Piper Cherokee cowling swap
Good day all, have a bit of an odd question. On my 1969 Pa -28-140 I am missing the cowlings for it and know originally it had the 3 piece cowl set up. I was wondering if anyone has done or knows if it’s not only possible but legal to install the 180 style of cowlings on it. And if the parts are interchangeable, they do appear to be from what I’ve seen but was curious if anyone has done something like this before.
Thank you all
Comments
I had a similar question years ago. I wanted to swap a late model cowling onto my 1978 PA-28-161.
Back then I was somewhat new to airplane ownership and didn't fully appreciate the FAA rules and regs. My position was they are both certificated parts, and even come from the same manufacturer, so why not?
IA's answer: the parts were approved and certified for a specific airframe model and year. Bottom line, to swap cowlings would require FAA certification.
Look in Trade-a-plane, Barnstormers, eBay, or airplane boneyards. I typed "PA-28-140 cowling" into my search engine and found a bunch including an upper and lower on eBay for $700. I'd seriously consider that one. Edit: he has all kinds of 140 parts for sale.
Jim "Doc Griff" Griffin
PA28 - 161
Chicago area
Officially changes to an engine cowl constitute a major alteration, so you would need some approved data and a 337. If the IPC lists the same P/N's across multiple series (140/150/180/etc) and years, you could pull it off without, but that's typically not the case.
Tom Jackson
PA28RT-201, N3022U
Tappahannock, VA (KXSA)
A&P/IA, Private Pilot, IR/A
I know the engine swap would constitute a 337 and wasn’t sure about the cowlings. So if I’m understanding it correctly I would need to verify the part numbers are interchangeable. Did Piper come out with a list of parts that are interchangeable? I’m looking at the 2 pice cowl In general not specifically ones off a 180 but maybe cowlings from a 150. At the moment I’m missing everything from the engine mount forward. No engine or cowlings came with the aircraft. So a little of a clean slate in that way. Would very much like to get the other style on this aircraft if possible.
Since the TCDS doesn't lay out specific cowlings (typically....), you would have to default to the parts catalogue for your plane. See what they list in there as applicable to your airframe by series (140) and then by serial number. If you plan to take advantage of the blank slate and upgrade the power plant, the applicable STC may call out cowl options. I'm not certain about the specifics of PA28 STC's, we just did one on a Citabria, that didn't require or list optional cowls.
As anal as it seems, the cowl is a major repair/alteration. One would think, using common sense, swapping from a 140 cowl to a 180 cowl would be easy. Physically it just may be, but the administrative burden may be too much. The FAA is really getting out of the field approval business, so you'd need to get a DER involved to go that route.
Tom Jackson
PA28RT-201, N3022U
Tappahannock, VA (KXSA)
A&P/IA, Private Pilot, IR/A
This has been done one time, as a one time STC. You can find it in an STC search. The "owner" may be willing to provide the data.
John Schreiber
A&P, IA, CMEL
978mhz.com
I have top, side, and bottom cowling parts available. I also have a couple of nose bowls. Let me know and I will send some pictures.
I found 2 ones on the search for cowling, one from fletchair about splitting the cowling. Is that the one or is it the other one about installing engine cowling, baffle, exhaust, and oil cooler. Limited to installation on PA-28-140, serial number 28-7325528 ONLY ?
mostly doing it for the looks and the poor thing is a long way off from being air worthy so theres no rush on it.
If this endeavor doesn't work out I will take you up on the offer for sure. Shes coming together like the johnny cash song one piece at a time.
The one-off install above would be only for the S/N you listed, but you can try to use that with your local FSDO for a field approval. Would be helpful to get a copy of the 337 and whatever they used for data, since it was considered "approved by the administrator" at the time it was installed. Take the data you can and ask your FSDO ASI about it.
Tom Jackson
PA28RT-201, N3022U
Tappahannock, VA (KXSA)
A&P/IA, Private Pilot, IR/A