Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 51; Flight Crew Total 675; Flight Crew Type 10
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Weather
During a left crosswind landing; I experienced an unexpected runway departure. Just after touchdown on the main wheels a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing (and possibly the left main wheel) which caused the aircraft to move its trajectory towards the right. When I encountered the gust of wind the nose wheel had not yet made contact with the runway. Since airspeed was decaying during the landing roll and nose wheel had not contacted the runway yet; I did not have enough control authority to overcome the effects of the wind gust and get back to the runway center line. The aircraft departed the runway into the grass. I maintained full aft yoke while I applied brakes to protect the nose wheel while I bought the airplane to a stop. I shut the plane off and waited for airport personnel and a mechanic from the FBO to assess the situation. The mechanic taxied the plane out of the grass to the runway where it was towed by the FBO to their hanger. There were no injuries; the plane was not damaged; nor was any airport property or equipment damaged.Human Performance Considerations - Since I knew this was going to be a cross wind landing I elected to carry a little more speed into the landing than normal landing have more control authority. This caused a little more float in the flare which left me vulnerable to the effects of the strong wind gust. I'm not entirely sure adding full power for a go around would have been the best choice of action. Since this happened during the landing roll-out the airspeed was decaying; adding full power would have sent me at a faster rate of speed off the runway while trying to gain enough airspeed to rotate and have control authority. This is something I would like to fully like to discuss and digest with a CFI. I plan to schedule time with a CFI in the coming weeks; to practice cross wind landings and have him critically assess my technique and correct any deficiencies. Shortly after the event Tower switched runways. I also could have also requested the tower to use a runway more favorable to the winds.
C206 pilot reported loosing control while landing in a cross wind and departing the runway. The aircraft was stopped in the grass without hitting any lights or signs.