Weight and Balance Flashcards
7 cards from real SPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Weight and Balance flashcards as text
What is the danger of flying with the CG located too far aft (rear)?
Answer: The aircraft may become longitudinally unstable and difficult or impossible to recover from a stall
An aft CG condition reduces longitudinal stability; in extreme cases the aircraft may not respond to elevator inputs and could be unrecoverable from a stall or spin.
What is the standard weight used for jet fuel (Jet-A) in weight and balance calculations?
Answer: 6.7 pounds per gallon
Jet-A fuel is standardly assumed to weigh approximately 6.7 pounds per gallon for weight and balance calculations, making it slightly heavier than avgas.
A baggage compartment placard reads 'Max Load 100 lbs.' A pilot places 120 lbs of baggage in the compartment but the total aircraft weight is still below maximum gross weight. Is this acceptable?
Answer: No, structural limits for compartments must never be exceeded regardless of total weight
Compartment weight limits are structural limits for that specific area of the aircraft; exceeding them can damage the aircraft structure even if total weight and CG are within limits.
Which document provides the specific CG limits (forward and aft) for a particular aircraft?
Answer: The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for that aircraft
CG limits are aircraft-specific and are published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook or Airplane Flight Manual for each individual aircraft.
How does a forward CG location affect the stall speed of an aircraft compared to an aft CG location?
Answer: Forward CG increases stall speed; aft CG decreases stall speed
A forward CG requires more down-force from the horizontal stabilizer to maintain level flight, which effectively increases wing loading and raises stall speed; aft CG reduces this effect.
When computing weight and balance for a flight, a student pilot should use which fuel quantity?
Answer: Actual fuel quantity planned to be onboard at departure
Weight and balance must be calculated using the actual fuel planned to be onboard at departure, because this reflects the true weight and moment at the time of takeoff.
What is the primary consequence of operating an aircraft above its maximum certificated gross weight?
Answer: Structural integrity, performance, and handling characteristics may be compromised
Exceeding maximum gross weight stresses the aircraft structure beyond certified limits and degrades performance (longer takeoff roll, reduced climb rate, higher stall speed) and handling.