How to use this R22 W&B calculator
- Pick your envelope: Beta II, Beta and Alpha (1,370 lb / 622 kg max gross) or Standard and HP (1,300 lb / 590 kg).
- Enter the empty weight, longitudinal arm and lateral arm from your aircraft's weight and balance record. The defaults are the POH sample values only.
- Choose your units: lb or kg for weights, inches, cm or metres for arms, and US gallons, litres, lb, kg or percent for fuel.
- Type or slide the weight of the pilot, passenger and under-seat baggage, plus anything on the accessory mount bars.
- Set your fuel. It is split between the main and aux tanks in proportion, as it is in the Tool in the Cockpit app, at the POH figure of 6.0 lb per US gallon.
- Tick any configuration changes such as doors removed or left seat controls out.
- Check the status box and the two CG envelope charts. The filled dot is takeoff weight, the hollow dot is zero fuel weight, and the line between them shows how the CG moves as you burn fuel. Green means inside limits, red means outside.
- Hit Print or save as PDF for your flight folder, or jump to the R22 hover ceiling calculator with your takeoff weight already filled in.
R22 weight and balance limits
These are the figures the calculator uses, shown in the units you selected above. They are taken from Section 2 (Limitations, CG envelopes FAA approved 1 Jul 2005) and Section 6 (Weight and Balance, revised 22 Feb 2024) of the Robinson R22 Pilot's Operating Handbook, but the POH for your specific aircraft and serial number is always the authority. Seats on aircraft before S/N 0256 with early-style seats use a 79.0 in arm instead of 78.0 in.
| Limit | Beta II / Beta / Alpha | Standard / HP |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum gross weight | 1370 lb (621 kg) | 1300 lb (590 kg) |
| Minimum gross weight | 920 lb (417 kg) | 920 lb (417 kg) |
| POH sample empty weight | 880 lb @ 104.00 in | 850 lb @ 104.00 in |
| Forward CG limit | 95.50 in up to 1275 lb, then 96.50 in at 1370 lb | 95.50 in up to 1225 lb, then 96.50 in at 1300 lb |
| Aft CG limit | 102.00 in up to 1175 lb, then 100.00 in at 1370 lb | 101.50 in up to 1130 lb, then 100.00 in at 1300 lb |
| Lateral CG limit | 2.20 in left to 2.60 in right at the widest point, narrowing towards the ends of the envelope (see chart) | |
| Usable fuel | 16.9 main tank + 9.4 aux tank = 26.3 US gal, about 158 lb of avgas at 6 lb per US gal | |
| Seat limit | 240 lb (109 kg) per seat including the baggage compartment under it | |
| Baggage compartment | 50 lb (23 kg) in any under-seat compartment | |
| Reference datum | 100.00 in forward of the main rotor shaft centreline | |
R22 Beta II, Beta and Alpha station arms
| Station | Longitudinal arm (in) | Lateral arm (in) | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot (right seat) | 78.00 | +10.70 (right) | 240 lb |
| Baggage under right seat | 78.00 | +10.70 (right) | 50 lb |
| Passenger (left seat) | 78.00 | -9.30 (left) | 240 lb |
| Baggage under left seat | 78.00 | -9.30 (left) | 50 lb |
| Accessory mount bar, right | 53.00 | +12.00 (right) | see seat limit |
| Accessory mount bar, left | 53.00 | -12.00 (left) | see seat limit |
| Main tank (avgas) | 108.60 | -11.00 (left) | 16.9 US gal |
| Aux tank (avgas) | 103.80 | +11.20 (right) | 9.4 US gal |
| Left seat controls removed | 66.30 | -12.90 (left) | -3 lb |
| Right door removed | 77.50 | +21.00 (right) | -5 lb |
| Left door removed | 77.50 | -21.00 (left) | -5 lb |
How the R22 weight and balance calculation works
Every item in the helicopter has a weight and an arm (its distance from the datum). Multiply them and you get a moment. Add up all the weights and all the moments, divide total moment by total weight, and the result is the centre of gravity. The calculator does this twice: once longitudinally (fore and aft) and once laterally (left and right), because the R22 has limits in both directions.
