r44 weight and balance
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r44 weight and balance
I note that T.E.Torque is concerned about r44 balance when heavily loaded with low\light fuel. In the fatal accidents he mentions or other similar accidents do we know if the battery was fitted under the instrument panel or engine bay?To my way of thinking Robinson made a serious error putting the battery up the front,from both a balance and cold starting situation. I have owned 2 44s with aft batteries and my present machine is with nose installation.I encourage peoples thoughts on this.
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Which kind of new R44 are equipped with front battery? Is this something from the past or still used on clipper, news, police or IFR trainer versions?
All R44 I or II that ever crossed my way had the battery at the back.
All R44 I or II that ever crossed my way had the battery at the back.
I agree with RW101,
every 44 I have ever come across had the battery in the back. Clipper I/II made no difference.
What would be a reason to put it up front other than having a very light pilot who usually has to travel with full tanks?
every 44 I have ever come across had the battery in the back. Clipper I/II made no difference.
What would be a reason to put it up front other than having a very light pilot who usually has to travel with full tanks?
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that may be.......................
but at least 2 of us have come across 44's with a battery in the nose, the one i have experience of was built 2002 , raven 1.
but at least 2 of us have come across 44's with a battery in the nose, the one i have experience of was built 2002 , raven 1.
Last edited by MK10; 7th Nov 2009 at 14:17.
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Being 234lbs I'm always flirting with the forward CofG limits on the AOC flights I do. Talked to the factory about adding weight to the tail (as Robinson do have a kit for this), but they did not approve it.
The answer of course is to add more fuel, but then the problem changes to an MTOM one.
I guess I shouldn't be eating liquorice allsorts as I write.....
The answer of course is to add more fuel, but then the problem changes to an MTOM one.
I guess I shouldn't be eating liquorice allsorts as I write.....
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Found some info.
From the Robinson Helicopters Owners Group:
The R44 Maintenance Manual says the following:
Apparently battery placement was also a choice you could make many moons ago when you placed the order for the helicopter.
@firebird_uk: Google the "ebook from Tom Venuto" to solve your w&b issues for good.
From the Robinson Helicopters Owners Group:
Battery placement is assigned by the factory, and is not a buyer-selectable option. The frame (port side, engine compartment) installation is the preferred location. Before an aircraft is built, a preliminary w&b analysis is calculated, using the various features selected for a specific helicopter. If the analysis predicts that the CG with frame battery is too far aft, the ship is built with an under-seat battery. The target is to have the CG be at 102.5 with full fuel and a pilot.
The battery is in a fiberglass container located on the lower left steel tube frame, in the nose under upper console, or in the left-front baggage compartment. Police and E.N.G. versions have the battery suspended from the tailcone.
@firebird_uk: Google the "ebook from Tom Venuto" to solve your w&b issues for good.
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Being 234lbs I'm always flirting with the forward CofG limits on the AOC flights I do. Talked to the factory about adding weight to the tail (as Robinson do have a kit for this), but they did not approve it.
The answer of course is to add more fuel, but then the problem changes to an MTOM one.
I guess I shouldn't be eating liquorice allsorts as I write.....
The answer of course is to add more fuel, but then the problem changes to an MTOM one.
I guess I shouldn't be eating liquorice allsorts as I write.....
the real gotcha of bringing the CG back by adding fuel is when you - for some reason - lose that fuel, the engine quits, and you now don't have enough aft cyclic to auto..
Which is why there's a "CG with full fuel" line on the CG graph. Load within the limits, and you'll be ok.
As ever, disrespect the limits, and become a short-lived test pilot.
As ever, disrespect the limits, and become a short-lived test pilot.
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Nose Battery
I fly 2 identialy equiped R44's of almost the same year, the only difference being one has a night kit and has the battery in the rear port engine compartement and the other with no night kit up in the nose. Ive noticed flying with some heavy weight guys that they can easily run out of aft cyclic in the machine with the nose battery. The one heavy guy flys both machines and ive warned him to be aware of the difference it makes.
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Hopefully you don't actually mean "run out of aft cyclic"... right?
Even on the absolute forward limit of CofG position, there is happily enough cyclic present to allow for a good flare in auto. The only slight restriction may be gut, rather than stopper - you know who you are!
If you're running out of cyclic then, as they say; you're doing it wrong!
Even on the absolute forward limit of CofG position, there is happily enough cyclic present to allow for a good flare in auto. The only slight restriction may be gut, rather than stopper - you know who you are!
If you're running out of cyclic then, as they say; you're doing it wrong!
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R44s have always had batteries in the engine bay.
