Piper Navajo PA-31 Service Manual page 22

PIPER NAVAJO SERVICE MANUAL
SECTION II
HANDLING AND SERVICING
2-1. INTRODUCTION. This section contains handling and servicing procedures that are most frequently
encountered. Frequent reference to this section will aid the individual by providing information such as the
location of various components. ground handling procedures, routine service procedures and lubrication.
When any system or component requires service other than the procedures as outlined in this section, refer
to the appropriate section for that components.
2-2. DIMENSIONS. The principal airplane dimensions are shown in Figure 2-1 and are listed in Table II-I.
2-2a. SERIAL NUMBER PLATES. The serial number plate for the aircraft is located to the left of the tail
skid. The engine number plate is located on the oil sump of each engine.
2-3. STATION REFERENCE LINES. In order to facilitate the location of various components of the
airplane which require maintenance and servicing, a method utilizing fuselage station, wing station or
buttock line (BL), and water line (WL) designations is frequently employed in this manual. (Refer to Figure
2-2.) Fuselage stations, buttock lines. and water lines are reference points measured by inches in the vertical
or horizontal direction from a given reference line which indicated station locations of structural members
of the airplane. Station 0 of the fuselage is six inches forward of the foremost point of the nose cone,
station 0 (BL) of the wing, horizontal stabilizer and elevator is the centerline of the airplane; and station 0
(WL) of the vertical stabilizer and rudder is 16 inches above the cabin floor with the airplane level. The
reference datum line is located at the main spar. fuselage station 137.0.
2-4. WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA. When figuring various weight and balance computations, the
weight and empty weight center of gravity of the airplane may be found in the Weight and Balance Form of
the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
2-5. ACCESS AND INSPECTION PROVISIONS. The access and inspection provisions for the airplane are
shown in Figures 2-3 thru 2-5. The component to be serviced or inspected through each opening is assigned
an index number to identify it in the illustration. All access plates and panels are secured by either metal
fasteners or screws. The floor panels may be removed by first removing the desired seats. then sliding the
carpet edges from under its retainer strips, lifting the edges and removing the carpet attachment screws.
Remove the carpet, thus exposing the floor panel attachment screws. To enter the aft section of the
fuselage, remove the lower rear baggage compartment upholstery panel by removing the attachment screws.
CAUTION
Before entering the aft section of the fuselage, be sure the airplane
is supported at the tail skid.
2-6. TOOLS AND TEST EQUIPMENT. Because of the simplicity and easy accessibility of components,
few special tools outside normal shop tools will be required. Tools that are required may be fabricated from
dimensions given in the back of the section that pertains to a particular component or are listed in the back
of the PA-31 Parts Catalog.
Revised: 9/24/81
HANDLING AND SERVICING
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