Where is the requirement to carry W&B data?

[jrh]

This might sound like a dumb question, but I'd never thought about it before today. Where is the requirement to carry weight and balance data onboard an aircraft?

I found 91.203 that describes carrying the airworthiness certificate and registration, and 91.9 describes carrying the AFM and limitation placards, but I can't find any reference to weight and balance data.

What am I missing? We've all learned AROW, but I've never bothered to learn specifically where it came from until today.

[MidlifeFlyer]

It's not a dumb question. Comes up from time to time. This is a paste from my personal FAQ file:

You won't find a specific regulation that says that the weight and balance numbers must be on board. I've seen the issue bandied about some on various forums. I'll offer the collected wisdom (?) of those discussions.

There are two primary sources of the requirement.

1. If you remember your 91.213 airworthiness analysis, ultimately, whether a piece of equipment is required or not is based on the airplane's Type Certificate Data Sheet . In some cases, not all, the TCDS contains language like:
==============================
Current weight and balance report including list of equipment included in certificated weight empty, and loading instructions when necessary, must be in each aircraft at the time of original certification and at all time thereafter...
==============================
So, the presence of the weight and balance data is as much an airworthiness requirement as operating fuel gauges.

But not all aircraft have this requirement on the TCDS.

2. 91.9(b) contains the requirement for the presence of systems information on board. (The reference to 21.5 is a reference to the requirement for an approved manual (AFM) after 1979)

23.1581 - 23.1589 talk about what the contents of an approved AFM manual must contain. 23.1589 says:
==============================
Loading information.
The following loading information must be furnished:
(a) The weight and location of each item of equipment that can be easily removed, relocated, or replaced and that is installed when the airplane was weighed under the requirement of § 23.25.
(b) Appropriate loading instructions for each possible loading condition between the maximum and minimum weights established under § 23.25, to facilitate the center of gravity remaining within the limits established under § 23.23.[/quote]
==============================

Read them together and you get, an airplane must have its manual on board and it's manual must contain weight and balance data.

I think that there are some airplanes that still slip through the cracks but, like a lot of shorthand expressions for learning things, AROW covers the general rule. There are always exceptions.

[Persian_Pilot]

Originally Posted by jrh

This might sound like a dumb question, but I'd never thought about it before today. Where is the requirement to carry weight and balance data onboard an aircraft?

I found 91.203 that describes carrying the airworthiness certificate and registration, and 91.9 describes carrying the AFM and limitation placards, but I can't find any reference to weight and balance data.

What am I missing? We've all learned AROW, but I've never bothered to learn specifically where it came from until today.

Hmm I may be wrong, But It says in regs that PIC must gather all available information regarding a safe operation ( runways distance, take off and landinc distances and W&B ).

[husky16]

There is not a specific reg requiriing weight and balance for every flight(part 91). As mentioned earlier...you only have to be familiar with runways of intended use...provided it's not a cross country then there are other regs, i.e 50 miles(ELT), alternates, fuel reserve, etc.

That being said if you get ramp checked by the FAA (we're here to help you) you may (most likely) have to prove to them that you are within weight and C.G. in front of them so it may be better to do it before

[jrh]

Originally Posted by MidlifeFlyer

It's not a dumb question. Comes up from time to time. This is a paste from my personal FAQ file:

You won't find a specific regulation that says that the weight and balance numbers must be on board. I've seen the issue bandied about some on various forums. I'll offer the collected wisdom (?) of those discussions.

...

I think that there are some airplanes that still slip through the cracks but, like a lot of shorthand expressions for learning things, AROW covers the general rule. There are always exceptions.

Interesting. Thanks!

[Timbuff10]

I actually ran across this yesterday and told my student that I wasn't sure. He forgot what AROW stood for and I had him look it up. His response was basically Air worthiness and Registration. I then told him about the O and W but felt kind of lost when I couldn't find it so I referred to the Cessna Cleared for Takeoff book instead.

And of course we know that the Cleared for Takeoff book trumps the FARs right.

Good stuff...

Thanks Mark!

[Kingairer]

Are we confusing the weight and balance that you fill out before the flight with the "permanent" W and B found inside the aircraft?

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by Kingairer

Are we confusing the weight and balance that you fill out before the flight with the "permanent" W and B found inside the aircraft?

I think husky may have thought that the question was asking about calculating for the present flight (which doesn't have to do with AROW) as opposed to having the "permanent" data on board (which does).

Probably a good idea to clarify that we are talking about the latter.