Weight and balance

[astjp2]

Got an email with an interesting article.

https://zookaviation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SA-072.pdf

[PA1195]

If not dispatched with a load manifest today's electronic flight bags (i.e. GPS or personal device) can often provide quick computations of W&B. That assumes the pilot is capable of guesstimating, or someone actually weighs the souls and cargo onboard. Weighing at remote field camps with odd loads takes skills. EWCG is available while a fuel tank dipstick offers a quick measurement if the tanks are accessible...if not fuel gauges should be pre-calibrated with known quantities.

I did this as part of my Fish and Game flying over remote Alaska for 22 years over a 33 year career. It's a challenge to attempt to be perfect...but few to none are. Sometimes all I had was a look at the float line while loaded on the water to ensure the W&B was within limits. Sometimes on conventional gear or wheel skis the plane performed poorly either due to density altitude, weight, or rough/soft surface conditions. Knowing and assessing what "poorly" means (and why) is critical to flying safely, but that takes experience gained by close calls and woulda.-shoulda'-coulda' learning events.

The ability to observe, learn, and recall prior experience can separate the successful or safe from the wannabe's.

Gary

[LostnSpace]

Thank you Dr. Tim, that was a very good refresher read, gary

[astjp2]

Most people never perceive their is a problem until it is too late, my dissertation research some on this topic. I need to actually get it published...someday

[Robert Lees]

Just this last weekend (7 June 2020) I have done empty-weight W&B schedules for two of our BC12-D Taylorcraft here at my home base in England...one a 1941 and one a 1946. Both were well within empty W&B limits.

One of the saving graces with the B-model Taylorcraft that come under Type Certificate A-696 is that if the empty weight cg limits are correct, it is impossible to exceed the cg during use, as long as you don't exceed the Gross Weight.

Incidentally, the B model Taylorcraft is more succeptible to aft cg issues, rather than forward cg issues.

As an aside, at the same time I did a W&B for a French four-seat Jodel 1051, which can realistically never be overloaded or exceed its cg range...unless it's flown solo with the forward tank full and the aft tank empty, whereby it exceeds the forward cg limit. It's the only aircraft I have dealt with that has that issue!

Rob

[astjp2]

Technam P2006T has a problem with the CG when flying solo on some serial numbers