Van's Aircraft RV-12, Maintenance Manual

Page: 26 / 217

Rev. 8
1–18
WEIGHT AND BALANCE
It is the pilot’s responsibility to insure that the aircraft is loaded properly and
within the weight and balance limitations. The weight and balance of the aircraft are
factors that will affect all flight performance, procedures and characteristics of the
aircraft.
Find the actual licensed empty weight and CG of the aircraft on the Weight and
Balance Form. This document is required to remain with the aircraft and must reflect
any changes to the empty weight or CG. From that information and the instructions from
the POH the pilot can determine the useful load and proper load distribution for the
aircraft.
Weight and Balance Procedure
1. Make a copy of the RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet.
2. Install both lower and upper cowl.
3. Check that all fairings, access covers/plates etc are fully installed.
4. Place seat cushions in the aircraft, place the POH and fuel sample tube in the
mapbox.
5. Check that there are no other items (tools, etc.) left in the cabin or map box.
6. Roll aircraft onto 2 inch (5cm) blocks under main wheels and chock wheels.
7. Level the canopy deck by inflating/deflating nose tire or main tires as appropriate or
by increasing or decreasing block thickness.
8. Drop a plumb line off the leading edge of each wing just outboard of main wheel and
mark a line on the floor between the two points.
9. Measure distance forward from left main wheel axle to the line on the floor and
record on the RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet as D1.
10. Measure distance aft from nose wheel axle to line on floor and record on RV-12
Weight & Balance Worksheet as D2.
11. Measure distance forward from right main wheel axle to line on floor and record on
RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet as D3.
12. Roll aircraft off blocks under main wheels. Place blocks on scale pads for main
wheels. Zero scales.
13. Roll aircraft onto scales using ramps. Verify canopy deck is level (adjust tire inflation
if/as necessary), close the canopy.
14. Record the left main wheel weight on RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet as W1.
15. Record the nose wheel weight on RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet as W2.
16. Record the right main wheel weight on RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet as W3.
17. On the RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet, calculate empty weight, empty
moment, and empty arm.
18. Enter values for Empty Weight, Empty Moment, and Empty Arm into the table on
“YOUR AIRPLANE” table within RV-12 Pilot Operating Handbook Section 6.
19. Place the RV-12 Weight & Balance Worksheet in the aircraft as it is part of the
required documentation.
20. Enter values for Empty Weight, Empty Moment, and Empty Arm onto the Weight and
Balance Record page in this section.