If the center of gravity is outside the approved forward or aft limits, what is a likely handling characteristic?

• A. Improved stall characteristics.
• B. Reduced stability and control effectiveness; potential for hard control or stall.
• C. Increased roll stability.
• D. No change in handling.

Answer: (B)

Stability and control effectiveness are dictated by where the center of gravity sits. When the CG is outside the approved forward or aft limits, the airplane’s pitch stability and the elevator’s authority to control pitch change are degraded. If the CG is too far forward, the aircraft becomes more nose‑heavy, requiring more back pressure and reducing elevator effectiveness, which can make control feel heavy and slow to respond, and can make stall recovery less certain. If the CG is too far aft, the airplane becomes less pitch-stable and more responsive to control inputs, which can lead to overcontrol and a tendency toward instability or an abrupt stall. In either case, handling is compromised, with a real risk of hard control feel or a stall, which is why the best description is reduced stability and control effectiveness.