Piper Cherokee Warrior II (PA-28-161) Pilot's Operating Handbook Study Guide

General Information and Certification

• Model Identification: The Piper Cherokee Warrior II, designated model PA-28-161, is a four-place, single-engine, fixed-gear monoplane.

• Certification Basis: The airplane is FAA-approved in both the Normal and Utility categories based on C.A.R. 3 and FAR Part 21, Subpart J. It constitutes the approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and must be carried in the airplane at all times. This manual specifically applies to serial number $28-8016103$ with registration number $I-SMBR$.

• Manual Structure: The handbook is divided into ten sections (General, Limitations, Emergency Procedures, Normal Procedures, Performance, Weight and Balance, Systems Description, Handling/Maintenance, Supplements, and Safety Tips) marked with finger-tip tabs for easy reference. Emergency procedures are highlighted with a red tab.

Specifications and Loading Data

• Engine Specifications:

  • Manufacturer: Lycoming.

  • Model Number: O-320-D2A or O-320-D3G.

  • Rated Horsepower: $160\,hp$.

  • Rated Speed: $2700\,RPM$.

  • Bore: $5.125\,in$.

  • Stroke: $3.875\,in$.

  • Displacement: $319.8\,cu\,in$.

  • Compression Ratio: $8.5:1$.

  • Type: Four cylinder, direct drive, horizontally opposed, air cooled.

• Propeller Details:

  • Manufacturer: Sensenich.

  • Model: 74DM6-0-60 or 74DM6-0-58.

  • Number of Blades: 2.

  • Propeller Diameter: Maximum $74\,in$, Minimum $72\,in$.

  • Type: Fixed Pitch.

• Fuel and Oil Capacities:

  • Fuel Total Capacity: $50\,U.S.\,gal$.

  • Usable Fuel: $48\,U.S.\,gal$ ($24\,gal$ per wing).

  • Fuel Grade: $100$ (Green) or $100LL$ (Blue) Aviation Grade.

  • Oil Capacity: $8\,U.S.\,qts$.

• Maximum Weights:

  • Maximum Takeoff Weight: Normal Category $2325\,lb$; Utility Category $2020\,lb$.

  • Maximum Landing Weight: Normal Category $2325\,lb$; Utility Category $2020\,lb$.

  • Maximum Baggage Weight: Normal Category $200\,lb$; Utility Category $0\,lb$.

• Dimensions and Airframe Specifics:

  • Wing Area: $170.0\,sq\,ft$.

  • Minimum Turning Radius: $30.0\,ft$ (from pivot to wingtip).

  • Wing Loading: $13.7\,lb/sq\,ft$.

  • Power Loading: $14.5\,lb/hp$.

  • Baggage Space: $24\,cu\,ft$ volume, entry width $22\,in$, entry height $20\,in$.

Conversion Factors

• Area: $1\,acre = 0.4047\,ha$.

• Pressure:

  • $1\,atm = 29.92\,in\,Hg = 14.70\,psi$.

  • $1\,bar = 14.503768\,psi$.

• Volume:

  • $1\,U.S.\,gal = 231\,cu\,in = 3.785\,I$

  • $1\,Imperial\,gal = 1.201\,U.S.\,gal$.

  • $1\,cu\,ft = 7.481\,U.S.\,gal$.

• Weight/Mass:

  • $1\,lb = 0.453592\,kg$.

  • $1\,oz\,avdp = 28.35\,g$.

• Distance/Speed:

  • $1\,nautical\,mile = 6080\,ft = 1.1516\,statute\,miles$.

  • $1\,knot = 1.689\,ft/sec = 1.1516\,mph = 1.852\,km/hr$.

Airspeed Terminology and Symbols

• CAS (Calibrated Airspeed): Indicated speed corrected for position and instrument error. CAS equals TAS in standard atmosphere at sea level.

• KCAS: Calibrated Airspeed in Knots.

• GS (Ground Speed): Speed relative to the ground.

• IAS (Indicated Airspeed): Speed shown on the indicator (assumes zero instrument error in this manual).

• KIAS: Indicated Airspeed in Knots.

• TAS (True Airspeed): Airspeed relative to undisturbed air; CAS corrected for altitude, temperature, and compressibility.

• V_A (Maneuvering Speed): Maximum speed for full or abrupt control movements. $111\,KIAS$ at $2325\,lb$; decreases to $88\,KIAS$ at $1531\,lb$.

