External floatplane load

[ruddersup?]

I've done a lot of trips with 4 x 8 plywood on the Beaver spreader bars and wondering on a smaller aircraft how critical it might be. Let's say a 172, 180, Maule or ? Anyone with experience? I don't want to know what if what if, just have you done it without any adverse control? Baby the bird up and down. Of course I'll limit the aerobatics. It really is amazing what you can carry outside (in the old days) but shrink the flight envelope. Worst load 2 boats on a Beaver.

[Bede]

I've never put loads on the spreader bars but someone told me once that it's a very bad idea on some floatplanes because it may blanket the airflow over the tail, especially at high AOA.

[PilotDAR]

Have a read through this Advisory Circular:

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/refere ... no-500-004

And bear in mind that an external load requires an STC, unless, like the Beaver, it's already permitted in the type certificate.

[ruddersup?]

PilotDAR - Does that circular apply to amateur built aircraft? I can't imagine going through that complete program to be able to carry an external load. Side slips and spins and we're looking for a test pilot.

[PilotDAR]

Does that circular apply to amateur built aircraft?

I think that the answer to that is fuzzy. But what I can tell you that if someone has an unapproved external load accident, TC will begin to apply it. I attended the CARA meeting twenty some years back when this was set in motion. The straw that broke the camel's back was the TSB report on a two fatal in a PA-18 or similar type to which the pilot had tied moose antlers to the struts. TC more or less said to themselves, and then us in the room, "How can we look the other way when airplanes are obviously carrying external loads with no data to validate that the airplane can safely carry them whatsoever?" In fairness to TC, they had a valid point! That said, TC acknowledged that all kinds of external loads are carried safely by knowledgeable operators, so implementation has [probably purposefully] very slow - sort of like, behave and be safe, and we won't open the rule book.

But, TC are not turning a blind eye either, so I would not suggest pretending that no one is noticing. Years back, I was ramped at the dock in Yellowknife (I was docked?) I explained to the two TC inspectors I was doing a TC authorized test flight.... They replied "okay, and we're ramp checking you, your documents please!"

I don't have recent experience with how the external load regulations are being applied, but they are there....

[Hornblower]

Since nobody has answered the question, I will. I have carried plywood on cubs and 180/185s a number of times. The spreader bars are slightly forward and so the plywood should be shifted as far aft on the bars as reasonably can be secured. The aircraft will be slightly nose heavier so put an other cargo aft inside the fuselage, and in cubs, use a fair bit of nose up trim on approach.

I am sorry that all the ignoramuses on here can’t seem to understand the question and so then try to make it seem like they know something by quoting fallacious and misleading TCCA policies and guidance material. Fact is, there have been no regulatory changes respecting external loads, so other than the restriction against carrying passengers with external loads that are not approved by STC ( another big mess), if operating under subpart 703, there are no regulatory restrictions, so you are good to carry any reasonable external load, with or without passengers.

That guidance material is at best just that, guidance , and it is very clear that temporarily attaching cargo to the outside of an aircraft is no more a modification to the aircraft than placing that cargo on the inside! There is jurisprudence to back that up.

Cheers
Hornblower

[ruddersup?]

Thanks Hornblower. I wasn't baiting a Transport reply and yours is exactly what I was looking for. Wonder if there are others out there doing it?