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- Mar 18, 2017
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Right around the time I acquired my 160c, I found the set of documents posted online (here, actually) which detailed the conversion of a s/n eligible 150c to a 180c. As my plane has a motor at TBO, this is was of future interest - if I have to replace an engine at some point, why not an o-360 and a different prop to get a 200 pound bump in MGW.
I'd had some difficulty getting a straight answer from Piper regarding whether or not they would still issue an updated data plate and support this conversion. Today, I received a call from Andrew in engineering (he's apparently the go-to guy in Vero Beach when it comes to structural questions regarding old airframes). He politely informed me that while just about everyone agrees that the airframe I have is equivalent to a 180, Piper could not currently see an up-side in issuing data-plates for this conversion.
I cannot say I'm surprised at this outcome. There's abosolutely no incentive for Piper to weigh in on a conversion of a 52 year old product...and the cross-over of guys who are flying such old aluminum (like me) vs. people shopping for new Pipers (not me) is likely nil.
In short...if you have a serial-number eligible Cherokee 150 or 160, Piper is no longer issuing data plates to convert to a 180. We did have an interesting discussion regarding "one-off" STCs. Andrew felt there was a pretty decent shot that a FSDO could do this, as the airframes are indeed identical, and Piper has documented / supported the conversion before.
As I'm currently eyeballing a 235, I don't know that pursuing the one-off route is likely - but it's an interesting option. I'm curious as to how far the FAA would go on that - especially since it's already been done and previously endorsed by the manufacturer and TC holder.
I'd had some difficulty getting a straight answer from Piper regarding whether or not they would still issue an updated data plate and support this conversion. Today, I received a call from Andrew in engineering (he's apparently the go-to guy in Vero Beach when it comes to structural questions regarding old airframes). He politely informed me that while just about everyone agrees that the airframe I have is equivalent to a 180, Piper could not currently see an up-side in issuing data-plates for this conversion.
I cannot say I'm surprised at this outcome. There's abosolutely no incentive for Piper to weigh in on a conversion of a 52 year old product...and the cross-over of guys who are flying such old aluminum (like me) vs. people shopping for new Pipers (not me) is likely nil.
In short...if you have a serial-number eligible Cherokee 150 or 160, Piper is no longer issuing data plates to convert to a 180. We did have an interesting discussion regarding "one-off" STCs. Andrew felt there was a pretty decent shot that a FSDO could do this, as the airframes are indeed identical, and Piper has documented / supported the conversion before.
As I'm currently eyeballing a 235, I don't know that pursuing the one-off route is likely - but it's an interesting option. I'm curious as to how far the FAA would go on that - especially since it's already been done and previously endorsed by the manufacturer and TC holder.
