CHEROKEE
WARRIOR
WEIGHT AND
BALANCE
In order
to achiel'e
the
performance and
flying characteristics
which
are
designed
into the
airplane,
it
must be
flown
with
the weight and
center
of
gravitl
(C.G.1
position within the approved
envelope.
The
aircraft
offers
a
tremendous
flexibilitl
of loading. However,
you
cannot fill the
airplane.
with
the maximum
number of
adult
passengers.
full
fuel
tanks and maximum
baggage.
With the
flexibility
comes
responsibility'.
The
pilot
must insurethat
theairplane is loaded
uithin the
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.
it
is
weighed,
and
a basic
weight and
C.G.
location is computed.
(Basic
weight
consists of
theempty
weight of
the
aircraft
plus the unusable
fueland full oil capacity.) Using
the basic
u'eight
and C.G.
location,
the
pilot can easily'determine
the
weight and C.G.
position
for the loaded airplane by
compuring
the
total
weight
and
moment
and then determining
whether thev
are
u ithin the approved
envelope.
The basic
u,eight and C.G.
location for a
particular
airplane are recorded
in
the
weight
and
balance
section
of the Airplane
Flight Manual.
The current
values should always
be
used. Whenever
new
cquipment
is
added
or any
modification
work is
done,
the mechanic responsible for the work is
required
to compute
a
new basic
weight
and
basic C.G.
position
and to write these in the aircraft log
book.
The owner
should make
sure that it
is done.
A weight
and balance
calculation
is necessar-v in determining
how much fuel or
baggagecan
be
boarded
so as
to keep
within allowable limits. Check
calculations
prior
to
adding
fuel to insure
against
improper
loading.
The
following
pages
are
forms used in
ueighing
an
airplane
in
production
and in computing
basic
weight, basic C.G.
position. and useful
load.
Note
that
the
useful
load
includes fuel.
oil.
baggage.
cargo
and
passengers.
Following
this is the method
for computing takeoff weight
and C.G.
ISSUED:
MAY 14, 1973
REVISUD:
Al'Rll.
6. 1979
REPORT: vB-535
PAGE 5-l
MODEL:
PA-2&l5l
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