Compare

Mooney M20J vs Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow

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: Mooney M20J, Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow.

Where they differ

  • There are more Mooney M20Js to choose from: 1,398 registered against 347.
  • The Piper PA-28R-201 carries more airframe ADs with a repeat action, 3 against 2: inspections that come back for as long as the AD applies.
  • Mechanics report the Mooney M20J's reciprocating engine cylinder section most, and the Piper PA-28R-201's nose/tail landing gear.

Side by side

Mooney M20JPiper PA-28R-201 Arrow
Registered in the US1,398347
Built1976 to 19981977 to 2018
Half built by19801978
Seats44
Most common engineLycoming IO-360Lycoming IO-360
Typical cruise fuel burn9.5 gal/hrNot set
Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls.Not setNot set
Current airframe ADs1836
Airframe ADs with a repeat action23
Current ADs on the main engine2929
Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today.13 (9.3 per 1,000)20 (57.6 per 1,000)
Most-reported systemReciprocating Engine Cylinder SectionNose/Tail Landing Gear
Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one.96 (68.7 per 1,000)25 (72.0 per 1,000)
Fatal accidents since 2008325
Most common accidentLoss of engine power (total)Loss of engine power (total)

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 Mooney M20J's repeat-action ADs

  • 98-24-11Requires inspecting the aileron control links for the installation of a reinforcing gusset; and, if no gusset is installed, repetitively inspecting the aileron control links (left-hand and right-hand) for cracks
  • 95-26-16 R1Requires repetitively inspecting the alternate air door assembly to ensure a cotter pin exists and is secure, and replacing the cotter pin if it does not exist or is not secure
Every AD for the Mooney M20J

The Piper PA-28R-201's repeat-action ADs

  • 2017-14-04Engine oil
  • 2013-02-13Requires inspections of the stabilator control system and replacement of parts as necessary
  • 97-01-01 R1The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-24, PA- 28R, PA-30, PA-32R, PA-34, and PA-39 Series Airplanes
Every AD for the Piper PA-28R-201

Questions

Which has more Airworthiness Directives, the Mooney M20J or the Piper PA-28R-201?
18 current ADs name the Mooney M20J airframe and 36 the Piper PA-28R-201; 2 and 3 of them have a repeat action.
Which is newer, the Mooney M20J or the Piper PA-28R-201?
Half of the Mooney M20Js registered were built by 1980, half of the Piper PA-28R-201s by 1978.
How do the Mooney M20J and Piper PA-28R-201 accident records compare?
96 accidents since 2008 for the Mooney M20J (32 fatal) against 25 for the Piper PA-28R-201 (5 fatal), from fleets of 1,398 and 347. Counts, not rates per hour flown.

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