When rigging a sling load, which factor must be verified before attachment?

When rigging a sling load, which factor must be verified before attachment?

• A. Weight and center of gravity of the load.
• B. Color of the load.
• C. Time of day.
• D. Pilot’s preference.

Answer: (A)

Verifying the load’s weight and center of gravity is essential before attaching a sling because these factors determine if the helicopter can safely lift and balance the payload. The exact weight must not exceed the aircraft’s lift capability for the current configuration, fuel load, and safety margins. The center of gravity shows how the mass is distributed; if the CG is too far forward, aft, or off-center, the combined system can become unstable, making hover, translation, or flight control more difficult and potentially unsafe. Knowing both allows you to plan the rigging, choose appropriate attachment points, and ensure the load will behave predictably in flight. Color, time of day, and pilot’s preference do not affect lift capacity or balance, so they are not factors in determining whether to attach.

Verifying the load’s weight and center of gravity is essential before attaching a sling because these factors determine if the helicopter can safely lift and balance the payload. The exact weight must not exceed the aircraft’s lift capability for the current configuration, fuel load, and safety margins. The center of gravity shows how the mass is distributed; if the CG is too far forward, aft, or off-center, the combined system can become unstable, making hover, translation, or flight control more difficult and potentially unsafe. Knowing both allows you to plan the rigging, choose appropriate attachment points, and ensure the load will behave predictably in flight.

Color, time of day, and pilot’s preference do not affect lift capacity or balance, so they are not factors in determining whether to attach.