PA-31 Info

[mic310]

Hi all. Anyone know were I can get hold of any PA31-350T information for the CASA Endo exam? Would like to have good idea of the a/c instead of a rushed job with the flight manual an hour before check ride, as the plane is busy with CHTR most days and nights. Any links online, any ideas would be great. CHEERS:)

[Danger Mouse]

Surely the operator you are doing your endorsement with would have a Pilot Operating Handbook in the office for you to read?

[senshi]

mic310... here's a tip champ. don't read the material one hour before your endorsement. additionally, the flight manual will far better than any one page gloss over of the pa-31 which is quite a complex twin. take your time and read through from front to back. you'll be a lot better off.

[ZEEBEE]

Here's another couple of tips you won't find in the Operators Handbook or the Flight Manual.

The gear warning horn is ONLY activated if the flap switch is either in the UP or DOWN position.
If you lower flap and then return the switch to neutral, the gear warning horn is inhibited.

Secondly, ensure that when you lower the gear, you push the Gear switch ALL the way to the bottom.
If there is any stretch in the cable that goes to the hydraulic selector, failure to do so will result in the gear doors opening giving you all the indications that it's all happening and then they'll close up again without the gear coming down.

Thirdly, check to see what MP the gear warning horn comes on (assuming the flap switch is in the down detent) as many operators set the alarm point at 12" MP.
If you're flying the engines properly, you won't see 12"MP until the flare.

Hard experience taught me those things. :{

[mic310]

Thanks ZeeBee, for the useful information.:ok:

[john_tullamarine]

pardon the ignorance ... haven't flown a Navajo for many years .. but what is a PA-31-350T ? Type Sheets don't appear to call up such a model ?

[av8trflying]

I may be wrong but a navajo is the 310 as in 310 hp and the 350 is the chieftain which is 350 hp.

[john_tullamarine]

Indeed ... I tend to be a tad loose with these things ... to me a Nav is a Nav regardless (for flying purposes) although the Chieftain is a bit more fun to fly in my view.

Point of the question is that I haven't come across a 350T so wondering what it is ? Generally, in Oz, a minor nomenclature change indicates a local STC type modification ... just a minor point of interest for me.

Basic definitions are as per TCDS (http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/A232DB9090BF1F928625720A00551549?OpenDocument) (A20SO).

[Dookie on Drums]

Agreed JT, The Chiefy was much more nicer to fly than the Nav in my opinion.

Which also begs the question...what is a "Super" Chieftain??? Let's see who can answer this!

[av8trflying]

My bad, the only info that i could with the "350T" is a reference:

"was a Chieftain modified to be marketed to the commuter airline market(based on the Chieftain but "hardened" for airline operations)"

[av8trflying]

In regards to the super chieftain, was it a mod to increase MTOW?

Super Chieftain I Modification (STC SA00192SE) that increased the maximum permissible take-off weight from 7 000 pounds to 7 368 pounds. The modification consisted of four engine nacelle strakes and 88 vortex generators affixed to the wings and vertical tail.

[john_tullamarine]

ah hah !! .. then that would be the T1020 which is a late serial subset of the PA31-350. Thanks for that.

[Mike The pom]

Piper did a Pather version didn't they, in 1995 I think the released it? It had all the bells and whistles on it.

That was simlar to mentioned above there's an operator in Hamilton I think who may refer to there's as the 'T'

But to me any piper with a 'T' in it usually means you get a nice kick when the power is turned on! Gosh I loved the Seneca II I used to fly.

[ZEEBEE]

Piper did a Pather version didn't they, in 1995 I think the released it? It had all the bells and whistles on it.

The Panther, I believe, was only available on the 31-310 model.

Had winglets and four blade props (ones I saw, were bent at the tips as well).

It/they set a few speed records during some air races from memory.

Pretty mean looking machine too.

[porch monkey]

Embraer also built chieftains. The EMB 820 I think. Same as the last few built by piper, ie the T1020. There is at least one here in oz that I know of.

[bushy]

Since when did Chieftains have fuel tank cap vents??

The T1020 had turbines. PT6's I think.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

The T1020 had turbines.

Bushy: as they say - great minds!

I tought the same thing but it seems they made a piston Chiefy and stuck the T1020 moniker on it (you can find a couple for sale if you google).

I think they then stuck PT6s on it and called it the T1020.

Dr :8

[john_tullamarine]

The T1020 had turbines. PT6's I think.

The T1020 is the later S/N range in the PA31-350 range .. definitely Lycs.

Perhaps you are thinking of the PA-31T3 (T-1040) per TCDS A8EA (http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/9B9FDE88EA0DB37B862572090075DC7F?OpenDocument) configured with PT6s ?

[Alice Kiwican]

From CASA website:
EMB-820 VH-HVA

Currently on line with Westwing in Mt Isa.:ok:

[Bendo]

HVA was a Yanda machine - I thought it was online with Hunter Valley Avn?

Isn't HVA the one that MJ put on its nose at Scone after the n/gear failed... and about 8 weeks after it was repaired, SG killed the pig with it (in the dark) at Coona? :} :D

Got Photos of MJ's landing here somewhere... :uhoh:

http://www.elliepants.com.au/Jarvie1.jpg

[tinpis]

Brush up on double engine failure techniques :hmm:

[sms777]

I tell you how!
Start with a bucket full of Turtle Wax, polish the fuselage and wings for 2 days non stop untill smooth as a babys bottom then go for a flight with minimum fuel, full forward trim, 75% power with no one on board but yourself and i can assure you will you will get 160kts no problems.

[bushy]

We always used to get a TAS of 180 out of chieftains.

[Fr8dog44]

Hi Guys,

I used to fly Navajo's Single-Pilot-IFR and have about 1700 hours in them.

The PA-31-310 is what we used to call "The Baby Navajo", 310 HP Lyc's, different fuel and flap systems and a shorter fuselage.

The PA-31-350 is the "Chieftain", it too had variations depending on the year it was manufactured. The main differences were the Flap systems. The older models had one similar to a single-engine Cessna 152 with spring-loaded toggle switch and the newer models with a lever that actually corresponded to Flap setting plus a few other "improvements" over the 310.

The T1020's were equiped with PT6's rated at 500 hp I believe. A carrier I used to fly for in Alaska had 2 of them equiped with belly pods.

For those looking for study material; I used to have manuals but sold them on Ebay, so you might want to look there.

Cheers!