Weighing Plane

[Yetti]

To answer the question.  I believe Aviator Plus in Brenham can do it for you.  http://www.aviatorsplus.com/about-us.html

[Bob - S50]

I don't think you have the wrong attitude, we should all be leaving a margin of safety. The problem comes when we're working off of data that's inaccurate. There may come a time when you think you're within limits by a good margin, but since you're working from inaccurate data your margin of safety is actually taken up by the margin of error. See Air Midwest 5481 for an example of how bad math can kill.

 

Speaking of math, not all A&P's are good at math.  I've found math errors on several W&B sheets.

 

Bob

[markejackson02]

I went through all the original docs this weekend and found two major math errors.  The CG is now pretty much exactly where I expected it to be.  I am still gonna have the plane weighed since it is unclear if the radios were updated since then.

[Shadrach]

I went through all the original docs this weekend and found two major math errors.  The CG is now pretty much exactly where I expected it to be.  I am still gonna have the plane weighed since it is unclear if the radios were updated since then.

 

I'm confused. How is it unclear if the radios were updated?  You know what radios are in your plane and you know the arm.  What's the issue? 

[markejackson02]

The equipment list with the W&B doesn't match what is in the plane now and I removed a loran & broken alcor gauge.  The discrepancies are very minor.

 

My original concern was that if the W&B was correct, having anyone in the front seat would put me several inches forward of the CG limit.  After fixing the math errors, two 200 lb front seats and full fuel is comfortably aft of the limit.

 

Still want to have the plane weighed so I know, now it is just not as urgent as it was.

[Shadrach]

The equipment list with the W&B doesn't match what is in the plane now and I removed a loran & broken alcor gauge.  

 

I understand that it does not match.  What I don't understand is why it cannot be made to match.  The ARM of the panel is known. What's in the panel is known. The specs (weight) for all of those items should be easily attainable.  My IA and I did an update on ours back in 1999, my memory of the process is not detailed, so what am missing? 

[markejackson02]

I understand that it does not match.  What I don't understand is why it cannot be made to match.  The ARM of the panel is known. What's in the panel is known. The specs (weight) for all of those items should be easily attainable.  My IA and I did an update on ours back in 1999, my memory of the process is not detailed, so what am missing? 

 

Typically the installations include wiring/trays/coonnectors/antennas/etc that aren't included.  I recall one transponder installation where the IA found an entire altimeter lashed to the wiring behind the panel.

 

While it's true that I could add everything up, I'd just like to get it weighed.

[StinkBug]

I understand that it does not match.  What I don't understand is why it cannot be made to match.  The ARM of the panel is known. What's in the panel is known. The specs (weight) for all of those items should be easily attainable.  My IA and I did an update on ours back in 1999, my memory of the process is not detailed, so what am missing? 

 

In the case of my plane I knew what's currently in the panel, but not what was previously in the panel. Knowing the weight you put in doesn't help you if you dont know what you took out.

[Shadrach]

In the case of my plane I knew what's currently in the panel, but not what was previously in the panel. Knowing the weight you put in doesn't help you if you dont know what you took out.

 

Did you not not have any W&B information?

[StinkBug]

I did, but it was woefully out of date and obviously inaccurate, as it noted equipment that was no longer installed. Hence the problem.

 

If everyone does their job properly you never have a problem. Not everyone does their job correctly though, and many years of small mistakes and omissions add up. From what I've discovered the people doing the work on my plane did VERY good mechanical work, and were good about logging most things, but the W&B was quite neglected.