the safer option. This is most likely where the normal turn will require a wing to be down when low or load factor is a big concern or both. The nose was well down on the landing and the wings were level well before touchdown so no concern there. The takeoff may have been a concern for both load factor and putting a wing down while low, two antagonist tactical situations by the way.

Rudder turns in low ground effect are something that need to be practiced in large flat areas like an airport or large pasture.

Always appreciated contact, good advice on rudder turns in lower near ground conditions.

Hi Contact,

Re the Rudder Turn while in ground effect, what do you do with the ailerons? Say you push on R rudder pedal to turn right; the L wing will start to rise; do you counter with aileron to the L?

I have practiced/done rudder turns at altitude but never down low so your advice appreciated.

Best,
Tom

It is a cross controlled turn, it does not come natural, but works.

Motoadve is right. You have to use aileron only to keep the wing level and out of the crop or dirt.

This is definitely a special needs technique. Crop dusters need to maintain alignment with a flag or to keep the light bar centered. This is not necessarily the same as the dynamic proactive rudder movement to maintain longitudinal alignment. It would be in a no wind condition, but we spray crosswind to keep the drift off on the next swath. Like crabbing on final, we use dynamic proactive rudder only to maintain a directed course to the runway.

The problem with needing a steep turn near the LZ is like needing to miss the pole with a wing while going under a wire. A big turn is needed. We don't want to err on the side of limited rudder turn. I usually went to the stop with left rudder followed by to the stop with right rudder.

The tactical situation most similar to the river turn, in my experience, was using a stretch of county road for reloading. Occasionally I had to make rudder turns getting into the straight stretch under a wire across the approach or departure end. Load always precluded climbing out over the wire. Often the crossing wire made getting in over the wire impossible. Thus strong rudder turn in and out.

Once practiced in a safe area, they become somewhat comfortable. Spraying makes them just part of a day's work.

Tom,

Start on a long runway without bad side ditches or obstacles. Start at five feet AGL and with cruise speed after low approach. While keeping the wings level with aileron, use rudder to turn ten degrees left and fly to the left edge of the runway. Next rudder turn and fly to the right edge. Left right left all the way down the runway and then go around.

Continue reducing the altitude to as low as you are comfortable with at speed. Then continue reducing speed to hover taxi speed, in time.

Refer to SMFT below for hover taxi technique.

Around 1:30 my plums jumped up into my abdomen.

I'd love to fly right seat with you but I'll not try that myself.

Great skills you have! Enjoy and thanks for posting the videos.

Mountain Doctor wrote:Around 1:30 my plums jumped up into my abdomen.

I'd love to fly right seat with you but I'll not try that myself.

Great skills you have! Enjoy and thanks for posting the videos.

Thanks, We are not too far, will be happy to take you, I have taken lots of pilots into this and other gravel bars and short strips, the grin in their faces is priceless.

Avgas is on me.

Sounds good, send me a message and we agree on a day and time, I only fly this stuff in days with calm or light winds though.

Great video once again Moto! I sure do envy those beauty gravel bars and strips you have around there!