Passengers intentionally disturbing center of gravity

Thanks Gary.

But as mentioned throughout the thread pax distribution is much more crucial on a small aeroplane and certainly than many running aft would put it out of balance quite suddenly..perhaps the suddenness bring more of a factor than the CG as trying to hold a shift is one thing, trying to bring it back from an over shift beyond limits before the crew realise what’s happening is something else.

Sort of a Hollywood story you’d never credit as possible in real life, but the extraordinary does happen from time to time.

This is a daily telegraph news article on it -> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8078612/Aircraft-crashes-after-crocodile-on-board-escapes-and-sparks-panic.html

It must be really famous as I’ve not heard about it???

The infamous accident in which a plane was destroyed and everyone killed when a crocodile escaped from a carry on bag was caused by just that.

Did I read this correctly? A crocodile!? When/ where did this happen and HOW did it get on board? Wouldn’t security notice your carry on luggage moving a bit erratically? :confused: Lots of questions 🙂

Flying in most African countries is not for the faint hearted…:eek:

The voice of experience? 😀

If you’re a Buddhist monk and can sit still while the wasp stings you, you will be ok. :diablo:

The pax all ran towards the rear of the plane and the crew lost control as it went completely out of C of G limits.

So if I’m on an aircraft and a wasp is loose in the cabin, I suppose I’m up proverbial creek.

but since they allow it it probably isn’t an issue.

it isn’t an issue with a random distribution

but would it be an issue if there was a deliberate effort?

The infamous accident in which a plane was destroyed and everyone killed when a crocodile escaped from a carry on bag was caused by just that. The pax all ran towards the rear of the plane and the crew lost control as it went completely out of C of G limits. 😮

I have manually flown a B727 on a 2 hour flight when the autopilot was inop. It is very tiring to say the least. (Try and stay within 50′ at 35,000′).

Having flown Wideroe from Newcastle to Norway (I forget the aircraft type – Dash 8?) a couple of years back the very few passengers (five of us!) were moved around for weight distribution. And that was before I needed to lose weight!

I was on a Jump seat of an F.27 Friendship and the captain pointed out the slight trim adjustments the co pilot was making as the girls walked up and down the aisle with a trolley

Obviously in level flight it is balanced and any shift in eight will have an effect which my be negotiable.

With the heavy groups of pax in certain area… larger jets can fly fine with an extra engine under one wing so the pax question would fall within the normal range of adjustable trim

On BN Trilanders the judge you weight and assign a seat…you may have seat number two but it could be the sixth seat as they balance it. On the Islanders the pax were weighed.

On Dart Heralds, if they carried freight they would stop anyone sitting forward of a decided seat row.

None of this seems to be a problem on larger aircraft but people booking actual seat position does take away form the check in staff the ability to gauge the weight of pax using standard grouping and distribute the weight, but since they allow it it probably isn’t an issue.

But the Sumo wrestling club all up front and St.Marys infants school all at the back doesn’t seem very balanced on the face of it:D

Well, this wasn’t about FAs rearranging passengers as much as demonstrating that balance is important and can be affected by passengers.

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/world/article_71bcd45c-01cd-580c-bdf8-d6e029a339bc.html

This was a smaller plane, but it makes one wonder if a concerted effort could impact a larger plane.

I remember seeing the Air Accident Investigation programme on this accident.

There was also a problem with the adjustments in the control cables to the elevator.

I flew back from Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific on a very light loaded 747 (about 70 passengers) a few years ago. All economy passengers were moved into the central section of the cabin. The cabin crew said it was for weight distribution but I think it was probably easier for them to serve passengers too.

I know that on 737 and A320 family aircraft with low loads seats are often blocked out to ensure the trim is correct and on the 1-11 cabin crew had to check that the right number of people were sat in the right seat rows. I think I’ve seen BE crew checking this on the Q400 too.

I suppose if these procedures are followed then in theory the answer to your question has to be yes.

Well, this wasn’t about FAs rearranging passengers as much as demonstrating that balance is important and can be affected by passengers.

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/world/article_71bcd45c-01cd-580c-bdf8-d6e029a339bc.html

This was a smaller plane, but it makes one wonder if a concerted effort could impact a larger plane.

The only time I’ve heard it mentioned is aboard a Dragon Rapide pleasure flight.