Fire Extinguisher

[Charles Schefer]

My PA-30 has a bracket under the pilot seat for a Fire Extinguisher. The previous owner told me that it's weight was off and he intended to replace it but never got around to it - thus it now falls to me. When I look at the equipment list the original Weight and Balance and Equipment List paperwork references:

"2 1/2 DCK Purch Walter Kidde Per DAC DWG 21731"

Then a later Weight and Balance Update from 1972 said that a new fire extinguisher was added increasing weight by 4lbs. There was no reference to the weight of the old extinguisher being removed but I guess that's sort of irrelevant because the previous owner had the plane weighed a few years ago after a new panel was installed.

Anyway the new fire extinguisher paperwork said:

"Balkamp 4-2740" Not sure if that's Balkamp one word or BAL Kamp or what...

Anyway the question at the root of my post is simply this... I don't have a fire extinguisher under the pilot seat. I don't believe one is legally required per-se (not in the limitations section of the AFM) but I sure want one. What kind of extinguisher should I get? I have a spare Cirrus Fire Extinguisher that Could put in but it's only the 1lb 2.6oz variety without a pressure gauge so it needs to be weighed periodically.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

- Charles

[N3322G]

We use a fire extinguisher we bought at OSH. I weigh it every annual and write the new weight on the side. Under a certain amount W&B entries are not required. Researched this once through AOPA.

[Charles Schefer]

Thanks Pat. I guess I'll probably just either install the Cirrus type extinguisher I have as spare sitting in the office or buy a slightly larger one with a gauge from Spruce. As far as W&B calc.... my plane was weighed a few years ago to re-baseline the empty weight and useful load. Currently my empty weight is 2,382lbs giving me 1,218lbs useful load. I'll have to check with the previous owner but I believe that weighing was done with a 4lb extinguisher installed (according to the maint records it's still installed- though it isn't). I'll take every legitimate lb of useful load I can get so if I install a similar sized extinguisher I won't bother but otherwise I'll adjust the records.

- Charles