Max take-off weight...2646 or 2535 lbs

[gordsh]

I always wondered why my 2010 XLS was only listed as having only a usable load of (2535 lb - 1860 lb) 675 lbs (in the Journey Log & Import Docs) and always told myself that is was because of the Premiere model installed items (A/C, upgraded leather, additional alternator, etc.) that added the extra weight.

I finally decided to look into this and realized that this may be incorrect and my plane may in fact have more useful load than is recorded in the Journey Log and Import documents.

The POH (or Airplane Flight Manual DA40) that is in the plane states (on page 2-11), MASS WEIGHT 2535 lb or ...2646 if MAM 40-227 is carried out. I then located Service Bulletin NO. OSB 40-057/2 ( http://support.diamond-air.at/fileadmin ... O-Mass.pdf )which seems to address this issue and it indicates that my serial number 40.1083 is not affected by this. Also this was dated 3 years prior to my DA40's manufacture date.

So (I am hoping!), does this mean that my plane already is rated at max takeoff 2646 and not 2535 as the import docs sate...which would give me a useful load of (2646-1860) 786 lbs and not 675 lbs ?

Does any body else having an XLS know if their plane is 2535 lb or 2646 lb max take off weight and my plane is just an odd ball

[Chris]

I'd be really surprised if your 2010 XLS had a max take-off weight of 2535 lbs. Even the 2007 XL came with a max take-off weight of 2646 lbs, although max landing weight is still 2535, IIRC.

[Rich]

I agree with Chris. Somewhere along the line the stuff required for the 2646 MTOW became standard and you probably have it. Those of us with older planes needed to have the OSB's carried out to achieve it. The max landing weight does get bumped from 2407 to 2535. And the max zero fuel weight (2535) suddenly is meaningful.

The "real" W&B in your plane's actual AFM should reflect these numbers. But I have found various shops (including Diamond Service Centers) screwing up W&B documents when revising same. You have to watch them like a hawk

[pietromarx]

If you peruse your logbooks the factory will have put in the OSBs, etc. that have been complied with. Specifically, for the 1200 kg T/O weight limitation(2646), you need the following:

To provide the elevator travel required for take-off mass increase to 1200 kg (2646 lb). Note: The higher 1200 kg (2646 lb) take-off mass is only approved when 18 mm main landing gear struts (MÄM 40-123 or OSB 40-025, latest effective issue) or the taller main landing gear struts (OÄM 40-283 or OSB 40-059, latest effective issue) are installed on the airplane.

It is extremely unlikely that you do not have the 18mm MLG struts; I don't think anyone was installing the older lower ones with the requisite older wheels, etc.

[Rich]

I double-checked and this is weird:

OSB 40-025 is dated 2006 and does not apparently apply after serial number 349. This is the 18mm gear change.
OSB 40-059 (longer gear legs) is dated 2007 and can apply to a number of planes, but I think it's primarily focused on planes with aft CG and/or the smaller main gear.

OSB 40-057 (actual MTOW increase) is dated 2013 and applies through serial no. 821. It requires one of the two previous OSB's to have been performed or somehow complied with. Now this current one is rev 2, so maybe rev 1 was issued considerably earlier. But is it possible some planes might have the landing weight boost without the takeoff weight mod? In any case one would think serial no. 1083 should be good, regardless of the dates of the SB's above.

Does Canada not require an accurate airframe-specific W&B be maintained and carried in the airplane?

[pietromarx]

Canada definitely requires a W&B. If the current one is incorrect then time to do a new one. That said, they will work from the earlier one unless one proves the case that the older one is incorrect. Also ... in doing a new W&B it seems that airplanes always get heavier.

[Sandy]

Also ... in doing a new W&B it seems that airplanes always get heavier.

... and so do their pilots

[Rich]

Also ... in doing a new W&B it seems that airplanes always get heavier.

... and so do their pilots

Not necessarily, mine has been slowly shedding weight over the last couple of years (and so have I).

[Rich]

Incidentally, when I replaced my wingtip lights with LEDs the shop didn't mess up the new empty weight/CG, but somehow screwed up both the MTOW and the aft CG limit.

[Lou]

Gord - I have a 2008 xls (40.935) and it definitely has the higher weight. I recall being confused about this when I bought it but was able to definitively establish that it did in the documents. I will try to figure it out next time I am at the airport and let you know.