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Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Model Guide

Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain · Model Guide

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Overview

The Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain is a twin-engine piston aircraft built from 1973 to 1984, with 6 to 10 seats. The PA-31-350 figures in the supplied checklist show 350 hp per engine and a 7000 lb maximum takeoff weight. Buyers should focus on wing spar life, exhaust, heater and baffle condition, and cowling security. No cruise or range data was supplied.

  • Built 1973-1984, seats 6 to 10. The PA-31-350 is rated 350 hp per engine with a 7000 lb maximum takeoff weight.
  • Wing spar splice plate: the Australian AD requires replacement at 13,000 hours time in service, or 2000 hours after an approved inspection.
  • Fuel: 192 gal total, 182 gal usable, 100/130 avgas. Baggage limit is 200 lb forward and 200 lb aft.
  • Recurring checks: exhaust every 100 hours, heater pressure test every 100 heater hours, baffle seals every 55 hours (unless reinforced).

Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.

Reference only, not for flight. Use the current approved manual for your aircraft. See terms, section 5.

Document

Source

Copy found at sprinkle.com. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.

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Document details

Type
·
Model Guide
Year
·
2026
File size
·
51 KB
Copy found at
·
sprinkle.com

Specifications & performance

Extracted from this document.

Specifications

Total fuel (gal)
·
192
Usable fuel (gal)
·
182
Power per engine (hp)
·
350

Performance

Max crosswind (kt)
·
25
Engine out climb speed (kt)
·
106

V-speeds

VA_KTS
·
162
VR_KTS
·
85
VX_KTS
·
84
VY_KTS
·
101
VNE_KTS
·
236
VNO_KTS
·
185
VMCA_KTS
·
76
VYSE_KTS
·
106

Weight & balance

Max baggage aft (lb)
·
200
Max takeoff weight (lb)
·
7,000
Max baggage forward (lb)
·
200
About this document
How much fuel does the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain carry?

The Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain (PA-31-350) carries 192 gal total, of which 182 gal is usable. The checklist specifies 100/130 fuel. Maximum takeoff weight is 7000 lb.

What speeds matter after an engine failure?

For the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain, the checklist gives a best single-engine climb speed of 106 kts, minimum control speed of 76 kts, and a maintain-at-least-106 kts rule in flight. All are KIAS.

Which recurring inspections should a buyer ask about?

For the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain, ask for records of the exhaust inspection (every 100 hours), heater pressure decay test (every 100 heater hours), baffle seal checks (55 hours), and wing spar splice plate status.

What is the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Model Guide?

The Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Model Guide is a model guide for the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain, dated 2026.

What year was the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Model Guide published?

The Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Model Guide — the Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain model guide on file — is dated 2026.

Documentation completeness
4/7

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In this document

Airframe and wing structure

CASA AD/PA-31/124 covers all PA31-350 Chieftains and requires the main wing spar splice plate to be replaced and inspected for fretting, corrosion or cracks. STC 83-7 adds a wing spar strap and inspection program, but the airframe life limit still applies. A CASA bulletin warns some aircraft lack correct wing leading edge stall strips, which may have been lost when de-ice boots were removed or the wings repainted.

Engines, exhaust and heater

AD 82-16-05 calls for exhaust coupling and tailpipe removal and V-band crack inspection every 100 hours. A later AD adds a turbocharger flange check for warping. Hartzell ASB 071 requires a heater pressure decay test within ten hours, then every 100 heater hours, or the heater must be disabled. CASA AD/PA-31/96 requires baffle seal inspection every 55 hours, because of overheating from blown-back seals.

Training and preflight points

SIMCOM offers a 4-day initial Navajo course (16.0 ground, 8.0 simulator hours) and a 2-day recurrent. Entry requires a private certificate with multi-engine land and an instrument rating. The checklist asks for a minimum of 8 qts of oil and checks of the four nose bowl screws and the cowl side fasteners.

Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.

Safety notes

  • Missing or loose nose bowl and cowl fasteners may cause in-flight cowl separation and loss of aircraft control. Check them on every preflight.
  • After an engine failure in flight, maintain at least 106 kts. Minimum control speed is 76 kts (KIAS, per the Chilean operator checklist).
  • Spins are prohibited in the Normal category. Hartzell advises not using the combustion heater during the ten hours before the pressure test is done.

Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.

Full document text

Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Model Guide The Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain is a twin-engine piston aircraft built from 1973 to 1984, with 6 to 10 seats. The PA-31-350 figures in the supplied checklist show 350 hp per engine and a 7000 lb maximum takeoff weight. Buyers should focus on wing spar life, exhaust, heater and baffle condition, and cowling security. No cruise or range data was supplied. • Built 1973-1984, seats 6 to 10. The PA-31-350 is rated 350 hp per engine with a 7000 lb maximum takeoff weight. • Wing spar splice plate: the Australian AD requires replacement at 13,000 hours time in service, or 2000 hours after an approved inspection. • Fuel: 192 gal total, 182 gal usable, 100/130 avgas. Baggage limit is 200 lb forward and 200 lb aft. • Recurring checks: exhaust every 100 hours, heater pressure test every 100 heater hours, baffle seals every 55 hours (unless reinforced). Airframe and wing structure CASA AD/PA-31/124 covers all PA31-350 Chieftains and requires the main wing spar splice plate to be replaced and inspected for fretting, corrosion or cracks. STC 83-7 adds a wing spar strap and inspection program, but the airframe life limit still applies. A CASA bulletin warns some aircraft lack correct wing leading edge stall strips, which may have been lost when de-ice boots were removed or the wings repainted. Engines, exhaust and heater AD 82-16-05 calls for exhaust coupling and tailpipe removal and V-band crack inspection every 100 hours. A later AD adds a turbocharger flange check for warping. Hartzell ASB 071 requires a heater pressure decay test within ten hours, then every 100 heater hours, or the heater must be disabled. CASA AD/PA-31/96 requires baffle seal inspection every 55 hours, because of overheating from blown-back seals. Training and preflight points SIMCOM offers a 4-day initial Navajo course (16.0 ground, 8.0 simulator hours) and a 2-day recurrent. Entry requires a private certificate with multi-engine land and an instrument rating. The checklist asks for a minimum of 8 qts of oil and checks of the four nose bowl screws and the cowl side fasteners. Safety notes: • Missing or loose nose bowl and cowl fasteners may cause in-flight cowl separation and loss of aircraft control. Check them on every preflight. • After an engine failure in flight, maintain at least 106 kts. Minimum control speed is 76 kts (KIAS, per the Chilean operator checklist). • Spins are prohibited in the Normal category. Hartzell advises not using the combustion heater during the ten hours before the pressure test is done.

All Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain model guide