(cddb) wrote in message link.net...


Obviously, it is much cleaner to do a weight and balance with NO loose
stuff in the plane and absolutely empty tanks.





Tanks should be "empty" in accordance with manufacturer's
Unusable Fuel figures. A 172 has something like 4 gallons unusable, so
the tanks get completely drained and two gallons added to each side.
Then we weigh the airplane. The dipstick is calibrated with Zero being
the unusable fuel level when the airplane is on level ground.
Unusable Fuel is that amount of fuel that won't flow out of the
tank when the airplane is in its max climb attitude or lowest nose
attitude, with full flap if applicable. It will depend where the fuel
outlet in the tank is located, and the fuel flowing to the rear or
front may uncover the port if run below unusable levels. Dead engine
on approach. Seen it a couple of times. Not by me, though. Not yet.

Dan