Piper PA 28-181 Manual page 81

PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
PA-2&rEt, ARCHER n
SECTION 6
Wf,IGHT AND BALANCE
Sf,CTION 5
WEIGHT AND BALANCE
6.T GENERAL
ln order to achieve the performance and nying c haracre risrics whic h are
designed into the airplane, it must be flown with rhe w€ight and cent€r of
gravity (C.G.) position wnhin th€ approved operating range (envelope).
Although the airplane offers flexibility of loading, ir cannot be flown with
the maximum number oI adult passengers, full fuel tanks ard maximum
baggage. With the fl€xibilily com€s responsibility. The pilor musr ensure
that th€ airplane is load€d within the loading envelop€ before h€ makes a
takeofl
Misloading carries consequences for äny aircrafr. An overloaded
airplane will not lake ofl climb or cruise as well as a prop€rly loaded one.
The heavier the airplane is loaded. tbe less climb performance ir will have.
Center ofgravity is a determining factor in flight chara€rerisrics. If ihe
C.C. is too far forward in any airplane, it may be difficulr ro rotate for
takeoff or landing. If the C.G. is too far afl, lhe airplane may rolare
premarurely on takeoff or tend to pitch up during clinb. Longitudinal
stability wilt b€ reduced. This can lead to inadv€rtent sralls and even spins;
and spinrecov€ry becomes more difficult as the center ofgravity moves aft of
th€ approved limil.
A propefly loaded airylane, however, will perform as intended. Before
th€ airplane is licensed, a basic empty w€ighl and C.c. location is compured
(basic empty weight consisls of the standard empty weighr of the airplane
plus the optional equipment). Using the basic empty weighr and C.c.
location, rhe pilot can easily determine the w€ight and C.c. position for rhe
loaded airplane by computing rhe rotal weight and momenr and then
determining whether they are within thc approved envelope.
ISSUED: JULY 2, 1979
RIVISED: JUNE 29, 1984
REPORT: VB-1120
6-l