• V_{FE} (Maximum Flap Extended Speed): $103\,KIAS$.

• V_{NE} (Never Exceed Speed): $160\,KIAS$.

• V_{NO} (Maximum Structural Cruising Speed): $126\,KIAS$.

• V_S (Stalling Speed): Minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane is controllable.

• V_{SO} (Stalling Speed in Landing Configuration): Minimum controllable speed with flaps at $40^{\circ}$.

• V_X (Best Angle-of-Climb Speed): $63\,KIAS$.

• V_Y (Best Rate-of-Climb Speed): $79\,KIAS$.

Performance Charts and Planning

• Airspeed Indicator Markings:

  • Red Radial Line: $160\,KIAS$ (Never Exceed).

  • Yellow Arc: $126\,KIAS$ to $160\,KIAS$ (Caution Range - Smooth air only).

  • Green Arc: $50\,KIAS$ to $126\,KIAS$ (Normal Operating Range).

  • White Arc: $44\,KIAS$ to $103\,KIAS$ (Flap Operating Range).

• Engine Operating Limits:

  • Maximum RPM: $2700\,RPM$.

  • Maximum Oil Temperature: $245^{\circ}F$.

  • Oil Pressure: Minimum (Red Line) $25\,psi$, Maximum (Red Line) $100\,psi$.

  • Fuel Pressure: Minimum (Red Line) $0.5\,psi$, Maximum (Red Line) $8\,psi$.

• Center of Gravity (CG) Limits:

  • Normal Category: Forward limit $83.0\,in$ aft of datum (at or below $1950\,lb$) to $87.0\,in$ aft of datum (at $2325\,lb$). Rearward limit $93.0\,in$ aft of datum for all weights.

  • Utility Category: Forward limit $83.0\,in$ aft of datum ($1950\,lb$) to $83.8\,in$ aft of datum ($2020\,lb$). Rearward limit $93.0\,in$ aft of datum for all weights.

  • Datum: $78.4\,in$ ahead of the wing leading edge at the inboard intersection of the straight and tapered sections.

Emergency Procedures

• Engine Fire During Start:

  1. Starter: Continue cranking engine.

  2. Mixture: Idle cut-off.

  3. Throttle: Open.

  4. Electric Fuel Pump: OFF.

  5. Fuel Selector: OFF.

  6. Abandon if fire continues.

• Engine Power Loss During Takeoff:

  • If runway remains: Land straight ahead.

  • If insufficient runway: Maintain safe airspeed, make shallow turns to avoid obstacles, extend flaps as required.

  • If altitude is sufficient to attempt restart: Maintain speed, switch fuel selector to tank with fuel, ensure electric fuel pump is ON, mixture RICH, carburetor heat ON, primer locked.

• Engine Power Loss In Flight (Glide Speed: $73\,KIAS$):

  • Switch to fuel-containing tank, pump ON, mixture RICH, carb heat ON.

  • Check engine gauges for cause. Ensure primer is locked.

  • If power is restored: Carb heat OFF, pump OFF.

• Power Off Landing:

  • Trim for $73\,KIAS$.

  • Establish spiral pattern over field ($1000\,ft$ above field on downwind).

  • Slow to $63\,KIAS$ when field is reached.

  • Touchdown at lowest possible speed with full flaps.

  • Committed to landing: Ignition OFF, Master switch OFF, Fuel selector OFF, Mixture idle cut-off, Seat belts tight.

• Spin Recovery:

  1. Throttle: Idle.

  2. Ailerons: Neutral.

  3. Rudder: Full opposite to direction of rotation.

  4. Control Wheel: Full forward.

  5. Rudder: Neutral when rotation stops.

  6. Control Wheel: Smooth back pressure to regain level flight.

• Electrical Failures:

  • If ALT annunciator illuminates and ammeter reads zero: ALT switch OFF.

  • Check and reset ALT circuit breaker.

  • ALT switch ON; if power is not restored, ALT OFF, reduce load, and land as soon as practical.

Normal Operating Procedures

• Takeoff Airspeeds:

  • Normal: Accelerate to $45-55\,KIAS$, rotate to climb attitude.

  • Short Field (Obstacle Clearance): Flaps $25^{\circ}$, accelerate to $52\,KIAS$, rotate, maintain $52\,KIAS$ over obstacle, then accelerate to $79\,KIAS$ and retract flaps slowly.

