← All explained questions · Supplemental · IV — Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds

During landing flare, if you land with the airplane DRIFTING (sideways across the runway), the most likely consequence is

Choices

increased fuel burn.
Fuel is unaffected at touchdown.
✓ side load on the landing gear.correct
risking gear damage, tire scrub failure, loss of directional control after touchdown, or in extreme cases overturning the airplane. Always touch down with longitudinal axis aligned with runway and zero drift. Landing with drift loads the gear sideways. Soft tires can scrub or blow out. Gear can yield (especially in trike configurations). Worst case, the upwind wheel digs in, the airplane pivots, and a wing strikes the runway. Always: kill drift before touchdown. If wing-low method, the bank-then-rudder geometry naturally aligns. If crab method, rudder kicks straight at the moment of touchdown.
improved braking efficiency.
Side load doesn't help braking.
no effect.
Side load is mechanically harmful.

Why

risking gear damage, tire scrub failure, loss of directional control after touchdown, or in extreme cases overturning the airplane. Always touch down with longitudinal axis aligned with runway and zero drift. Landing with drift loads the gear sideways. Soft tires can scrub or blow out. Gear can yield (especially in trike configurations). Worst case, the upwind wheel digs in, the airplane pivots, and a wing strikes the runway. Always: kill drift before touchdown. If wing-low method, the bank-then-rudder geometry naturally aligns. If crab method, rudder kicks straight at the moment of touchdown.

FAA source: AFH Ch 9; AFH Chapter 9 — Approaches and Landingsbrowse the reference library →

Covered in Supplemental · IV — Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.