Definition
A flight condition in which an aircraft has a tendency to roll toward one wing when the controls are released in level flight, indicating that the wings are not in lateral trim and require rigging adjustment to fly hands-off without rolling.
Plain English
When you let go of the controls in straight and level flight, the airplane rolls toward one side instead of staying level. That side is the 'heavy' wing, and the airplane needs adjustment to fly straight on its own.
Context Anchor
Seen in pilot maintenance reports, post-maintenance checks, and test flights after repairs, paint work, or control-surface adjustments.
Derivation
The term is descriptive: the wing that drops feels as if it weighs more than the other. The cause is usually not actual weight but unequal lift -- often from rigging differences, fuel imbalance, or a slightly bent control surface -- but the effect feels like one wing is heavier, so pilots and mechanics call it 'wing heavy.'
Why Pilots Care
Signals an imbalance or rigging issue that must be corrected to reduce pilot workload and maintain safe, stable flight characteristics.
Grounding Statement
If the airplane keeps trying to roll one way in normal flight, it may be wing heavy.
Intuition Check
Wing heavy does not usually mean one wing is physically too heavy. It means the aircraft tends to roll toward one side in flight.
Example Sentence 1
After replacing the aileron, the mechanic test-flew the aircraft and reported it was slightly left-wing heavy, so the trim tab was adjusted.
Example Sentence 2
After adjusting the control cables, the team confirmed the plane was no longer wing heavy during level flight checks.