February 2015-
Q: Hi Steve,
I just bought a sweet little Piper Comanche. I can’t believe how much the prices have fallen in the last five years. This one is a 1964 Comanche 250. I am planning to upgrade the avionics and get a new paint job and figured that all into my budget when I penciled out the numbers. So far I couldn’t be happier.
Since I’ve just entered the Comanche world, I need some guidance on how to keep my airplane alive and healthy. What are the big maintenance items? What parts do I need to buy now and stockpile for the day the parts pipeline dries up? Where can I learn all there is to learn?
—Comanche Newbie
A: Dear Newbie,
Congratulations on finding the right airplane. Comanches are good airplanes that tend to fly below the radar—in public opinion, that is!—and for a design that first hit the airways back in 1958, they are holding up well. I have been refurbishing my 1960 Comanche for years now.
First off, it’s a good idea to join a group or association. And it’s also a good idea to get some books specifically about Comanches.
The best-known of the Comanche specialty shops is Webco Aircraft Co. in Newton, Kan. Webco is my go-to place for parts for my Comanche.
Webco sells lots of scarce parts and seems to always be working with suppliers to maintain a supply of critical parts. One of Webco’s latest coups is getting a stock of landing gear conduits manufactured and available. These conduits transfer motion from the landing gear transmission/motor assembly to the left and right main landing gears.
The new conduits from Webco are permanently sealed and Teflon lined to place less load to the motor/transmission. (Field experience shows that it’s difficult to successfully re-lubricate the old ones.) Many Comanche devotees have bought a set of these for insurance against the day they need them.
Other well-known Comanche shops include Johnston Aircraft Service in Tulare, Calif., Aircraft Engineering, Inc. in Bartow, Fla., Clifton Aero in Clifton, Tex. and Aviation Innovations in Scappoose, Ore.
Landing gear help can be obtained from Matt Kurke at Comanche Gear. Kurke owns a fire-breathing Comanche 400 (eight-cylinder Lycoming IO-720) and is an expert at rebuilding landing gear components. Last summer I sent my Comanche’s landing gear motor and transmission to him for a tune-up. Now it no longer sounds like a cement mixer when the gear retracts and extends.
The most important and most overlooked or poorly accomplished maintenance item on a single or twin Comanche is maintaining the landing gear system in accordance with the manual. It’s likely that AD 77-13-21 titled “To prevent landing gear collapse after manual extension” may have been signed off for your aircraft, but was not thoroughly completed.
This AD calls for repetitive changes of the landing gear assist bungees every three years or 500 hours, whichever occurs first; and mandates that every bolt, bushing and other wear part in the landing gear system be returned to like-new tolerances every 1,000 hours. This is a pretty labor-intensive operation, but it’s worth every penny.
If this AD is pencil-whipped or ignored, the chance of a landing gear collapse is greatly increased. My advice? Take your airplane to a Comanche-savvy shop if your shop has never performed the maintenance required for this AD.
AD 97-01-01 R1 is also an important landing gear AD. It details the repetitive inspection of the main gear side brace studs for cracks and applies to PA-24, PA-28R, PA-30, PA-32R, PA-34, and PA-39 series airplanes.
The other big maintenance deal is maintaining the integrity of the stabilator system. There are a total of four ADs on the Comanche stabilator. These include 2012-17-06; 94-13-10; 75-27-08 and 74-13-03. Most of them probably have been accomplished, but they need to be checked.
Some of the most popular modifications include a drop-down stainless steel exhaust system from Aviation Performance Products in Melbourne, Fla. This mod is available for both four- and six- cylinder Comanches. It replaces the old “cook the magnetos” wraparound system.
Other popular modifications are available from Knots 2U of Burlington, Wis. (a longtime Piper Flyer Association supporter) and LoPresti Aviation of Sebastian, Fla. The mods from these companies center around airframe cleanups and drag reduction add-ons.
The Comanche is a good airplane. The problems are well known, and the parts are available.
Happy flying.
Q: Hi Steve,
My PA-28-181 doesn’t have the wing stall strips that I see in later models of this aircraft. I believe these additions are probably applied to correct the way the airplane behaves when flying close to the stall speed.
Do you think they would be beneficial to my plane?
—Roberto
A: Hello Roberto,
These “stall strips” don’t change the way the wing behaves while flying close to the stall; they merely disrupt a few inches of airflow at the strip. The disrupted airflow then flows aft before it hits the outer end of the left and right stabilator surfaces.
When the unstable air hits the control surface it causes a vibration that the pilot can feel in the control wheel. This warns him he is close to the stall.
Stall strips were added in 1989.
Since the stall in your PA-28 is relatively benign and easy to recover from, the only reason to add them is for a little bit of extra warning.
Here in the United States, an owner would have to get permission to add them because the airplane was not approved with them when it came out of the factory.
Happy flying.
Hello Steve,
Many thanks for your thorough
explanation. You have saved me time
and money.
I truly love the way my Archer II behaves at low speed—so predictable and with so much authority on the stabilator.
I will not add the strips.
Best regards,
Roberto
Know your FAR/AIM and check with your mechanic before starting any work.
Steve Ells has been an A&P/IA for 43 years and is a commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Ells also loves utility and bush-style airplanes and operations. He’s a former tech rep and editor for Cessna Pilots Association and served as associate editor for AOPA Pilot until 2008. Ells is the owner of Ells Aviation (EllsAviation.com) and the proud owner of a 1960 Piper Comanche. He lives in Paso Robles, Calif. with his wife Audrey. Send questions and comments to editor@www.piperflyer.com.
RESOURCES >>>>>
Comanche parts
Webco Aircraft
webcoaircraft.com
Comanche specialty shops
Aircraft Engineering, Inc.
aircraftengineeringinc.com
Aviation Innovations
OregonFlightTraining.com
Clifton Aero
cliftonaero.com
Comanche Gear
comanchegear.com
Johnston Aircraft Service
johnstonaircraft.com
Comanche mods
Aviation Performance Products
aviationperformanceproducts.com
Knots 2U
knots2u.net
LoPresti Aviation
loprestiaviation.com
Comanche ADs
www.piperflyer.com/PA24ADs