  • Soft Field: Flaps $25^{\circ}$, lift nose as soon as possible, lift off at lowest airspeed, accelerate to $52\,KIAS$ (obstacle) or $79\,KIAS$ (no obstacle) just above ground.

• En Route Climb Speeds:

  • Best Rate (V_Y): $79\,KIAS$.

  • Best Angle (V_X): $63\,KIAS$.

  • Cruise Climb: $87\,KIAS$ (increases forward speed and visibility).

• Approach and Landing:

  • Trim to $70\,KIAS$.

  • Final approach speed (Flaps $40^{\circ}$): $63\,KIAS$.

  • Crosswind demonstrated velocity: $17\,kts$.

• Cruising and Fuel Management:

  • Maximum cruise power: $75\%$.

  • Leaning: Lean mixture above $75\%$ power only. Adjust mixture for maximum smoothness or pull until rough and then enrich until smooth.

  • Tank usage: Recommended to use one tank for one hour, then the other for two hours, then return to the first tank.

• Stalls:

  • Stall warning horn activates $5-10\,kts$ above stall speed.

  • Stall speed at gross weight (Power off, Flaps $40^{\circ}$): $44\,KIAS$.

  • Altitude loss during stalls: $100\,ft$ to $275\,ft$.

Airplane Systems Description

• Airframe: Semi-monocoque fuselage; semi-tapered wing with NACA 65,415 laminar flow section.

• Landing Gear: Fixed tricycle gear with air-oil struts. Nose wheel extension: $3.25\,in$; Main gear extension: $4.50\,in$. Features Cleveland single-disc hydraulic brakes. Nose wheel tire pressure: $30\,psi$; Main gear tire pressure: $24\,psi$.

• Electrical System: $14\,V$, $60\,A$ alternator, $12\,V$ battery. The system includes an overvoltage relay and a voltage regulator. Ammeter shows alternator load, not battery discharge.

• Fuel System: Two $25\,gal$ tanks (one in each wing). Electric auxiliary pump serves as a backup to the engine-driven pump. Fuel selector has three positions: Left, Right, Off.

• Vacuum System: Engine-driven dry type pump operates directional and attitude gyros. Normal vacuum reading: $5.0 \pm 0.1\,in\,Hg$.

• Pitot-Static System: Supplies pressure to the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and vertical speed indicator. An alternate static source located below the left instrument panel uses cabin air (must have vents/storm window closed and heat/defrost on).

• Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT): Located in the aft fuselage. Operates on $121.50\,MHz$. Switch positions: ON, OFF, ARM. The unit is impact-activated in the ARM position.

Handling, Servicing, and Maintenance

• Oil Grade Requirements:

  • Above $60^{\circ}F$: SAE $50$ (MIL-L-6082B) or SAE $40$/$50$ (Ashless Dispersant).

  • $30^{\circ}F$ to $90^{\circ}F$: SAE $40$.

  • $0^{\circ}F$ to $70^{\circ}F$: SAE $30$ or SAE $40$/$20W-40$.

  • Below $10^{\circ}F$: SAE $20$ or SAE $30$/$20W-30$.

• Preventive Maintenance (By Pilots): Pilots can change tires/tubes, service wheel bearings, add air/oil to struts, replace safety wire/cotter keys, lubricate non-structural items, replenish hydraulic fluid, and clean the aircraft.

• Tire Maintenance: Keep nose gear at $30\,psi$ and main gear at $24\,psi$. Examine for wear, cuts, and slippage.

• Cleaning Specifics:

  • Windshield: Use mild soap and water or aircraft plastic cleaner. Do not use gasoline, alcohol, or window sprays.

  • Engine: Use solvent/degreaser mix; avoid spraying the alternator, vacuum pump, or starter.

Safety Tips

• Preflight Control: Trim for takeoff to require only light back pressure.

• Controllability: Do not pull the airplane off the ground at too low an airspeed to ensure control in case of engine failure.

• Flaps and Weight: The flap step supports weight only when flaps are in the UP (fully retracted) position.

• Electrical Safety: Turn off all radios, lights, and pitot heat before starting to avoid overload during cranking.

• Night Operations: Strobe and anti-collision lights can cause spatial disorientation in clouds, fog, or haze; turn them off in such conditions.

• Fuel Interruption: Avoid prolonged slips or skids (exceeding $2000\,ft$ altitude loss) as they may uncover fuel outlets when tanks are not full.