The Airplane; Airframe - Piper PA-44-180 Seminole 1979 Pilot's Operating Handbook And Faa Approved Airplane Flight Manual

PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION SECTION 7
PA-44-180, SEMINOLE DESCRIPTION
&
OPERATION
SECTION 7
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
OF THE AIRPLANE AND ITS SYSTEMS
7.1 THE AIRPLANE
The Seminole is a twin-engine, all metal, retractable landing gear,
airplane. It has seating for up to four occupants and has a two hundred
pound capacity luggage compartment.
7 .3 AIRFRAME
With the exception of the steel engine mounts and landing gear, the
fiberglass nose cone, cowling nose bowls and tips of wings, and the ABS
thermoplastic extremities (tail fin, rudder and stabilator), the basic airframe
is of aluminum alloy. Aerobatics are prohibited in this airplane since the
structure is not designed for aerobatic loads.
The fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure with a passenger door on
the forward right side, a cargo door on the aft right side with an emergency
egress door on the forward left side.
The wing is of a semi-tapered design and employs a laminar flow
NACA 65 -415 airfoil section. The main spar is located at approximately
40% of the chord. The wings are attached to the fuselage by the insertion of
the butt ends of the spar into a spar box carry-through, which is an integral
part of the fuselage structure. The bolting of the spar ends into the spar box
carry-through structure, which is located under the rear seats, provides in
effect a continuous main spar. The wings are also attached fore and aft of the
main spar by an auxiliary front spar and a rear spar. The rear spar, in addi-
tion to taking torque and drag loads, provides a mount for flaps and aile-
rons. The four-position wing flaps are mechanically controlled by a handle
located between the front seats. When fully retracted, the r:ght flap locks
into place to provide a step for cabin entry. Each nacelle contains one fuel
tank.
ISSUED: MARCH 23, 1978
REPORT: VB-860
7-1