R22 Single Seat Weight

[ADBAdman]

Can anyone possibly give me an indication of what the "margin" is for the single seat weight of an R22?

I'm a big boy, and weigh right around the number outlined in the POH (109kg's).

Obviously scales tend to have an error that could see my true weight either over or under the actual number. Want to make sure i'm not putting myself at risk/breaking any air laws.

[manfromuncle]

I think the seat limit is due to the ability of the seat to collapse during a crash.

[helimutt]

How about losing half a stone (few kg's) and not have to worry if the scales are super accurate. ?? :rolleyes:

[rjtjrt]

Helimutt
That sort of reply says more about you than it does about ADBAdman.

[fluffy5]

Seat's crash survivability, forward c of g, cyclic authority,
lose a few pounds, little robbie's engines don't like working to hard

[helimutt]

rjtjrt, and that would be saying what??

That to fly safely and well within limits is not important? Maybe your post says more about you. Not too health or safety conscious are we?

[manamale]

Jesus all people seem to do on this forum is bash eachother, give it a rest!!

[topendtorque]

ADBAdman
Please don't come on here and ask people for their impressions of margins that then allows you to think that your weight is acceptable if it goes over. Especially if later in a place where legal challenges are made your widow reckons that you saw it on pprune or any other network and therefore it was alright.

The R22 seat is certified at a certain weight because of it's tested crumple capacity. It sure as hell won't be modified upwards unless you want to spend a lot of money employing an aeronautical engineer to do the redesigns and certification testing yourself. That will cost big bucks and - I know or know of most of the people in that area- (in OZ that is)there are not many. I doubt any of them would pull it on.

If you are overweight, in a carbohydrate sense, then the margins will be less because you may lack considerable muscle tone to be able to withstand a heavier than certified landing.

If you are unusal in that you possess a very large frame with good muscle tone and still come out at that high weight I think you will have to realise that you will be up against the odds.

For example, say you have a heavy vertical impact (resulting in debilitating injuries or worse), lets say your weight was more than the testing weights during certification and you or your dependants subsequently sued for compensation then I think you (or they more pointedly) would be on a very sticky wicket.

This is an area where flying schools don't often address what I reckon is their right up front B****** responsibility and don't tell such candidates the real regulations with regard to weight but prefer to fleece money out of inexperienced people instead.

And yes that needs to be said - loudly- directly to the schools that do it.

I am sorry, but my impression is that the weight limits must apply.

By the way, your pseudonym resembles the surname of an old acquantance in the live export game. Any genetic resemblance there would be understandable given your question.
tet

[Gaseous]

In the UK one is weighed as part of getting the medical certificate so the CAA know how much you weigh. Those are the scales that matter until it all goes wrong and you get weighed again in hospital or mortuary.

The limit is just that. No leeway if it is in the 'limitations' section of the POH ( I dont know if it is - I dont have a POH to hand), so it is sensible to be a few pounds under. From a 'comfort' point of view I would rather be quite a bit under the limit or go for a different helicopter.
Oh, and dont store anything sharp under the seat if you do go for a 22:uhoh: Hope this helps.

[ADBAdman]

Some of you guys need to get out more....

Thanks to those of you who gave me useful information. You pretty much answered my question, which is there is no leeway.

Back to the 44 it is....

[helimutt]

.....or the gym!!! :E:rolleyes:

[Backward Blade]

Sir,

Your weight and how it is distributed is not an issue...just like anything that goes in a helicopter it is the weight, pure and simple that matters. Your question is to be commended, and to those who answered accordingly, commended as well.

But as per your last post, re: R44...do a weight and balance re the empty end of the gas tank...especially if you're carrying a couple mates around your own weight and I am not talking laterally.

As for the seats, although I believe they have different weight limits(haven't flown a 22 in years) the physics regarding their design doesn't change, so keep the hard stuff underneath to a minimum when Pax on board said seats.

Fly safe

BWB

[Whirlybird]

AFAIK, if you're over the maximum seat weight, then in the event of an accident your insurance is invalidated. So it's not worth the risk.

As to whether it's a safety issue to be a few pounds over the limit, I doubt if anyone on here really knows...which doesn't stop them having opinions! And whether you want to or can lose weight is completely irrelevant to the question you asked of course.

If I were you I'd fly the R44 - far nicer helicopter anyway.:ok:

[bladewashout]

From a practical point of view, you are going to need a very small instructor taking you on very short flights.

BW

[topendtorque]

I don't have an R44 POH to hand.
Anyone care to articulate the max pilot seat weight, compared with the R22?

[the beater]

300lbs; but you'll probably bulk-out first!

[MD900 Explorer]

Look, which part of 17.1 Stones or 240 Lbs or 108.8 Kg don't you understand!!
Frank Robinson made those seats to ONLY TAKE THE WEIGHT PRESCRIBED
In an R44 it is 136 Kg or 21.4 Stone or 300 Lb for the R44

I digress but NEVER go over published margins. I guess you could go through the AAIB files....

Regards

MD :=

Post edited by Senior Pilot and myself, due to unecessary comments made, due to intoxication. :(

[fluffy5]

On a more funnier note, try flying a robbie like me. you could just lie across both of the seats much better weight distribution. but have'nt quite worked out how to move the pedal's..........:}

[the beater]

Left foot on the left-hand-side left pedal, and right foot on the right-hand-side right pedal. I'd be more concerned about moving the collective!:ouch:

[belly tank]

" Thank Goodness Frank has developed bubble windows:ok:..but watch out for the corrosion you may end up falling out the door instead:{