Piper cherokee WARRIOR Pilots Operating Manual page 52

CHEROKEE WARRIOR
WEIGHT AND BALANCE
I n o r d e r t o a c h i e l ' e t h e p e r f o r m a n c e a n d f l y i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w h i c h a r e d e s i g n e d i n t o t h e
a i r p l a n e , i t m u s t b e f l o w n w i t h t h e w e i g h t a n d c e n t e r o f g r a v i t l ( C . G . 1 p o s i t i o n w i t h i n t h e a p p r o v e d
e n v e l o p e . T h e a i r c r a f t o f f e r s a t r e m e n d o u s f l e x i b i l i t l o f l o a d i n g . H o w e v e r , y o u c a n n o t f i l l t h e
a i r p l a n e . w i t h t h e m a x i m u m n u m b e r o f a d u l t p a s s e n g e r s . f u l l f u e l t a n k s a n d m a x i m u m b a g g a g e .
W i t h t h e f l e x i b i l i t y c o m e s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ' .
T h e p i l o t m u s t i n s u r e t h a t t h e a i r p l a n e i s l o a d e d u i t h i n t h e
loading envelope before he tnakes a takeoff.
Misloading carries consequences for any aircraft. An overloaded airplane will not take off,
climb or cruise as well as a properl-v- loaded one. The heavier the airplane is loaded, the less
climb perforrnance it will have.
Center of gravity is a determining factor in flight characteristics. If the C.G. is too far
forward in arry airplane, it rnay be difficult to rotate for takeoff or landing. If the C.G. is too far
aft, the airplane may rotate prematurely orr takeoff or try to pitch up dnring climb.
I-ongitudinal stability will be reduced. This can lead to inadvertent stalls and even spins: and
spin recovery becomes more difficult as the center of gravity moves aft of the approved limit.
A properly loadeC aircraft. however. u'ill perform as intended. Before the airplane is delivered.
i t i s w e i g h e d , a n d a b a s i c w e i g h t a n d C . G . l o c a t i o n i s c o m p u t e d . ( B a s i c w e i g h t c o n s i s t s o f t h e e m p t y
w e i g h t o f t h e a i r c r a f t p l u s t h e u n u s a b l e f u e l a n d f u l l o i l c a p a c i t y . ) U s i n g t h e b a s i c u ' e i g h t a n d C . G .
l o c a t i o n , t h e p i l o t c a n e a s i l y ' d e t e r m i n e t h e w e i g h t a n d C . G . p o s i t i o n f o r t h e l o a d e d a i r p l a n e b y
c o m p u r i n g t h e t o t a l w e i g h t a n d m o m e n t a n d t h e n d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r t h e v a r e u i t h i n t h e a p p r o v e d
e n v e l o p e .
The basic u,eight and C.G. location for a particular airplane are recorded in the weight and
b a l a n c e s e c t i o n o f t h e A i r p l a n e F l i g h t M a n u a l . T h e c u r r e n t v a l u e s s h o u l d a l w a y s b e u s e d . W h e n e v e r
n e w c q u i p m e n t i s a d d e d o r a n y m o d i f i c a t i o n w o r k i s d o n e , t h e m e c h a n i c r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e w o r k i s
r e q u i r e d t o c o m p u t e a n e w b a s i c w e i g h t a n d b a s i c C . G . p o s i t i o n a n d t o w r i t e t h e s e i n t h e a i r c r a f t l o g
b o o k . T h e o w n e r s h o u l d m a k e s u r e t h a t i t i s d o n e .
A weight and balance calculation is necessar-v in determining how much fuel or baggagecan be
b o a r d e d s o a s t o k e e p w i t h i n a l l o w a b l e l i m i t s . C h e c k c a l c u l a t i o n s p r i o r t o a d d i n g f u e l t o i n s u r e
against improper loading.
T h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s a r e f o r m s u s e d i n u e i g h i n g a n a i r p l a n e i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n c o m p u t i n g
b a s i c w e i g h t , b a s i c C . G . p o s i t i o n . a n d u s e f u l l o a d . N o t e t h a t t h e u s e f u l l o a d i n c l u d e s f u e l . o i l .
baggage. cargo and passengers. Following this is the method for computing takeoff weight and C.G.
I S S U E D : M A Y 1 4 , 1 9 7 3
R E V I S U D : A l ' R l l . 6 . 1 9 7 9
REPORT: vB-535 PAGE 5-l
M O D E L : P A - 2 & l 5 l