Weight And Balance

Question 1

What should be done concerning fuel when performing weight and balance?

Answer 1

Drain the fuel system until only unusable fuel remains, or fill the tanks full and subtract out the weight of the usable fuel.

Question 2

What is the purpose of aircraft W&B?

Answer 2

Safety and maximum performance.

Question 3

How would you determine the EWCG of an aircraft if all W&B records are missing?

Answer 3

The aircraft must be weighted and a new W&B records must be computed and recorded.

Question 4

What is the datum?

Answer 4

It is an imaginary vertical plane from which all horizontal mesurements are taken.

Question 5

How is the arm of an item of equipment obtained when computing aircraft W&B?

Answer 5

Mesuring the distance between the item and the datum.

Question 6

How is the moment of item of equipment obtainded when computing aircraft W&B?

Answer 6

Weight x Arm = Moment.

Question 7

What is a tare weight and how is it handled when making W&B calculations?

Answer 7

Is the weight of all extra items, jacks, blocks, chocks on the weighting process scale platforms and subtracted from the final results of the weighting.

Question 8

What is an aircraft loading graph?

Answer 8

A method for determining load distribution to keep the weight and operating C.G. withing approved range.

Question 9

Why is accurate up-to-date empty weight center of gravity data so important?

Answer 9

Because all other W&B calculations are based on EWCG.

Question 10

Why is aircraft category a fator when computing W&B ?

Answer 10

4Ccertifcated in both normal and utility categories have TWo useful loads due to different gross weights.

Question 11

How is a positive (plus) moment obtained aft the datum?

Answer 11

Add weight. (+weight). (+arm)=(+).(+)= +Add

Question 12

How is a negative (minus) moment obtained aft the datum?

Answer 12

Remove weight. (-weight).(+arm)=(-).(+)= - Remove.

Question 13

How is a positive (plus) moment obtained fwd the datum?

Answer 13

Remove weight. (+weight). (-arm) =(+).(-= - Remove.

Question 14

How is a negative (minus) moment obtained fwd the datum?

Answer 14

Add weight （-weight）.（-arm）=（-）（-）=+Add

Question 15

What is ment by the term residual fuel?

Answer 15

It is the fuel that remains in tanks, lines and engines after draining.

Question 16

What is ment by the term residual oil?

Answer 16

It is the oil that remains in tanks, lines and engines after draining.

Question 17

List items found in the TCDS that is of concern to aircrafts W&B:

Answer 17

(1) CG ranges (2) Max weight (3) Leveling means (4) Number of Seats (5) Bagagge Capacity (6) Fuel (7) Datum (8)
Engine HP (9) Oil Capacity (10) Amount of fuel (11) Amount of oil.

Question 18

What leveling methods are used in W&B procedures?

Answer 18

Use spirit level at the manufacturers designated leveling points OR use of a built-in leveling scale (or protactor) and plumb bob.

Question 19

Describe a plumb bob and its use? (PRUMO)

Answer 19

A sharp pointed cylinder or cone sharped heavy metal object, used to determine a spot that is 90° to the point the plumb bob is hanging from.

Question 20

How can you determine the effect of a new item of equipment on the aircrafts W&B without weighing the aircraft?

Answer 20

The effect can be determined by basic computations if the weight and balance records are up to date.

Question 21

What is a ballast and why is it used in aircraft?

Answer 21

Ballast is any weight added or removed to obtain a desired CG.

Question 22

What is the recommended markings for permanent ballast?

Answer 22

“PERMANENT BALLAST” DO NOT REMOVE. In red paint.

Question 23

The FWD CG limit of an aircraft is exceeded by installation of several items of equipment in the engine compartment. How can this be corrected without removing or changing any of the newly-installed equipament?

Answer 23

Use ballast in an aircraft to obtain the desired CG balance.

Question 24

What is the difference between fixed-wing and helicopter CG range?

Answer 24

Helicopters have a more restricted CG range.

Question 25

If an aircraft is loaded so that the aft CG limit is exceeded, what undesirable flight characteristic is likely to result?

Answer 25

The aircraft will be tail-heavy and may be unable to recover from a stall or spin.

Question 26

As you prepare an aircraft for weighting, you determine that there is equipment aboard that is not permanently installed and recorded on the equipment list. What should you do with this equipment?

Answer 26

If the equipment is not a part of the permanently installed in the aircraft or included on the equipment list should be
REMOVED from the aircraft.

Question 27

Where are leveling instructions found, and describe one method of leveling an aircraft?

Answer 27

The instructions are found in the TCDS and a spirit level or plumb bob or a leveling scale or protactor can be used to eveled the aircraft.

Question 28

Describe the two most common ways of showing the CG location and or CG range.

Answer 28

It is in inches from DATUM or in percent % of MAC.

Question 29

Before a helicopter is weighted, it must be leveled in what directions?

Answer 29

Longitudinally and Laterally.

Question 30

What does the term mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) refer to?

Answer 30

The distance between the leading and trailing edge of the wing