Ownership guide
Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow
347 registered in the US, built from about 1977 to 2018, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming IO-360. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.
The fleet
- Registered in the US
- 347
- Built
- 1977 to 2018
- Half built by
- 1978
- Seats
- 4
- Engine type
- Piston
- Most common engine
- Lycoming IO-360
Engines installed
- Lycoming IO-360298 aircraft (86%) · 29 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
36 current ADs name the PA-28R-201 airframe, 3 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 29 more. 15 equipment ADs name the model.
The ones that come back
ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.
- 2017-14-04Engine oilAirplaneSupersedes 95-26-13Repeat actionJul 11, 2017
- 2013-02-13Requires inspections of the stabilator control system and replacement of parts as necessaryStabilizer control system · AirplaneRepeat actionFeb 4, 2013
- 97-01-01 R1The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-24, PA- 28R, PA-30, PA-32R, PA-34, and PA-39 Series AirplanesAirplaneSupersedes 97-01-01Repeat actionOct 29, 1998
What gets reported
20 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.
Systems reported most
- Nose/Tail Landing Gear6
- Magneto/Distributor2
- Wing, Attach Fittings1
- Nose/Tail Landing Gear Strut/Axle1
- Wing, Rib/Bulkhead1
- Vacuum Distribution System1
Parts reported most
- Switch, stuck2
- Fitting, damaged1
- Drag strut, cracked1
- Landing gear, inoperative1
- Bumper, broken1
- Bumper block, broken1
The latest reports
2026-07-30 · Spark Plug/Igniter · Spark plug, cracked
Following discovery of a cracked spark plug on another aircraft, a precautionary inspection was conducted of the spark plug on this aircraft as it was the same lot # as a previous spark plug failure. visual inspection found cracking at a point between the spark plug gasket boss and the hexagonal nut portion (what tempest refers to as the hot lock assembly). the aircraft had not flown since this s
2023-05-22 · Power Lever · Throttle cable, broken
Aircraft throttle cable p/n: 455-322 completely broke off at engine side swage.
2023-04-06 · Landing Gear System · Switch, stuck
During the pre-taxi checklist, student pilot mistakenly placed the gear selector in the up position. the nose gear retracted, causing the nose of the aircraft to collapse on to the apron damaging the propeller and engine cowling. inspection found that the gear safety squat switch was stuck in the closed position allowing the gear to retract while the aircraft was on the ground. physically manip
2023-04-05 · Landing Gear Retraction/Extension System · Switch, stuck
During scheduled inspection, landing gear anti-retraction system failed to prevent gear retraction with weight on wheels. inspection found gear safety squat switch was stuck in the closed position internally. the switch tab was in the normal deactivated position, but the switch electrical circuit was closed. manipulation of the switch restored normal function and the fault could not be reproduc
From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.
Accident record
25 accidents since 2008, 5 fatal (9 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 2 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Loss of engine power (total)3
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)2
- Midair collision2
- System or component failure (not the engine)2
- Collision during takeoff/land2
- Low altitude operation/event2
Phase of flight
- Landing9
- Initial climb5
- Approach3
- Enroute3
- Maneuvering2
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 | West chicago, IL | Takeoff: Runway excursion | None | CEN26LA186 |
| 2025-11-24 | Pittsfield, IL | Approach: Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) | Fatal | CEN26FA049 |
| 2024-01-02 | Wiggins, SC | Enroute: Unknown or undetermined | Serious | ERA24LA080 |
| 2023-06-24 | Macon, GA | Approach: Birdstrike | None | ERA23LA303 |
| 2022-09-14 | Conway, SC | Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total) | Fatal | CEN22FA419 |
| 2022-02-04 | Olathe, KS | Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined | None | CEN22LA115 |
From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.
What it costs to run
Per hour flown
Per year, flown or not
- Fuel
- $0/hr
- Engine reserve
- $0/hr
- A year
- $0
- All in, per hour
- $0/hr
Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Before you buy one
- Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
- For each repeat-action AD (3 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
- Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
- Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the nose/tail landing gear and for stuck switchs: they are what gets reported most on this model.
- 15 equipment ADs name the PA-28R-201 (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
- Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
- Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.
The rest of the PA-28R family
Questions
- How many Piper PA-28R-201s are registered in the US?
- 347, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Piper PA-28R-201 built?
- From about 1977 to 2018. Half of those registered today were built by 1978.
- What engine does the Piper PA-28R-201 have?
- Most have the Lycoming IO-360 (86% of those registered).
- What are common problems with the Piper PA-28R-201?
- In 20 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were nose/tail landing gear, magneto/distributor, wing, attach fittings, and the part most often reported was a stuck switch.
- How many accidents has the Piper PA-28R-201 had?
- 25 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 5 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
- How many Airworthiness Directives does the Piper PA-28R-201 have?
- 36 current ADs name the PA-28R-201 airframe, 3 of them with a repeat action, and 29 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.
Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.