Compare
Diamond DA 40 Diamond Star vs Piper PA-28-181 Archer
The two side by side, from the FAA registry, the FAA's Airworthiness Directives and Service Difficulty Reports, and the NTSB's accident database. Each has a full guide: Diamond DA 40 Diamond Star, Piper PA-28-181 Archer.
Where they differ
- The Diamond DA 40 fleet is younger: half of those registered were built by 2008, against 1986 for the Piper PA-28-181.
- There are more Piper PA-28-181s to choose from: 3,425 registered against 1,000.
- Most Diamond DA 40s have the Lycoming IO-360; most Piper PA-28-181s the Lycoming O-360.
- The Piper PA-28-181 burns more fuel in a typical cruise: about 9.5 gallons an hour against 9.
- The Diamond DA 40 carries more airframe ADs with a repeat action, 5 against 3: inspections that come back for as long as the AD applies.
Side by side
| Diamond DA 40 Diamond Star | Piper PA-28-181 Archer | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the US | 1,000 | 3,425 |
| Built | 2002 to 2025 | 1975 to 2026 |
| Half built by | 2008 | 1986 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Most common engine | Lycoming IO-360 | Lycoming O-360 |
| Typical cruise fuel burn | 9 gal/hr | 9.5 gal/hr |
| Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls. | Not set | 2,000 hr |
| Current airframe ADs | 13 | 59 |
| Airframe ADs with a repeat action | 5 | 3 |
| Current ADs on the main engine | 29 | 24 |
| Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today. | 0 (0.0 per 1,000) | 790 (230.7 per 1,000) |
| Most-reported system | None | Fuselage Miscellaneous Structure |
| Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one. | 53 (53.0 per 1,000) | 130 (38.0 per 1,000) |
| Fatal accidents since 2008 | 9 | 19 |
| Most common accident | Loss of control on ground | Loss of control on ground |
Report and accident counts are not rates: nobody publishes the hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Fuel burn is a typical cruise figure; the engine interval is its maker's published figure for the usual engine.
The Diamond DA 40's repeat-action ADs
- 2024-19-08Requires doing repetitive detailed inspections of the NLG leg pivot axle for cracking and if cracking is found replacing that part with a serviceable part
- 2016-23-03Turbocharging
- 2016-22-06Autopilot
- 2013-08-21Turbocharging
- 2007-11-21Fuel
The Piper PA-28-181's repeat-action ADs
- 2017-14-04Engine oil
- 2013-02-13Requires inspections of the stabilator control system and replacement of parts as necessary
- 2010-26-04Requires installing a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) backup battery, replacing the supplement pilot's operating handbook and FAA approved airplane flight manual, and revising the limitations section of...
Questions
- Which has more Airworthiness Directives, the Diamond DA 40 or the Piper PA-28-181?
- 13 current ADs name the Diamond DA 40 airframe and 59 the Piper PA-28-181; 5 and 3 of them have a repeat action.
- Which is newer, the Diamond DA 40 or the Piper PA-28-181?
- Half of the Diamond DA 40s registered were built by 2008, half of the Piper PA-28-181s by 1986.
- How do the Diamond DA 40 and Piper PA-28-181 accident records compare?
- 53 accidents since 2008 for the Diamond DA 40 (9 fatal) against 130 for the Piper PA-28-181 (19 fatal), from fleets of 1,000 and 3,425. Counts, not rates per hour flown.