A&P Aircraft Weight & Balance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An aircraft weighs 2,500 lbs with its CG at station 85. If 200 lbs of cargo is added at station 120, what is the new total weight?
- 2,500 lbs
- 2,600 lbs
- 2,700 lbs (Correct answer)
- 2,800 lbs
Correct answer: 2,700 lbs
New total weight = original weight + added weight = 2,500 + 200 = 2,700 lbs.
Question 2: What is the correct formula to find the new CG after adding weight to an aircraft?
- (Old total moment + New item moment) ÷ New total weight (Correct answer)
- (Old weight × Old arm) + New weight ÷ New arm
- Old CG + (Added weight × Distance from old CG)
- New total weight ÷ (Old moment + New moment)
Correct answer: (Old total moment + New item moment) ÷ New total weight
The new CG equals the sum of all moments (existing total moment plus the new item's moment) divided by the new total weight.
Question 3: An aircraft's CG is at station 78, the forward CG limit is station 72, and the aft CG limit is station 88. What is the CG status?
- Out of limits forward
- Within limits (Correct answer)
- Out of limits aft
- The aircraft must be re-weighed immediately
Correct answer: Within limits
Station 78 falls between the forward limit of 72 and the aft limit of 88, so the CG is within the approved range.
Question 4: Which graphical tool allows a mechanic to quickly verify if a loaded aircraft's weight and CG combination is acceptable without manual calculation?
- Slide rule
- Loading graph
- Electronic weight and balance computer
- CG envelope (moment envelope chart) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: CG envelope (moment envelope chart)
The CG envelope (moment envelope chart) plots allowable weight versus moment or CG, providing instant visual confirmation of whether the aircraft is within limits.
Question 5: What effect does moving cargo from an aft compartment to a forward compartment have on the CG?
- Moves the CG aft
- Moves the CG forward (Correct answer)
- Has no effect on CG location
- Increases total weight only
Correct answer: Moves the CG forward
Moving weight forward increases the forward moment relative to the aft moment, shifting the overall CG toward the nose.
Question 6: An aircraft has an aft CG limit of station 92 and a calculated CG of station 94. What is the correct corrective action?
- The flight may proceed with a placard noting the condition
- Move weight forward or remove weight from aft compartments to bring CG within limits (Correct answer)
- Add ballast to the aft section to stabilize the aircraft
- Recalculate the datum reference and re-check
Correct answer: Move weight forward or remove weight from aft compartments to bring CG within limits
A CG of 94 exceeds the aft limit of 92; corrective action requires shifting weight forward or removing aft weight to bring the CG within the approved range.
Question 7: What is tare weight in aircraft weighing procedures?
- The weight of unusable fuel left in the tanks
- The weight of equipment such as chocks and slings placed on the scales during weighing (Correct answer)
- The weight of all permanently installed equipment
- The weight difference between the full and empty fuel configuration
Correct answer: The weight of equipment such as chocks and slings placed on the scales during weighing
Tare weight is the weight of ground support equipment (chocks, jacks, slings) resting on the scales during weighing; it must be subtracted from scale readings to get the true aircraft weight.
A&P Aircraft Weight & Balance 2
An aircraft weighs 2,500 lbs with its CG at station 85.
If 200 lbs of cargo is added at station 120, what is the new total weight?