Nose heavy

[Jeffsed]

I have about 1hr tach time on my RV-9A O-320 C/S Hartzel. The 1st flight was uneventful... a little heavy left wing, but the part I really didn't like was during the flare I couldn't keep the nose off the ground at landing like a could in the transition aiplane I flew (O-320 fixed pitch). Second flight, 50 #s of ballast in the baggage area. Nose stayed off great on landing.

I am waiting for the ACK E-04 ELT and was going to mount in right behind the baggage area. Now I want to put it on the rear deck under the tail fairing.

My question: Will this help my flare without the 50 #s?

[BillC]

You can use your C of G data and calculate what weight would be required with the further aft arm (rear deck under the tail fairing) to equate to the 50# in the baggage compartment. What was your C of G during first flight? You might be looking at adding weight in baggage compartment as part of normal aircraft equipment. Spare parts and tools come to mind.

[kentb]

Originally Posted by Jeffsed

I have about 1hr tach time on my RV-9A O-320 C/S Hartzel. The 1st flight was uneventful... a little heavy left wing, but the part I really didn't like was during the flare I couldn't keep the nose off the ground at landing like a could in the transition aiplane I flew (O-320 fixed pitch). Second flight, 50 #s of ballast in the baggage area. Nose stayed off great on landing.

I am waiting for the ACK E-04 ELT and was going to mount in right behind the baggage area. Now I want to put it on the rear deck under the tail fairing.

My question: Will this help my flare without the 50 #s?

I don't think that it will be equivalent to 50 #s. What was you weight measurements?

Mine were:
Nose Gear 283
Left Main 421
Right Main 420

I have no problem with weight and balance or flaring.

Kent

[newtech]

Originally Posted by Jeffsed

Second flight, 50 #s of ballast in the baggage area. Nose stayed off great on landing.

Nose weight is like carbon offsets isn't it? I'll buy 25 pounds from you for my tail heavy RV-7A

[Av8torTom]

In my Cherokee 150 I needed to keep 25 lbs of tools in the bagage compartment in order to be within CG when there were 2 adults in the front seats. It's not uncommon.

Where's your battery? could that be moved to behind the bagage compartment?

[Leland]

Originally Posted by kentb

I don't think that it will be equivalent to 50 #s. What was you weight measurements?

Mine were:
Nose Gear 283
Left Main 421
Right Main 420

I have no problem with weight and balance or flaring.

Kent

My measurements for no fuel and an empty baggage compartment are:
Nose Gear 253
Mains 816

I have an O320 in a painted, upholstered and faired RV9A with a three-blade Catto prop. I can easily hold the nose off the runway until late in the roll-out. A friend with an RV6A and a constant speed prop had trouble holding his nose off on landing. He installed a Catto prop after bending the nosegear on landing.
Leland

[guccidude1]

I also have a -9A, but with an O-360 and fixed Sensenich. I was nose heavy also, even with the ELT and tail strobe power pack under the vertical stab. I moved my battery off the fire wall and mounted it aft of the baggage compartment approximately 12 inches. Now I can hold my nose off until 40 kts gps speed, no wind, one SOB, and full tanks. Dan

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by Leland

My measurements for no fuel and an empty baggage compartment are:
Nose Gear 253
Mains 816

I have an O320 in a painted, upholstered and faired RV9A with a three-blade Catto prop. I can easily hold the nose off the runway until late in the roll-out. A friend with an RV6A and a constant speed prop had trouble holding his nose off on landing. He installed a Catto prop after bending the nosegear on landing.
Leland

And I have an RV6A with a Lycoming 0360, Hartzell C/S prop, and the old heavy starter motor. My strobe and ELT package is located near the tail. Battery is aft of the firewall, as was done in the "old days".

For proper CG range, my plane requires at least a light weight pilot of some kind. But that shouldn't be a problem!

As to landing, I have two choices, which is much like a Piper Arrow. Land with power off, and a flare at the perfect time to maintain enough airspeed to keep the nose up; or simply add a bit of power thoughout the flare. I land both ways depending on mood. I'd certainly never resort to a fixed pitch to replace a C/S!.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[L.Adamson]

You could always add and oxygen system in addition to a tool kit... for extra ballast. I've flown a friends RV9A with a 0320/ Hartzell CS, and it hasn't been a problem. He has oxygen in the baggage area.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[dedgemon]

Jeff,
The Hartzell equipped '9 is definitely more nose heavy than the fixed pitch ones; however, you can get the rotation and hold the nose up without all of the extra ballast.

First thing to do is check your trim tab rigging. You'll need it to move down(nose up) more than it moves up. A bunch more. I find that with full fuel and solo (worst case) I'll run out of nose up trim at about 65 knots or so. That works fine though and you can easily hold the nose as high as you like for the flair. You do need to trim it up though. Also, depending on your experience, you may be landing too fast. If you come down final at 70-75 knots you won't have it trimmed and it will be quite a bit harder to flair properly. Plus you'll chew up a bunch of runway.

After 5 years I find myself landing the airplane slower and getting much better results (unless its quite gusty). These days my "normal" final on a calm day is full flaps and 60-62 knots. This usually requires a "touch" of power to keep the sink in check. Kill the power in the flair, and you can pull the nose up nicely and get nice, easy, short landings.

I really think the key here is technique, not ballast.

Good Luck and enjoy the new plane

Originally Posted by Jeffsed

I have about 1hr tach time on my RV-9A O-320 C/S Hartzel. The 1st flight was uneventful... a little heavy left wing, but the part I really didn't like was during the flare I couldn't keep the nose off the ground at landing like a could in the transition aiplane I flew (O-320 fixed pitch). Second flight, 50 #s of ballast in the baggage area. Nose stayed off great on landing.

I am waiting for the ACK E-04 ELT and was going to mount in right behind the baggage area. Now I want to put it on the rear deck under the tail fairing.

My question: Will this help my flare without the 50 #s?