Section 6
Columbia 400 (LC41-550FG)
Weight & Balance - Equipment List
Initial Issue of Manual: November 10, 2004
RC050002
Latest Revision Level/Date: -/11-10-2004
6-3
Section 6
Weight & Balance and Equipment List
INTRODUCTION
Weight and Balance Procedures –
This section, after the introduction, is divided into three
parts. The first part contains procedures for determining the empty weight and empty center of
gravity of the airplane. Its use is intended primarily for mechanics and companies or individuals
who make modifications to the airplane. While the procedures are not directly applicable for
day-to-day pilot use, the information will give the owner or operator of the airplane an expanded
understanding of the weight and balance procedures.
The procedures for determining the empty weight and empty CG are excerpted from the
maintenance manual and included in this manual to aid those who need to compute this
information but do not have access to a maintenance manual. This section also contains
procedures for maintaining and updating weight and balance changes to the airplane. While a
mechanic or others who make changes to the airplane’s configuration normally update the
section, the pilot, owner, and/or operator of the airplane are responsible for ensuring that the
information is maintained in a current status. The last entry on this table should contain the
current weight and moments for this airplane.
The second part of this section is applicable to pilots, as it has procedures for determining the
weight and balance for each flight. This part details specific procedures for airplane loading, how
loading affects the center of gravity, plus a number of charts and graphs for determining the
loaded center of gravity.
For pilot purposes, in the Lancair Columbia 400 (LC41-550FG), the zero datum point is one inch
aft of the tip of the propeller spinner. All measurements from this point are positive or aft of the
datum point and are expressed in inches. The tip of the propeller is at -1 inch. It is important to
remember that the weight and balance for each airplane varies somewhat and depends on a
number of factors. The weight and balance information detailed in this manual only applies to
the airplane specified on the cover page.
This weight and balance information is part of the
FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual
(AFM)
.
Under the provision of Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations no person can
operate a civil aircraft unless there is available in the aircraft a current AFM. It is the
responsibility of the pilot-in-command to ensure that the airplane is properly loaded.
Equipment List –
The final portion of this section contains the equipment list. The equipment
list includes standard and optional equipment and specifies both the weight of the installed item
and its arm, i.e., distance from the datum. This information is useful in computing the new empty
weight and CG when items are temporarily removed for maintenance or other purposes. In
addition, equipment required for a particular flight operation is tabulated. The equipment is
generally organized and listed in accordance with ATA maintenance manual chapter numbering
specifications.
