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FlyingSafely.Com Overloading Your Aircraft!!!
Both engines were developing power at the time of impact. It will take a while for the experts to make a final declaration, but, in the meantime, let's all learn a lesson from this tragic stupidity. Every pilot is taught to do weight and balance before a flight. Now if you and your friend are hopping in the the plane to get a hamburger and you have done the weight and balance many times before, obviously, you know the numbers are safe. But, when you are taking people and their luggage, get the chart out and do the math. If you are fortunate to have a four place plane that will actually carry four people and some luggage can do your duty with a sense of confidence that all will fall in legal limits. However, there are some planes around that have four seats, but with full fuel and luggage they are well beyond the limits of weight and balance. Two very popular planes come to mind, Cessna 172's and Piper Cherokee 140's. In our PA28-180 we have a useful load of 1,000 pounds. So with full fuel we have 700 pounds left for people. I weigh 225 pounds so now I have 475 pounds left for people and luggage. If Susan and I are both flying, we have 355 pounds left for people and luggage. That would be a 200 pound man, a 120 woman and 35 pounds of luggage. That's a pretty good load and our plane will do it within limits of safety and legality. Don't try that in a Cessna 172 and certainly not in a Cherokee 140. One of the problems with this terrible accident was that the pilot arrived not knowing how much weight he was going to be asked to carry. Always ascertain this before the flight is to depart. This includes knowing how much women weigh (normally a touchy subject, but necessary in aviation). Do the weight and balance ahead of time and insure the flight is safe. Bring along scales if you have any doubt. Obviously, you can plan fuel accordingly if you have several days notice about the load you will carry. Another way to deal with marginal loads is to fuel your plane to the tabs in anticipation of a heavy load. This way you don't have to drain fuel to depart. If the load is light, you can easily add fuel before you begin the trip. I have set up the weight and balance on a spreadsheet on my computer. Then all I have to do is enter the weight numbers and the computer figures the CG for me in a split second. Then I simply look at the loading chart to confirm that I am in the envelope. A portable computer or PDA would be handy for this on a trip or a flight mission. It is easier and less time consuming to figure the W/B that way. So, therefore, you are more likely to do it. In talking to a corporate pilot and flight examiner about this accident, he remarked, "We teach all our captains to learn to say 'No.'" When you exceed the load limits of the aircraft, I say, "Something must go or the answer is no." No matter how much pressure is put on the pilot, he/she must realize that the very lives of the people arguing with him are on the line. Better to have them angry at you than to have them die with you. How in the world could someone be talked into overloading an aircraft by hundreds of pounds and then in the heat of the south sea islands depart an island runway with the thought that it would work out okay? If and when you do this, you are going to have an accident. It may be the last poor decision you will make. Some people routinely fly their aircraft beyond the limits set by the manufacturer. Even if you survive the crash your insurance won't be worth a dime if you are beyond the limits. So, for all the good reasons in the world. Do your weight and balance and keep flying safely. Larry, Editor of FlyingSafely.Com |
I heard on the news last night that when the investigators actually weighed the
people and the equipment that was in the ill fated flight at Marsh Harbour,
Abaco, The Bahamas, the total weighed in at 700 pounds over gross weight. That
is the same as three 200 pound men and 100 pounds of luggage. Incredible. Some
investigators suggest the excess weight may have exceeded that figure.