Monticello Flying Club Pilot Transition Manual: Mooney M20F
Page 18 of 42
CHAPTER
2.
W
EIGHT AND
B
ALANCE
This section addresses a critical flight planning area, the determination of payload
(passengers and baggage) and usable fuel loading.
M20
S
ERIES
R
EFERENCE
D
ATUM
For all Mooney’s, the reference datum plane is at fuselage station 0.00. On "long
fuselage" models M20F, M20G, M20J, and M20K, fuselage station 0.00 is 5.00 in. aft of the
centerline of the nose gear support bolts. The leading edge of every Mooney wing is 33.00 in. aft
of fuselage station 0.00. This detail explains why short, long, and longer fuselage Mooney’s all
have similar CG ranges when expressed as "inches aft of datum." With its 10 in. longer fuselage,
the M20F wheelbase also increased 5 in.
W
EIGHT AND
B
ALANCE
R
ECORDS
In 1974, Mooney issued an AFM addendum for 1967 and earlier Mooney’s covering
weight and balance, providing original equipment, additional charts and a sample weight and
balance. All additional and removed equipment has since been captured in log book updates to
this original weight and balance.
You are required by the FAA to ensure that the aircraft is properly loaded for each flight.
One way to do this is to follow the steps outlined in the POH/AFM addendum and complete the
chart provided in the addendum. The current Empty weight of N3275F is 1740.95 and the arm is
46.17”. Note that because of the fuel bladders, usable fuel has been reduced to 27.4gal/tank (54.8
total). With a maximum takeoff weight of 2740lbs, that gives a useful load (not including fuel) of
999.05lbs and a payload (with full tanks) of 670.25lbs. There is also a weight and balance
spreadsheet for instructional purposes found on the club
website
.
Since the club only fills the tanks to within an inch of the top, you will be right at
maximum gross weight with four FAA full sized (170lb) adults on board. You can also carry less
fuel by either paying Landmark to remove fuel, or by calling the previous member flying the
aircraft and request them not fill up the tanks. Otherwise the club policy is to keep the tanks
within an inch of the top in order to keep the bladders wet but to also prevent venting of fuel.
Again, it is your responsibility to calculate fuel and passenger weights and complete the weight
and balance calculations.
