Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 200; Flight Crew Type 150
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors
Upon returning from a one hour scenic flight with no one else aboard I was cleared to land on Runway 18. Visibility was good; winds approximately 320/05. Approach on final was stable at 65 KTS; with no discernible effect from the slight quartering wind. As soon as I touched down; I heard a loud bang and felt the plane start to veer right and tilt slightly to the right. I suspected a blow out of the right main tire; but did not know this for certain.I kept the control column back at first to keep the nose up while losing speed and used some left bank; thinking that with a bit of following wind from the right quarter and right gear problem it would keep some pressure off the right side. As the plane slowed and veered to the right; I was prepared to use left rudder; if necessary; to avoid either of the obstacles that I could see that might be in my way [the 2;000 FT marker lighted sign and a runway light] but as the plane slowed and continued to veer right quite gently without seeming to want to nose over or cartwheel; I decided to not use rudder or apply brakes. I felt that; although the wheel problem was slowing me; I was going to have enough momentum to move clear of the runway surface into the grassed safety area. I could also see that of the two sides of the runway to end up on; the right was the preferable side - the safety area there was flat and open; to the left there was a ditch or depression that was narrow and next to that was the ramp with other aircraft. So; my decision was to 'ride it out' with little actual control input; no added power needed to clear the runway; and no use of brakes. However; I wonder if other more experienced pilots have other suggestions as to different control; power or braking inputs that I should have considered.
After his right tire blew out on touchdown a C-172 pilot opted to let the airplane slow to a stop without aggressive control inputs.