How is a basic center of gravity check performed before a sling-load mission?

How is a basic center of gravity check performed before a sling-load mission?

• A. Verify total load weight, measure and confirm hook points, ensure load is balanced around aircraft CG limits, account for fuel and crew.
• B. Estimate total load weight visually.
• C. Ignore fuel and crew in CG calculations.
• D. Only check the hook points.

Answer: (A)

Before a sling-load mission, keeping the helicopter within its safe center of gravity range is essential for stable flight and predictable handling. The correct approach to a basic CG check includes four key steps: verify the total load weight, measure and confirm hook points, ensure the load is balanced around the aircraft’s CG limits, and account for fuel and crew. Verifying the total load weight gives you the actual mass you’re carrying, which directly influences the aircraft’s gross weight and CG. Measuring and confirming hook points ensures you know exactly where the load will apply force and how it will affect lever arms and moments about the rotor system. Ensuring the load is balanced around the aircraft’s CG limits means the combined center of gravity of the helicopter and the load stays within the aircraft’s approved range, preserving controllability and stability throughout the mission. Accounting for fuel and crew is crucial because their weight can shift as fuel is burned and personnel move or reposition, changing both total weight and CG during flight. Visual estimates of weight are not reliable for CG calculations, and ignoring fuel and crew can lead to a CG outside the safe envelope. Focusing only on hook points misses the broader balance and weight considerations that are critical for safe sling-load operations.

Before a sling-load mission, keeping the helicopter within its safe center of gravity range is essential for stable flight and predictable handling. The correct approach to a basic CG check includes four key steps: verify the total load weight, measure and confirm hook points, ensure the load is balanced around the aircraft’s CG limits, and account for fuel and crew.

Verifying the total load weight gives you the actual mass you’re carrying, which directly influences the aircraft’s gross weight and CG. Measuring and confirming hook points ensures you know exactly where the load will apply force and how it will affect lever arms and moments about the rotor system. Ensuring the load is balanced around the aircraft’s CG limits means the combined center of gravity of the helicopter and the load stays within the aircraft’s approved range, preserving controllability and stability throughout the mission. Accounting for fuel and crew is crucial because their weight can shift as fuel is burned and personnel move or reposition, changing both total weight and CG during flight.

Visual estimates of weight are not reliable for CG calculations, and ignoring fuel and crew can lead to a CG outside the safe envelope. Focusing only on hook points misses the broader balance and weight considerations that are critical for safe sling-load operations.