Front Matter

Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook U.S. Department of Transportation FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Flight Standards Service 2016

Preface

The Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook has been prepared in recognition of the importance of weight and balance technology in conducting safe and efficient flight. The objective of this handbook is twofold: to provide the airframe and powerplant mechanic (A&P) with the method of determining the empty weight and empty weight center of gravity (EWCG) of an aircraft and to furnish the flight crew with information on loading and operating the aircraft to ensure its weight is within the allowable limit and the center of gravity (CG) is within the allowable range.

Any time there is a conflict between the information in this handbook and specific information issued by an aircraft manufacturer, the manufacturer’s data takes precedence over information in this handbook. Occasionally, the word “must” or similar language is used where the desired action is deemed critical. The use of such language is not intended to add to, interpret, or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

It is essential for persons using this handbook to become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR. The current Flight Standards Service airman training and testing material and learning statements for all airman certificates and ratings can be obtained from www.faa.gov.

This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8083-1A, Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook, dated 2007.

This handbook is available for download, in PDF format, from www.faa.gov.

This handbook is published by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

Comments regarding this publication should be sent, in email form, to the following address:

AFS630comments@faa.gov.

• John S. Duncan
• Director, Flight Standards Service

Introduction

This handbook begins with the basic principle of aircraft weight and balance control, emphasizing its importance and including examples of documentation furnished by the aircraft manufacturer and by the FAA to ensure the aircraft weight and balance records contain the proper data.

Procedures for the preparation and the actual weighing of an aircraft are described, as are the methods of determining the location of the empty weight center of gravity (EWCG) relative to both the datum and the mean aerodynamic chord (MAC). Loading computations for general aviation aircraft are discussed using both loading graphs and tables of weight and moment indexes.

Information is included that allows an FAA-certifi ated mechanic or repairman to determine the weight and center of gravity (CG) changes caused by repairs and alterations or removal and installation of equipment. This includes instructions for conducting adverse-loaded CG checks, also explaining the way to determine the amount and location of ballast needed to bring the CG within allowable limits.

The unique requirements for helicopter weight and balance control are discussed, including the determination of lateral CG and the way both lateral and longitudinal CG change as fuel is consumed.

One chapter includes the methods and examples of solving weight and balance problems using a hand-held electronic calculator, E6-B flight computer, and a dedicated electronic flight compute

Acknowledgments

The Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1B) was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the assistance of Safety Research Corporation of America (SRCA). The FAA wishes to acknowledge the following contributors:

Larry Jackson of Jackson Aircraft Weighing Service, for content and photographs used in Chapter 3 The White Planes Picture Company (www.whiteplanes.com), for images used in Chapter 4 Terri Sipantzi of Precision Windsports, for the weight-shift control sample weight and loading diagram used in Chapter 4 AirBorne Windsports Pty Ltd., for weight-shift control sample weight and loading data sheet used in Chapter 4 Jim Stevens of Aerosports Connection, for powered parachute sample weight and balance information sheet used in Chapter 4 Sporty’s Pilot Shop, for image of an E6B Flight Computer used in Chapter 10

Table of Contents

Preface....................................................................iii

Introduction.............................................................v

• Acknowledgments ................................................vii
• Table of Contents ..................................................ix
• Chapter 1
• Weight and Balance Control...............................1-1

Introduction ....................................................................1-1

Responsibility for Weight and Balance Control ............1-2

Terminology...................................................................1-2

Weight Control ..............................................................1-2

Effects of Weight ...........................................................1-3

Weight Changes .............................................................1-3

Stability and Balance Control ........................................1-4

Weight Control for Aircraft Other Than Fixed and

Rotor-wing .....................................................................1-5

Weight-Shift Control Aircraft ....................................1-5

Powered Parachutes....................................................1-6

Balloons ......................................................................1-6

Underestimating the Importance of Weight and

Balance...........................................................................1-6

• Chapter 2
• Weight and Balance Theory ...............................2-1

Introduction ....................................................................2-1

Weight and Balance Theory...........................................2-2

Arm ............................................................................2-2

