Compare
Piper PA-24-250 Comanche vs Mooney M20C
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: Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, Mooney M20C.
Where they differ
- The Mooney M20C fleet is younger: half of those registered were built by 1965, against 1960 for the Piper PA-24-250.
- Most Piper PA-24-250s have the Lycoming O-540; most Mooney M20Cs the Lycoming O-360.
- Mechanics report the Piper PA-24-250's fuel control/reciprocating engines most, and the Mooney M20C's fuselage, landing gear attach fittings.
Side by side
| Piper PA-24-250 Comanche | Mooney M20C | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the US | 1,202 | 1,237 |
| Built | 1958 to 1964 | 1961 to 1977 |
| Half built by | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Most common engine | Lycoming O-540 | Lycoming O-360 |
| Typical cruise fuel burn | Not set | Not set |
| Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls. | Not set | 2,000 hr |
| Current airframe ADs | 42 | 15 |
| Airframe ADs with a repeat action | 2 | 2 |
| Current ADs on the main engine | 23 | 24 |
| Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today. | 10 (8.3 per 1,000) | 5 (4.0 per 1,000) |
| Most-reported system | Fuel Control/Reciprocating Engines | Fuselage, Landing Gear Attach Fittings |
| Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one. | 83 (69.1 per 1,000) | 63 (50.9 per 1,000) |
| Fatal accidents since 2008 | 26 | 21 |
| Most common accident | Loss of control in flight | 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 Piper PA-24-250's repeat-action ADs
- 2012-17-06Requires replacement of the stabilator horn assembly and/or repetitive inspections of the stabilator horn assembly for corrosion or cracks, as applicable
- 97-01-01 R1The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-24, PA- 28R, PA-30, PA-32R, PA-34, and PA-39 Series Airplanes
The Mooney M20C's repeat-action ADs
- 2023-02-04Requires inspecting to determine whether a certain elevator balance weight is installed
- 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
Questions
- Which has more Airworthiness Directives, the Piper PA-24-250 or the Mooney M20C?
- 42 current ADs name the Piper PA-24-250 airframe and 15 the Mooney M20C; 2 and 2 of them have a repeat action.
- Which is newer, the Piper PA-24-250 or the Mooney M20C?
- Half of the Piper PA-24-250s registered were built by 1960, half of the Mooney M20Cs by 1965.
- How do the Piper PA-24-250 and Mooney M20C accident records compare?
- 83 accidents since 2008 for the Piper PA-24-250 (26 fatal) against 63 for the Mooney M20C (21 fatal), from fleets of 1,202 and 1,237. Counts, not rates per hour flown.