What is the general purpose of a weight and balance worksheet?

• A. To document weights, arms, moments, CG, and to verify compliance with weight, balance, and center-of-gravity limits.
• B. To track maintenance schedules.
• C. To compute fuel costs.
• D. To monitor airspeed.

Answer: (B)

The weight and balance worksheet is used to capture all weights, their distances from a reference datum (arms), and the resulting moments, so you can determine the aircraft’s center of gravity and verify it stays within the allowable weight, balance, and CG limits. Each item loaded contributes a moment equal to its weight times its arm; the total weight is the sum of all weights, and the total moment is the sum of all moments. Dividing the total moment by the total weight gives the CG, which must lie within the specified forward and aft limits. This worksheet helps ensure the airplane will be stable and controllable, and that performance predictions (stall speed, takeoff/landing characteristics, and structural limits) are valid for the actual loaded condition. Other activities like tracking maintenance schedules, calculating fuel costs, or monitoring airspeed are handled by different tools or records and are not the primary purpose of a weight and balance worksheet.