Should I be scared -- C172 over Gross

"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
. ..

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ...
tman wrote:
Flown C172's for quite a while, and never had anybody in the back.
Now I'm planning on quite a trip, with 2 pax and luggage.

When I fill the fuel to the *tabs*, calc everyone's weight honestly and consider baggage -- I'm 75 lbs over the 2450
gross on departure. Maybe 100 over gross if I assume a "lie about weight" factor or some inaccuracy with filling
the tanks. Now I'm scratching my head about just how risky this is. I know (others) have pushed over gross in
these planes way more under worse conditions, and have almost always gotten away with it. I'm inclined to just do
it, and be cognizant that it will perform differently, i.e. don't expect the same picture on climbout that you would
when solo.

Risky? Or just roundoff error on the weight? Here are some other factors:

This is the 160HP C172, standard.
Departure runway is 5000'.
No steep terrain to climb out of.
Plenty of alternates along with the way with 3000 runways.
Not particularly hot, humid, or high. 50 degrees at 1000 MSL for departure or any point of landing.

I'm figuring I'm 3% over gross, causing most of my V speeds to increase 1.5%, so say -- instead of flying short
final at 65 knots, I'd fly at 66 knots... OK wait I can't hold airspeed to +/- 1 knot on most days anyways.

I'm thinking through many of the factors, and it is only a "little" over gross, only on the first hour or so of the
trip. What else should I be aware of? Am I dangerous?

T

I never advise a pilot to load any airplane over gross.
I will tell you that the big killer in these situations is the cg location, especially the aft cg.
Tell you what; instead of my "advising you" on what to do specifically with this flight, let me suggest to you that
you run a weight and balance for this aircraft at full tanks, THEN run the same pax and baggage loading figuring 1/4
tanks, just to see what this does to the cg.


--
Dudley Henriques

Making a Tail Skidder out of a 172 even a 182 when the pilot gets out is fun!!!! 30% over gross Extreme Aft CG Utterly
Priceless and FUN!!! But all in a days work.

Here is a sample for a PA28...
http://aircraftdelivery.net/ferrypil...nkedpermit.pdf

Will scan in a 172 and 182 when I have time...

Don't fly over Gross unless approved to do so and have been instructed on techniques you can end up a wet stain on the
ground.



I remember a C-177 loaded to the gills, bound for HNL from OXR, and they were about 500' up by the time they crossed the
shoreline...