It also works out two loading conditions. Takeoff weight includes fuel. Zero fuel weight is what you would weigh with the tanks empty. Both R22 tanks sit behind the CG (main at 108.6 in, aux at 103.8 in), so burning fuel moves the CG forward. The line between the two dots on the chart shows that movement, and both ends have to stay inside the envelope.
The R22 is the most CG-sensitive Robinson. The empty CG is around 104 in, aft of the 102 in limit, and only the occupants at 78 in pull it forward. A light solo pilot with full fuel can sit right on the aft limit, which is why the POH quotes a 135 lb minimum solo pilot weight and why ballast in the under-seat compartment is sometimes needed.
R22 weight and balance FAQ
What is the maximum gross weight of a Robinson R22?
The R22 Alpha, Beta and Beta II have a maximum gross weight of 1,370 lb (622 kg). The original R22 Standard and R22 HP are limited to 1,300 lb (590 kg). Minimum gross weight is 920 lb (417 kg) for all of them. Each seat is limited to 240 lb (109 kg) including the baggage compartment under it, and each compartment to 50 lb (23 kg).
What are the R22 CG limits?
For the Alpha, Beta and Beta II the longitudinal CG must stay between 95.5 and 102.0 inches aft of datum at low weight. The forward limit tapers from 95.5 in at 1,275 lb to 96.5 in at 1,370 lb, and the aft limit from 102.0 in at 1,175 lb to 100.0 in at 1,370 lb. The Standard and HP envelope is narrower at the top: 96.5 in at 1,300 lb forward and 101.5 in up to 1,130 lb aft. The lateral envelope is an irregular hexagon roughly 0.8 in left to 2.6 in right, widest around 98 in. The datum is 100 inches forward of the main rotor shaft.
How much fuel does an R22 hold?
With the bladder tanks fitted to current aircraft the R22 carries 16.9 US gallons usable in the main tank and 9.4 in the auxiliary, 26.3 US gallons (100 litres) in total, about 158 lb (72 kg) of avgas at 6.0 lb per gallon. Aircraft without bladders hold 19.2 and 10.5 US gallons. The calculator uses the bladder figures; enter litres or gallons directly if yours differ.
What is a typical R22 empty weight?
The POH sample calculation uses 880 lb (399 kg) at 104.0 in with a lateral arm of -0.1 in. A real Beta II with avionics, a governor and bladder tanks is usually a little heavier. Always use the empty weight and CG from your aircraft's own weight and balance record.
Why does a light solo pilot need ballast in an R22?
The R22 empty CG sits well aft of the seats, so a light pilot cannot pull it forward enough. Section 2 of the POH says that with both doors on, a solo pilot plus baggage of 135 lb (61 kg) or more keeps the CG within limits; below that you must compute weight and balance and may need removable ballast in the under-seat compartment. Try it here: set a light pilot and watch the CG drift aft of 102 in.
Can I fly an R22 with the doors removed?
Yes. Each door weighs 5.2 lb at 77.5 in with a lateral arm of 21 in, so removing one shifts the lateral CG about a tenth of an inch. Tick the door options in the calculator to include the change. The removable left seat controls weigh 2.6 lb at 66.3 in.
Does this calculator work in kilograms and centimetres?
Yes. Switch weights between lb and kg, arms between inches, centimetres and metres, and fuel between US gallons, litres, pounds, kilograms and percent. The whole page, including the envelope chart axes and the reference tables, updates to the units you pick.
Is this R22 weight and balance calculator free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no account, and you can print or save your result as a PDF. The station arms and limits are taken from the R22 POH Sections 2 and 6 and the calculator reproduces the POH sample loading calculation exactly. If you want to save aircraft profiles, sign your W&B, email it and see hover ceilings live in flight, download the free Tool in the Cockpit app.
