Narrative:

While configuring the mdt for landing, we selected flaps 15 degrees, landing gear down. As flaps extended, it was noted that elevator trim was full nose down and a slight pressure was required to maintain the nose attitude. The first officer and I agreed that flap 25 degrees would require additional nose down trim, so a flaps 15 degree landing was planned and executed with no further difficulties. A vth speed of 120 KIAS was used. Touchdown was approximately 100 KIAS. After arriving at the gate, I inspected the baggage in the tail compartment. The count was 42 bags, which was what the weight and balance was calculated on. The maximum baggage without passenger load of 36 was 54 bags at 35 pounds apiece. However, as I counted the bags, which were extremely large, I estimated their weight from 50 to over 100 pounds each. I suggest that all bags be weighed at 'check in.' those bags above 35 pounds must have actual weight posted and be used in calculating the aircraft's actual weight and balance. This is a dangerous situation that must be avoided on regional turboprops and other transport aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT WAS SO TAIL HVY THAT THE CREW HAD TO RESTRICT THE USE OF WING FLAPS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE CONFIGURING THE MDT FOR LNDG, WE SELECTED FLAPS 15 DEGS, LNDG GEAR DOWN. AS FLAPS EXTENDED, IT WAS NOTED THAT ELEVATOR TRIM WAS FULL NOSE DOWN AND A SLIGHT PRESSURE WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE NOSE ATTITUDE. THE FO AND I AGREED THAT FLAP 25 DEGS WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL NOSE DOWN TRIM, SO A FLAPS 15 DEG LNDG WAS PLANNED AND EXECUTED WITH NO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES. A VTH SPD OF 120 KIAS WAS USED. TOUCHDOWN WAS APPROX 100 KIAS. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GATE, I INSPECTED THE BAGGAGE IN THE TAIL COMPARTMENT. THE COUNT WAS 42 BAGS, WHICH WAS WHAT THE WT AND BAL WAS CALCULATED ON. THE MAX BAGGAGE WITHOUT PAX LOAD OF 36 WAS 54 BAGS AT 35 LBS APIECE. HOWEVER, AS I COUNTED THE BAGS, WHICH WERE EXTREMELY LARGE, I ESTIMATED THEIR WT FROM 50 TO OVER 100 LBS EACH. I SUGGEST THAT ALL BAGS BE WEIGHED AT 'CHK IN.' THOSE BAGS ABOVE 35 LBS MUST HAVE ACTUAL WT POSTED AND BE USED IN CALCULATING THE ACFT'S ACTUAL WT AND BAL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SIT THAT MUST BE AVOIDED ON REGIONAL TURBOPROPS AND OTHER TRANSPORT ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.