Moment ......................................................................2-2

The Law of the Lever .....................................................2-2

Shifting the Balance Point or CG...................................2-4

Solution by Chart .......................................................2-4

Basic Weight and Balance Equation ..........................2-4

Solution by Formula ...................................................2-5

Mean Aerodynamic Chord .............................................2-5

FAA-Furnished Weight and Balance Information ........2-6

CG Range ...................................................................2-6

Empty Weight CG Range (EWCG) ...........................2-6

Maximum Weights .....................................................2-6

Number of Seats .........................................................2-6

Maximum Baggage ...................................................2-6

Fuel Capacity..............................................................2-6

• Oil Capacity (Wet Sump) ...........................................2-6
• Data Pertinent to all Models .....................................2-10
• Manufacturer-Furnished Information ..........................2-10
• Chapter 3
• Weighing the Aircraft and Determining the
• Empty Weight Center of Gravity ........................3-1

Introduction ....................................................................3-1

Requirements .................................................................3-2

Equipment for Weighing................................................3-2

Preparation for Weighing...............................................3-3

Scale Preparation ........................................................3-3

Weigh Clean Aircraft Inside Hangar ..........................3-4

Equipment List ...........................................................3-4

Ballast .........................................................................3-4

Standard Weights .......................................................3-4

Draining the Fuel ........................................................3-4

Oil ...............................................................................3-4

Other Fluids ................................................................3-4

Configuration of the Aircraf ......................................3-5

Jacking the Aircraft ....................................................3-5

Leveling the Aircraft ..................................................3-5

Safety Considerations .................................................3-5

Determining the CG .......................................................3-5

EWCG Formulas............................................................3-6

Datum Forward of the Airplane—Nosewheel

Landing Gear ..............................................................3-6

Datum Aft of the Main Wheels—Nosewheel

Landing Gear ..............................................................3-6

Location of Datum .........................................................3-7

Datum Forward of the Main Wheels—Tailwheel

Landing Gear ..............................................................3-7

Datum Aft of the Main Wheels—Tailwheel

Landing Gear ..............................................................3-7

Center of Gravity (CG) and Mean Aerodynamic

Chord (MAC) .................................................................3-8

Center of Gravity (CG)...............................................3-8

• Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) ............................3-8
• Chapter 4
• Light Sport Aircraft Weight and Balance

Control ..................................................................4-1

Introduction ....................................................................4-1

LSA Definition of Term ............................................4-2

Weight and Balance .......................................................4-3

WSC Aircraft..............................................................4-3

Powered Parachutes....................................................4-4

Weight and Balance Computations (Amateur-Built

Aircraft)..........................................................................4-4

• Chapter 5
• Single-Engine Aircraft Weight and Balance
• Computations ......................................................5-1

Introduction ....................................................................5-1

• Determining the Loaded Weight and CG ......................5-2
• Manual Computational Method..................................5-2
• Loading Graph Method ..............................................5-4

Moment Indexes .....................................................5-4

Loading Graph ........................................................5-4

Compute Weight and Balance Using the

Loading Graph ........................................................5-4

• Chapter 6
• Multiengine Aircraft Weight and Balance
• Computations ......................................................6-1

Introduction ....................................................................6-1

Determine the Loaded CG .............................................6-2

• Chart Method Using Weight, Arm, and Moments .....6-2
• Determining the CG in Percentage of Mean
• Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) ......................................6-3
• The Chart Method Using Weight and

Moment Indexes .........................................................6-3

• Chapter 7
• Center of Gravity Change After a
• Repair or Alteration .............................................7-1

Introduction ....................................................................7-1

Equipment List ...............................................................7-2

Major Alteration and Repair ..........................................7-3

• Weight and Balance Revision Record ...........................7-3
• Weight Changes Caused by a Repair or Alteration .......7-5
• Computations Using Weight, Arm, and Moment.......7-5
• Computations Using Weight and Moment Indexes ...7-5
• Determining the CG in Percentage of Mean
• Aerodynamic Chord (Percent MAC) .........................7-6
• Empty Weight CG (EWCG) Range ...............................7-6

