Definition
Flight control surfaces (such as ailerons, elevators, or rudders) designed so that a portion of their area or mass is positioned forward of the hinge line, reducing the aerodynamic force the pilot must apply to move them and helping prevent flutter. Balancing can be aerodynamic (a portion of the surface ahead of the hinge), static/mass balance (weights added forward of the hinge), or both.
Plain English
Control surfaces built so they're easier to move and less likely to vibrate dangerously. A small part of the surface, or a weight, sits ahead of the hinge to do this.
Context Anchor
Seen in maintenance rules, especially when deciding whether a pilot may perform a task as preventive maintenance.
Derivation
Balanced' here means weight or aerodynamic force is distributed around the hinge line so neither side dominates. The idea is the same as a balanced seesaw: equal influence on each side of the pivot point.
Why Pilots Care
Lighter control forces reduce pilot fatigue and help prevent flutter at higher speeds.
Analogy
Think of a ceiling fan blade with extra weight added to one side. Even if the fan still turns, it may shake because the weight is no longer right. A control surface can have a similar problem if material is added or removed without checking its balance.
Intuition Check
Balanced does not mean the airplane is flying straight and level here. It means the control surface itself has the correct weight relationship around its hinge.
Example Sentence 1
When inspecting the ailerons, the pilot checked that the balance weights were secure and undamaged.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot noticed lighter stick forces once the aircraft was equipped with balanced control surfaces.