Bell Helicopter 222
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; General Maintenance Action
Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors
Due to a recent Weight and Balance (W&B) event that occurred in another aircraft at another base dealing with incorrect historic information; I've increased my vigilance when reviewing the aircraft W&B data prior to a flight. By doing so; I and pilot being checked discovered the empty weight moment data on aircraft weighing sheet appeared to be incorrect. The aircraft was last weighed in February 2013. This incorrect moment had been transcribed to the running W&B as well as the mission W&B sheets. As medical equipment and other items were added to the aircraft; the degree of error increased to a noticeable amount. Much of this error turned out to be rounding error due to Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet conversion; but the initial error simply magnified the problem. We contacted Maintenance and Management. We made no adjustments to the aircraft weigh sheet. We made pen & ink corrections to the form documenting the adjusted moment with dual controls installed; as well as dual controls removed and alternate medical seat installed. We made a write up in the aircraft logbook and documented the log page for future reference. We briefed the oncoming pilot of the correction. This morning after breakfast; I realized I had flown this same aircraft in June with the same pilot on a previous training flight but was unaware of the error at the time. When we reviewed the W&B on that flight; we simply looked at the moment numbers - which were consistent throughout the remaining aircraft documents. We were unaware of the error at the time. Increased vigilance detected this issue. Based on the amount of W&B issues we seem to be experiencing within the company; I recommend a memo or notice be issued to all bases for the lead pilots and mechanics to jointly review their aircraft basic weight sheets for accuracy. In addition; the BH-222 W&B excel spreadsheet on the flight deck is an older format and does not allow for the inclusion of detailed medical equipment. This base has an accurate medical equipment list in another format. I will be reviewing the BH-222 W&B excel sheet with Mr. X; for assistance in modernization and improvement.
Helicopter Check Airman discovered the empty weight moment data on the aircraft weighing sheet appeared to be incorrect. The error was transferred to a computer program producing weight and balance errors on all aircraft using the program for 18 months.