201er Posted February 9, 2013 Report Posted February 9, 2013 How many inches of snow does it take on the horizontal stabilizer to tip a Mooney? Quote
WardHolbrook Posted February 9, 2013 Report Posted February 9, 2013 There is snow and then there is snow. It would be a function of the water content of the snow. The better question would be how much weight would it take to drop the tail. You can figure that out by hooking a baggage scale to the tie-down. 1 Quote
Cris Posted February 9, 2013 Report Posted February 9, 2013 Mike -Years back when I based at Caldwell and Lincoln Park NJ we would get 2' snowfalls from time to time. The Mooney never tipped since there was always more snow on the wings than on the tail. I'd just go brush it off after it stopped. So don't be to concerned but do get it off when you can.. 1 Quote
carusoam Posted February 9, 2013 Report Posted February 9, 2013 All (152, 172) Cessnas will point to the sky, all the time with a couple inches of snow. I have never seen a Mooney point skywards in the same condition. I think I have seen a tiger point up once under intense snowfall, but no other... Nothing funnier than a flight line of Cessnas looking skywards, accept a flight line of pushers imitating grazing at an EAA convention. Best regards, -a- Quote
funvee Posted February 9, 2013 Report Posted February 9, 2013 I think Cris nailed it... Up here (Winnipeg, Canada), I always have much much more snow on the wings then on the tail so I can't imagine it ever getting to be a problem. (but I reserve the right to be wrong) Shawn Quote
1964-M20E Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 Not sure about snow since here in the south we rearely see the white stuff. However, when geting my PPL I can rember many times pushing donw on the tail ofa 152 or 172 to pivot the aircraft around. I cannnot do it with a mooney and I weight 30 to 40 pounds more now than then. The nose of the Mooney seems to be heavier. Quote
flyboy0681 Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 However, when geting my PPL I can rember many times pushing donw on the tail ofa 152 or 172 to pivot the aircraft around. That was the best feature of the 172. As light as I am I could swing it into a parking space with little effort. Quote
Hank Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 However, when geting my PPL I can rember many times pushing donw on the tail ofa 152 or 172 to pivot the aircraft around. I cannnot do it with a mooney and I weight 30 to 40 pounds more now than then. The nose of the Mooney seems to be heavier. Mooneys are just heavier, and I think the main gear is further back, making us steadier on the gear. AND my Mooney, even heavier, is easier to push than the 172s I trained in. Quote
yvesg Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 Had ten inches of snow around Christmas time and no tipping. Tires looked flat due to weigth. Yves Quote
fantom Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 Two of us tugging at the rear of the plane gets the nose gear well off the ground, so I'm gussing 50-75 pounds of force. Up in the North East there must be lots of GA planes buried in snow. Quote
carusoam Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 Whatever the weight / arm of the engine is. When my engine was removed, the O pointed up... Watching students horsing 152s around by the tail is comforting. They haven't broken one yet. Best regards, -a- Quote
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