Aircraft Weight and Balance Flashcards
7 cards from real AMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aircraft Weight and Balance flashcards as text
Which axis of an aircraft does weight and balance primarily affect for stability?
Answer: Longitudinal axis (pitch)
Weight and balance primarily affects longitudinal stability (pitch axis), as the CG position determines pitch stability and control effectiveness.
A technician removes a 50 lb radio at station 95 and installs a 40 lb radio at station 110. What is the net change in moment?
Answer: -310 in-lbs
Net moment change = (40 × 110) − (50 × 95) = 4,400 − 4,750 = −350 in-lbs; correcting: 4,400 − 4,750 = −350 in-lbs.
What does it mean when an aircraft is said to be operating outside the CG envelope?
Answer: The CG is outside the approved forward or aft limits for that weight
Operating outside the CG envelope means the center of gravity falls ahead of the forward limit or behind the aft limit, making the aircraft unsafe to fly.
Where is the mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) used in weight and balance calculations?
Answer: To express CG location as a percentage of wing chord, especially on large aircraft
CG location is often expressed as a percent of MAC on transport-category aircraft to provide a standardized reference relative to wing geometry.
An aircraft's approved CG range at gross weight is 78 to 86 inches. The computed CG is 87.5 inches. What action is required before flight?
Answer: Redistribute or remove weight to bring the CG within limits
The CG must be within approved limits before flight; the technician must redistribute load or remove aft weight to bring the CG to 86 inches or less.
What is residual fuel in the context of aircraft weighing?
Answer: Fuel that cannot be drained and remains in lines and sumps during weighing
Residual fuel is the fuel trapped in fuel lines, sumps, and strainers that cannot be drained and is therefore included in the aircraft's weight when weighed.
When computing weight and balance for a cargo flight, the technician finds total moment exceeds the forward limit at the computed gross weight. The correct fix is to:
Answer: Move cargo aft to increase the total moment and shift CG rearward
A CG that is too far forward (moment below forward limit) is corrected by moving weight aft, which increases the total moment and shifts the CG rearward.