HELICOPTER WEIGHT AND between station +268 and station +324.

Fuel capacity: 247.1 gallons of usable fuel at

BALANCE station +263.3.
Oil capacity: 3.7 gallons at +263.3.
The weight and balance principles and procedures Jack points: The forward jack point is located
used for aircraft generally apply to helicopters as at station +151.0 and butt line zero. The aft
well. However, there are some differences. For jack points are located at station +290.15 and
example, although every model helicopter is certificated butt line +23.0 and -23.0
for a specific maximum gross weight, helicopters Like any aircraft, the helicopter is prepared for
cannot be operated at this maximum weight weighing by the following steps:
under all conditions. Combinations of high altitude, Clean and remove all loose articles.
high temperature, and high humidity increase density Drain fuel from tanks and fill the hydraulic
altitude for a particular location thus decreasing fluid and transmission oil.
performance. This, in turn, critically affects the hovering, Place the aircraft in a closed hangar and
takeoff, climb, autorotation, and landing performance remove the rotor tiedowns.
of a helicopter. Furthermore, a heavily Zero the scales and place one load cell
loaded helicopter has less ability to withstand between each jack pad and jack.
shocks and additional loads caused by turbulent air. Level the helicopter longitudinally and laterally.
The heavier the load, the less the margin of safety [Figure 6-29]
for supporting structures like the main rotor, fuselage,
and landing gear. Another difference exists in Once the entire weight of the helicopter is resting
the fact that in addition to computing the weight on the load cells and the aircraft is leveled, record
and CG for the longitudinal axis, you must compute the scale readings. Since electronic scales are used,
it for the lateral axis as well. there is no tare weight. In this example, the scale
CG weights are:
Most helicopters have a much smaller CG range Front jack point
than airplanes. In some cases, this range is less than Left aft jack point
3 inches. The exact location and length of the CG
Right aft jack point
range is specified for each helicopter and usually Total weight
2,405 lb. at station +151
extends a short distance fore and aft of the main
2,718 lb. at station +290.15
rotor mast or the center of a dual rotor system.
2,855 lb. at station +290.15
Ideally, a helicopter should have such perfect balance 7,978 lb.
that the fuselage remains horizontal while in To determine the empty weight CG use the formula:
hover. In this situation, only cyclic adjustments CG = (Fwd. scale wt x arm) + (Aft scale wt x arm )
would be required to compensate for the wind. Total weight
The fuselage acts as a pendulum suspended from the CG = (2,405 X 151) + (5,573 X 290.15)
rotor. Any change in the CG changes the angle at which 7,978
it hangs from its pivot point or support. For this reason, 363,155 + 1,617,005.95
modern helicopters have loading compartments and 7,978
fuel tanks located at or near the balance point. If a helicopter = 248.20
is loaded improperly, the fuselage does not hang
horizontally in a hover. For example, if the CG is too far The CG of 248.20 falls within the empty weight CG
aft, the nose tilts up, and excessive forward cyclic control range. [Figure 6-30]
is required to maintain a stationary hover. Calculation of the lateral CG is similar to the longitudinal
Conversely, if the CG is too far forward, the nose tilts CG except that Butt Line "0" is used as the
down and excessive aft cyclic control is required. In datum. Butt lines to the right are designated ( +)
extreme out-of-balance conditions, full fore or aft while butt lines to the left are designated (-). Since
cyclic control is insufficient to maintain control. the forward jack point is located on butt line zero it
Similar lateral balance problems are encountered if has no bearing on the lateral CG. The formula used
external loads are carried. For this reason, a lateral CG to calculate a lateral CG is:
check is sometimes necessary. L t l CG
CALCULATING THE CG (BL X C) + (BR X D)
To determine a helicopter's longitudinal and lateral a era = W
CG, a sample problem is used for a typical corporate
Where:
helicopter. In preparing to find the empty weight and
BL
CG, the following information is taken from the helicopter's
Type Certification Data Sheet. [Figure 6-28] c
BR
Datum: Location is +90.7 inches forward of D
the radome nose. w
Leveling means: Plumb line from right inside Butt measurement left.
top of baggage compartment. Left scale weight.
Maximum weight: 8,250 pounds. Butt measurement right.
Minimum crew: 1 pilot weighing 165 pounds. Right scale weight.
Maximum baggage: 500 pounds located Weight of aircraft.
CG = (-23 X 2,718) + (23 X 2,855)
7,978
CG = - 62,514 + 65,665
7,978
CG = 3151 = .4
7,978
The lateral CG of +0.4 along with the longitudinal
CG are checked against a graph to verify the new CG
is within limits. [Figure 6-31]