Draw a table with four columns and five rows.
Label the first column "Item" for the description of what is going to be measured.
Label the second column "Weight" to contain the weight in pounds of all the items that will be measured.
Label the third column "Arm" -- the distance in inches the item will be placed in the airplane from a location determined by the specific aircraft manufacturer.
Label the fourth column "Moment" -- a product of force equal to the weight multiplied by the arm.
Write "Basic Empty Weight" in the first row under Item, and the weight in the second column. Basic empty weight is different for each airplane and is listed in the POH. This is the only item that does not have a figure to put in the arm column.
Write "Fuel" in the second row under "Item" and its weight in the "Weight" column. Multiply the number of gallons by six to find the weight.
Write "Pilot and Front Passenger" in the third row under "Item," and the combined weight of the two in the "Weight" column.
Write "Passengers" as the item in the fourth row and their combined weight in the "Weight" column.
Write "Luggage" as the item in the fourth row, and the weight in the "Weight" column.
Open the pilot operating handbook to the section titled "Weight and Balance." Find the loading arrangements diagram which lists the "Arm" or inches set for each item in the plane.
Write the arm for each Item in the "Arm" column. Each item has its own arm clearly shown in the POH.
Multiply the weight and arm together in each row. The result is the moment which should be written in the "Moment" column.
Add all of the weights together. Write the total down by the side or below the table.
Add all of the moments together. Write the total next to the total weight.
Divide the total moment by the total weight. The result is the center of gravity shown in inches aft of the point determined by the manufacturer.
