Compare
Piper PA-28-161 Warrior 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: Piper PA-28-161 Warrior, Piper PA-28-181 Archer.
Where they differ
- The Piper PA-28-181 fleet is younger: half of those registered were built by 1986, against 1979 for the Piper PA-28-161.
- There are more Piper PA-28-181s to choose from: 3,425 registered against 1,501.
- Most Piper PA-28-161s have the Lycoming O-320; 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 8.5.
- Mechanics report the Piper PA-28-161's reciprocating engine cylinder section most, and the Piper PA-28-181's fuselage miscellaneous structure.
Side by side
| Piper PA-28-161 Warrior | Piper PA-28-181 Archer | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the US | 1,501 | 3,425 |
| Built | 1977 to 2015 | 1975 to 2026 |
| Half built by | 1979 | 1986 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Most common engine | Lycoming O-320 | Lycoming O-360 |
| Typical cruise fuel burn | 8.5 gal/hr | 9.5 gal/hr |
| Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls. | 2,000 hr | 2,000 hr |
| Current airframe ADs | 59 | 59 |
| Airframe ADs with a repeat action | 3 | 3 |
| Current ADs on the main engine | 24 | 24 |
| Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today. | 102 (68.0 per 1,000) | 790 (230.7 per 1,000) |
| Most-reported system | Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section | Fuselage Miscellaneous Structure |
| Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one. | 110 (73.3 per 1,000) | 130 (38.0 per 1,000) |
| Fatal accidents since 2008 | 19 | 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 Piper PA-28-161'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...
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 Piper PA-28-161 or the Piper PA-28-181?
- 59 current ADs name the Piper PA-28-161 airframe and 59 the Piper PA-28-181; 3 and 3 of them have a repeat action.
- Which is newer, the Piper PA-28-161 or the Piper PA-28-181?
- Half of the Piper PA-28-161s registered were built by 1979, half of the Piper PA-28-181s by 1986.
- How do the Piper PA-28-161 and Piper PA-28-181 accident records compare?
- 110 accidents since 2008 for the Piper PA-28-161 (19 fatal) against 130 for the Piper PA-28-181 (19 fatal), from fleets of 1,501 and 3,425. Counts, not rates per hour flown.