Advancing prop controls.. when is the right time?

[Strega]

I flew with a guy tonight, and he insisted on advancing the props on a twin cessna in preparation to land, about mid downwind...

I thought this was tad early, but he seemed certain in his actions..

Anyone have any comments? Again I ask for rational behind your comments..

[DanWEC]

Advancing to full fine? Doesn't make sense to me when you're still level on downwind unless your speed's all crazy.
Same as giving too much flap and compensating with power. Ineffecient.

Normally it's somewhere on final. What were his reasons?

[Redneck_pilot86]

At whatever point the throttles are set to a low enough manifold pressure that the props are no longer governing. Could be anywhere from downwind to the flare, depending on the type.

[DanWEC]

That's a better answer.

[Adam Oke]

At whatever point the throttles are set to a low enough manifold pressure that the props are no longer governing. Could be anywhere from downwind to the flare, depending on the type.

I use this practice as well and lean to the ground.

I have seen it in some checklists as a downwind "check" item. Prop's are a "do" item IMO, much like the throttle and mixture. So long as you advance the prop and enrich mixture as required in the event of a go around, then leaving things set until touchdown is still ok in my books.

What is your take Strega?

[NoGutsNoGlory]

In my experience it's part of the pre-landing checklist...Specifically when landing flap is selected. "Full flap, mixture rich, prop fine."

[ahramin]

I think it's totally dependant on the pilot's currency. If you are current and comfortable with putting them forward with full flap or when no longer governing that's fine. If you fly a mix of aircraft and haven't flown this particular aircraft category in a while and don't have the flow perfect, do it on downwind with the checklist. It doesn't hurt anything to do it on downwind.

[Strega]

I asked the guy that did it, ( it was in 310) and his answer was "this is how i do it".... the power was not low enough to avoid full rpm... personally, I do it short final, high rpm and low torque is not smurfy with counter weighted engines, not to mention geared engines.

[5x5]

I have always thought that the accepted "norm" was GUMPS on final. You have the power pretty much established, assuming it's a stabilized approach (and aren't they all?), at the lowest setting it will be until the flare. It makes for a nice, standard procedure especially for people who are just learning and still relatively new to constant speed power management.

Certainly, as with all aspects of flying, with more experience standard procedures can be modified to fit the conditions such as geared engines and what not - but a basic procedure of GUMPS on final fits the bill a high majority of the time.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Well the way I see it is when landing the airplane is going down not taking off or climbing therefore cruise RPM is all that is required.

Props as a check list item would be the very last one to do......

...therefore I fly and teach power off for landing at touch down and props full forward at the same time.

Never could figure out why I would want the props screaming in my ears when descending.

[Strega]

Never could figure out why I would want the props screaming in my ears when descending.

What if you have to do a go around?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

What if you have to do a go around?

I will have to contact a flight school and ask them what I should do.

Stand by and I will find out.

[Big Pistons Forever]

What if you have to do a go around?

I will have to contact a flight school and ask them what I should do.

Stand by and I will find out.

Totally unhelpful and and a shot at flight instructors, all in a 2 line post......

Nice

[AuxBatOn]

Or how to be a dick in 15 words...

[Chuck Ellsworth]

You guys are so predictable.

Strega posed this question.

I gave a logical answer based on who exactly is teaching pilots to increase RPM on the down wind portion of flight.

Is it the local stamp collectors club?

Or maybe it is flight schools that teach this stuff?

[photofly]

What if you have to do a go around?

I will have to contact a flight school and ask them what I should do.

Stand by and I will find out.

Totally unhelpful and and a shot at flight instructors, all in a 2 line post......

Nice

It was very funny though.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Hell I had one instructor who insisted on increasing the prop RPM from cruise to climb RPM at the beacon outbound when practicing IFR approaches.

I asked him why and he said so you don't forget to increase RPM on the missed approach.

[cdnpilot77]

Or how to be a dick in 15 words...

hands up if you went back and actually counted the words?

[Rookie50]

Or how to be a dick in 15 words...

hands up if you went back and actually counted the words?

[esp803]

When I wake up from my nap, and realize that I am on a 3 mile final and 12,000 feet above the lake.

E

[ThatArmyGuy]

short final check.... MPG - Mixture (full rich), Props (max), Gear (check down, 3 green).

[jump154]

Or how to be a dick in 15 words...

hands up if you went back and actually counted the words?

In both . and BFS's posts... conicidence?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

In both . and BFS's posts... conicidence?

If you are suggesting we are the same person you are wrong.....even though BPF would like to be me.

[Strega]

even though BPF would like to be me

[PilotDAR]

To offer a comment toward answering the question.... I ease them toward fine when I believe they are no longer governing. If I'm wrong, and get an RPM rise, I'll pause, until power is reduced more. But... that's just me, and my experience...