AM Aircraft Weight & Balance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'arm' in weight and balance terminology?
- The total weight of all passengers
- The horizontal distance from the datum to the point where weight acts (Correct answer)
- The vertical distance between the wing and the fuselage
- The maximum moment allowed by the aircraft manufacturer
Correct answer: The horizontal distance from the datum to the point where weight acts
The arm is the horizontal distance measured in inches from the datum to the point where a weight is applied or acts.
Question 2: After making a major repair or alteration that affects weight and balance, what must be updated?
- Aircraft logbook only
- Weight and Balance Report and equipment list (Correct answer)
- Airworthiness Certificate
- Aircraft registration only
Correct answer: Weight and Balance Report and equipment list
Any major repair or alteration affecting weight and balance requires an updated Weight and Balance Report and equipment list to reflect current empty weight and CG.
Question 3: How is CG location calculated?
- CG = Total Moment × Total Weight
- CG = Total Moment ÷ Total Weight (Correct answer)
- CG = Total Weight ÷ Total Moment
- CG = Total Weight × Total Arm
Correct answer: CG = Total Moment ÷ Total Weight
CG location is found by dividing the total moment (sum of all moments) by the total weight, giving the CG in inches from the datum.
Question 4: What does a forward CG condition typically result in?
- Decreased stall speed and improved stability
- Increased longitudinal stability but reduced elevator effectiveness at low speeds (Correct answer)
- Reduced structural stress on the empennage
- Improved maneuverability in all flight regimes
Correct answer: Increased longitudinal stability but reduced elevator effectiveness at low speeds
A forward CG increases longitudinal stability but may reduce elevator effectiveness, requiring higher approach speeds and greater back pressure.
Question 5: What is 'zero fuel weight'?
- The weight of the aircraft with all fuel tanks empty
- The maximum allowable weight of the aircraft without usable fuel (Correct answer)
- The aircraft weight at the moment all fuel is consumed
- The minimum weight for safe flight
Correct answer: The maximum allowable weight of the aircraft without usable fuel
Zero fuel weight is the maximum certificated weight of the aircraft and its contents, excluding usable fuel, used to limit structural bending loads on the wing.
Question 6: Which method of weighing an aircraft involves placing scales under each landing gear?
- Suspension method
- Platform scale method (Correct answer)
- Strain gauge method
- Hydraulic weighing method
Correct answer: Platform scale method
The platform scale method places calibrated scales under each wheel or landing gear strut to directly measure the load on each gear point.
Question 7: When must an aircraft be leveled during an official weighing procedure?
- Only when weighing helicopters
- Always — the aircraft must be in its level flight attitude to obtain accurate weight and balance data (Correct answer)
- Only when the fuel tanks are full
- Only for aircraft over 12,500 lbs MTOW
Correct answer: Always — the aircraft must be in its level flight attitude to obtain accurate weight and balance data
The aircraft must be placed in its level flight attitude during weighing to ensure that weight is correctly distributed to each scale and that measurements are accurate.
AM Aircraft Weight & Balance 2
What is the 'arm' in weight and balance terminology?