Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
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Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
I flew a 1963 totally stock 182 yesterday and we were light on fuel and nothing in rear seat or baggage. I had full UP trim and I still needed to hold back pressure to get to my 70 mph final speed. I have not flown any other 182’s so I do not know if this is normal for a light 182? I will check the trim tab tomorrow and confirm that it rigged as per Cessna Maintenance Manual.
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Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
Something's not right. Way way back in the day when I was dropping meat bombs in a '59 182 I had no issues with trim despite I'm sure, having considerably less fuel and no seats at all.
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
I flew a 1956 182 last summer for a dropzone. Always on final when empty and light on fuel I would get very close to the back trim stop.
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
The early C182 with the "square" tail was nose heavy because Cessna removed the tail wheel and stuck a nose wheel on it. However as the previous poster noted with light fuel and just the front seats occupied you would only get close the the aft trim limit with full flap. Later models with a swept tail and a "trim tab" are more balanced and have a larger trim envolope.
Sounds like your aircraft needs the trim tab rigging checked and maybe some adjustment. It is easy to do with tiny fingers or a magnet, some sticky goo and lots of patience to reinstall the bolt, washer, and nut.
Also check that the wings angle of incidence is correct.
Sounds like your aircraft needs the trim tab rigging checked and maybe some adjustment. It is easy to do with tiny fingers or a magnet, some sticky goo and lots of patience to reinstall the bolt, washer, and nut.

Also check that the wings angle of incidence is correct.
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Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
You should be able to fly it hands off on the approach. Even the 206 with nobody in the back will trim to an 80MPH approach speed (less if you have a bunch of power on), though the arms get a good workout in the flare.
Having a 182 running out of trim authority is typical of a mis-rigged trim tab. The instructions for rigging the tab are quite ambiguous, as they say up travel XX degrees, down travel xx degrees.
Seems simple enough, but what do they mean by 'up' and 'down'? Nose up, and tab up are two different things.
When checking the travels, the tab should always go further down (nose up) than up (nose down). If you find it is the opposite, have somebody re-rig the system...
The straight tail 182s (1961 and earlier) are completely different animals. They are more accurately called 180-2s because they have much more in common with the 180 than 182s from 1962 and later. Having the full-moving stabilizer, their trim system is completely different. Harder to work on, but a lot harder to mess up.
Having a 182 running out of trim authority is typical of a mis-rigged trim tab. The instructions for rigging the tab are quite ambiguous, as they say up travel XX degrees, down travel xx degrees.
Seems simple enough, but what do they mean by 'up' and 'down'? Nose up, and tab up are two different things.
When checking the travels, the tab should always go further down (nose up) than up (nose down). If you find it is the opposite, have somebody re-rig the system...
The straight tail 182s (1961 and earlier) are completely different animals. They are more accurately called 180-2s because they have much more in common with the 180 than 182s from 1962 and later. Having the full-moving stabilizer, their trim system is completely different. Harder to work on, but a lot harder to mess up.
Geez did I say that....? Or just think it....?
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Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
Yep, we got a 1962 182 and I have run out of trim on landing (on occasion) by myself mid or less fuel. I never really thought too much about it. It would seem to me if I increased my speed just a little bit (+5 kts.) It was fine. I will ask our mechanic. He flys the plane as much as I do. Interesting?
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
That is not uncommon for 70 mph. Did you have a front passenger?
Bob
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Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
This is normal.
There is nothing wrong with your trim, the tab, the rigging etc. Your 1963 182 is flying exactly as it did when it rolled out of the factory.
182 especially of the year and model you mentioned (early model wide bodies) are very nose heavy and will run out of trim if you have no passengers or baggage in the back. This is a common and known issue. This issue was partially corrected in 1965 when Cessna introduced a slightly larger horizontal stab.
If you do a landing W&B for your plane for you will find you are very far forward CofG. Perhaps even a hair over the forward CofG limit.
Private owners often fly around with a case of water or extra survival gear as far back as they can get it to help balance things out. Or they just strong arm the plane down that last couple hundred feet.
There is nothing your mechanic can do to fix this issue other than putting that case of water in the back for you.
There is nothing wrong with your trim, the tab, the rigging etc. Your 1963 182 is flying exactly as it did when it rolled out of the factory.
182 especially of the year and model you mentioned (early model wide bodies) are very nose heavy and will run out of trim if you have no passengers or baggage in the back. This is a common and known issue. This issue was partially corrected in 1965 when Cessna introduced a slightly larger horizontal stab.
If you do a landing W&B for your plane for you will find you are very far forward CofG. Perhaps even a hair over the forward CofG limit.
Private owners often fly around with a case of water or extra survival gear as far back as they can get it to help balance things out. Or they just strong arm the plane down that last couple hundred feet.
There is nothing your mechanic can do to fix this issue other than putting that case of water in the back for you.
Last edited by kevinsky18 on Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
Perhaps that is why so many 182s have had bent firewalls at one time or another.
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
put the fat chick in the back 

Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
I removed a 18gal AUX fuel tank from the baggage compartment and all of the other crap involved with the installation and that added up to over 60 lbs. It also had Atlee Dodge bush seats and all of that stuff was heavy also. Also when I flew it up from San Diego we had baggage and AUX tank full of fuel. Trim was not and issue. This was the first time I have flown it since the Import and it sure did seem nose heavy compared to the trip home. I did check the trim tab travel and it is not within specification. It is supposed to be 25Deg Up trim (tab down) and 15 * down (tab up) It is currently only 17* for up trim and 19* for down trim. I pulled it into the hangar this afternoon and will rig trim according to Manual and put 50# bag into the baggage and report back.
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
Dropping meat bombs for years. Every 182 I flew was always nose heavy, especially coming down empty. I always had the trim full nose up on every landing. Tis normal, use your muscles
Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
Yep, its normal, all 182s especially the old ones are nose heavy. If its a square tail model, do the tailwheel conversion, then your problems are solved! You'd have a 180.
DEI = Didn’t Earn It
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Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
I must have had a weird 182 then. 1963, most flights with two people in the front, never had a problem with trimming for approach speed.
Power does affect it though, the less power you have on the more you need to trim up.
Power does affect it though, the less power you have on the more you need to trim up.
Geez did I say that....? Or just think it....?
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Re: Cessna 182 running out of UP trim on final
Kev, check your PMs.kevinsky18 wrote:This is normal.
There is nothing wrong with your trim, the tab, the rigging etc. Your 1963 182 is flying exactly as it did when it rolled out of the factory. ... There is nothing your mechanic can do to fix this issue other than putting that case of water in the back for you.