3472. Factors Affecting and Methods for the Prevention of Freighter Aircraft Tipping During Ground Operations

Paper

Abstract

Since the design of commercial civil aircraft evolved into a tricycle landing gear
configuration to improve ground handling and landing characteristics over the taildragger arrangement, weight/balance engineers and load masters have had to contend with the potentially catastrophic concern of an airplane tipping onto its tail during load/unload. A carelessly placed pallet on a particularly sensitive aircraft can result in severe injury to ground personnel and millions of dollars of damage to an aircraft.
This paper will explore the considerations that make an aircraft more or less susceptible to tipping, briefly explain analysis methods used to determine tip sensitivity, and discuss methods both current and proposed to prevent tip up.
The paper will show:
– Tip-up to be a practical problem in need of a solution through the use of
historical examples.
– How environmental factors can influence an aircraft’s susceptibility to tipping.
– Some general aircraft configuration differences that have major influences on
aircraft ground stability.
– That load sequencing is the most important factor to consider in tip prevention.
– Methods, with varying degrees of complexity and effectiveness, that are
currently in use to prevent tip-up incidents.
– How the latest Boeing designed tip alarm on the 777F provides an effective and
simple method for alerting ground crews of a potentially hazardous situation.