I was looking at the weight & balance for a 185 I just started flying and was curious about the weight limitation for Baggage Area 1.

Baggage Area 1 is everything behind the second row of seats in the four-seat configuration to the rear wall and is limited to 120 lbs. Baggage Area 1 includes Cargo C (essentially from the front edge of the baggage door) and the third row for the six-passenger configuration, neither of which has a weight restriction.

I am curious why Baggage Area 1 has a weight restriction but the third row of passengers and Cargo C do not.

Are they worried about the load on the seat backs of the second row in a crash?
Is it an attempt to keep people from loading the plane too far aft without doing weight & balance calculations (reduce liability)?
Has anyone heard any ideas/theories/rumours/stories over the years as to why?

What year & model of 185? On wheels,floats,amphibs,or skis?

My 1970 A185 E shows Cargo A good to 400 lbs max capacity
Cargo B( & rear passengers 4 place) good to 500 lbs max capacity
Cargo C ( & aft passengers 6 place)good to 350 lbs max capacity
Cargo D( & baggage 5) good to 350 lbs max capacity
Aft baggage good to 50 lbs max capacity
max floor capacity is 200 lbs/square foot

Daryl

It is a 1975 A185F on wheels. I was reading through the Weight & Balance section again and noticed the notes on the page with cabin dimension and stations. One of the notes said the maximum weight for baggage area 1 was "when using the cargo net." I suspect that the reason for the weight restriction is the cargo net or it's attach points are only strong enough for 120 lbs, so when loading cargo or people in that area the weight restriction doesn't apply (using seatbelts or cargo straps).