Pulls to left while taxiing

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Diamond_Dan
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Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by Diamond_Dan »

The airplane pulls to the left while taxiing, has since I started flying it almost two years ago. I periodically stab the right brake to keep it on course. Our mechanic re-packed the wheel bearings and checked the brakes and tires at the last annual but couldn't find anything wrong. The left and right main tires are mis-matched. It is back in annual now and any advice on what to check would be helpful, or maybe this is normal behavior?

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Rick
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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by Rick »

What do you mean by the "left and right tires are mis-matched"? You have different size tires on the 2 mains???
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Lou
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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by Lou »

This sounds like normal behavior to me. I think it might be a slip stream effect. Or maybe weathervaning into the prevailing winds? Both would act on the rudder to push the tail right, nose left. Airplanes aren't cars and ground handling is a challenge.
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smoss
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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by smoss »

There is also the good old alignment that can be off. There is a whole procedure for checking and adjusting that--do a forum search, there are a few threads specifically about it.
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ThomasD
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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by ThomasD »

Ah, mine pulls to the left .. and right.. any direction but straight! :)
I find taxying in a straight line about the hardest thing of all things DA40
(sorry for the joke at your expense)
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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by Diamond_Dan »

Sounds like we shouldn't get too crazy here.
It always pulls to the left so probably not winds.
Tires are the same size, but different brands, not sure if that makes a difference.
I will dig into the alignment procedure. I noticed some uneven wear on the left main so maybe it's crooked.
Thank you for the feedback!

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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by smoss »

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Re: Pulls to left while taxiing

Post by Diamond_Dan »

I'm out of a relatively painless annual. Replaced the left main (due to wear) and the plane taxis more or less straight, better than I have ever seen. (Both tires now are same brand and type). Fingers crossed...
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