Adverse-Load CG Checks .............................................7-6

Forward Adverse-Load CG Check .............................7-7

Aft Adverse-Load CG Check .....................................7-7

Ballast ............................................................................7-7

Temporary Ballast ......................................................7-8

Temporary Ballast Formula........................................7-8

Permanent Ballast .......................................................7-8

• Chapter 8
• Weight and Balance Control—Helicopter .........8-1

Introduction ....................................................................8-1

• Determining the Loaded CG of a Helicopter .................8-3
• Effects of Offloading Passengers and Using Fue ..........8-3
• Chapter 9
• Weight and Balance Control—Commuter
• Category and Large Aircraft ...............................9-1

Introduction ....................................................................9-1

Establishing the Initial Weight of an Aircraft ...............9-2

Determining the Empty Weight and Empty Weight

CG (EWCG)...................................................................9-2

Documenting Changes to an Aircraft’s Weight and

Balance ..........................................................................9-3

Determining the Loaded CG of the Airplane in

Percent MAC .................................................................9-3

• Operational Empty Weight (OEW) ...............................9-5
• Reestablishing the OEW ............................................9-5
• Fleet Operating Empty Weights (FOEW) .................9-5
• Onboard Aircraft Weighing System ...........................9-5
• Determining the Correct Stabilizer Trim Setting .......9-6
• Determining CG Changes Caused by Modifying the

Cargo ..............................................................................9-6

Effects of Loading or Offloading Cargo ....................9-6

Effects of Shifting Cargo From One Hold to

Another .......................................................................9-8

Determining Cargo Pallet Loads and Floor

Loading Limits ...........................................................9-9

Determining the Maximum Amount of Payload

That Can Be Carried .................................................9-10

• Determining the Landing Weight .............................9-10
• Determining Fuel Dump Time in Minutes ...............9-12
• Weight and Balance of Commuter Category

Airplanes ..................................................................9-12

Determining the Loaded Weight and CG .................9-12

Determining the Changes in CG When Passengers

Are Shifted ...............................................................9-16

Determining Changes in Weight and CG When the Aircraft Is Operated in Its Cargo Configuratio ............................................................9-18

Determining the CG Shift When Cargo Is Moved

From One Section to Another ..................................9-18

Determining the CG Shift When Cargo Is Added or Removed ..............................................................9-18

Determining Which Limits Are Exceeded ...............9-18

• Chapter 10
• Use of Computer for Weight and Balance
• Computations ....................................................10-1

Introduction ..................................................................10-1

Electronic Calculator ...................................................10-2

E6-B Flight Computer..................................................10-2

• Dedicated Electronic Flight Computer ........................10-3
• Typical Weight and Balance Problems ....................10-4
• Determining CG in Inches From the Datum ............10-4
• Nosewheel Airplane With Datum Ahead of the

Main Wheels .........................................................10-4

Nosewheel Airplane With Datum Behind the

Main Wheels .........................................................10-4

Tailwheel Airplane With Datum Ahead of the

Main Wheels .........................................................10-4

Tailwheel Airplane With Datum Behind the

Main Wheels .........................................................10-4

Determining CG, Given Weights, and Arms ...........10-5

Determining CG, Given Weights, and Moment

Indexes......................................................................10-5

Determining CG in Percent Mean Aerodynamic

Chord (MAC) ...........................................................10-5

• Determining Lateral CG of a Helicopter ..................10-5
• Determining ΔCG Caused by Shifting Weights.......10-6
• Determining Weight Shifted to Cause Specified

ΔCG ..........................................................................10-6

Determining Distance Weight Is Shifted to Move

CG a Specific Distanc .............................................10-6

• Determining Total Weight of an Aircraft With a
• Specified ΔCG When Cargo Is Move ....................10-7
• Determining Amount of Ballast Needed to Move
• CG to a Desired Location .........................................10-7

Appendix A.......................................................... A-1

Appendix B.......................................................... B-1

Glossary ..............................................................G-1

Index ......................................................................I-1