Yes, in the case of your PA 28 140.
The industry didn’t start using the Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) format until 1979. Prior to that airplanes were provided with Owners Manuals.
When the industry went to the POH format, each new airplane was provided with a POH and an Approved Flight Manual (AFM) which was specific to that airplane in that there are supplements for optional equipment, etc.
The POH/AFM must be in the airplane during flight and must be updated with new information when it becomes available to maintain airworthiness.
Since the POH/AFM is a one-off document, manufacturers printed relatively inexpensive Information Manuals so that flight schools, student pilots, and transitioning pilots would have a book that closely mirrors the POH for their studies and reference.
If the POH/AFM is lost or defaced, then it must be replaced. The following is text from Piper on this subject:
“Depending on the age of the aircraft, approved airplane flight manuals for Piper airplanes are provided in one of the following formats: Airplane Flight Manuals (AFM’s), Pilot’s Operating Manuals (POM’s), and Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH’s).”
“Pilot Information Manuals (PIM’s) are unserialized versions of the approved flight manuals. They are low cost and intended for general reference.”
Steve
