Piper PA-44-180

The Piper PA-44-180 Seminole is a four-seat, low-wing, twin-engine piston aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear. The PA-44-180 has been used extensively for multi-engine training and remains in Piper production.

The model has a long production history and multiple serial-number and avionics-specific operating-document branches. The source-linked WBcalc configuration on this site is specifically based on Piper Report VB-1616 rather than treating every PA-44-180 as one identical configuration.

The PA-44-180 Seminole is associated with production beginning in 1979 in the aircraft family and remains represented in current Piper production.

Over that long production history Piper has issued multiple POH and flight-manual branches for different serial-number and avionics configurations. Piper's flight-manual index identifies Report VB-1616 for applicable PA-44-180 aircraft beginning with the 4496001 serial-number series, while separate branches exist for certain Avidyne, Garmin G1000 and later equipment configurations.

This makes serial-number and document applicability especially important when using Seminole operating or weight and balance data.

Current Piper Seminole factory specifications list two Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 engines, each flat-rated at 180 hp. Piper pairs the current aircraft with constant-speed, full-feathering Hartzell two-blade propellers.

Because the PA-44-180 spans multiple production generations, the engine, propeller and equipment installation on an individual aircraft must be verified from its serial number, applicable POH or AFM, equipment records and approved modifications.

The Piper Report VB-1616 configuration represented by the WBcalc calculator uses 108 U.S. gallons of usable fuel at an arm of 95.0 inches.

Current Piper factory specifications also list 108 U.S. gallons usable for the Seminole. The applicable fuel system and loading data should nevertheless be verified against the approved documentation for the individual aircraft.

PA-44-180 is a model designation spanning multiple serial-number and avionics configurations. Piper maintains separate flight-manual branches for different groups of aircraft.

The WBcalc weight and balance calculator linked from this page specifically represents the configuration covered by Piper Report VB-1616. Its limits must not automatically be applied to a PA-44-180 governed by another POH or AFM branch.

Always identify the applicable approved flight manual, supplements, equipment list and current weight and balance record for the individual airplane.

Both entries describe PA-44-180 Seminole aircraft, but they serve different purposes. The first is the exact configuration represented by the WBcalc calculator; the second documents current Piper factory specifications.

Matching model designation alone is not sufficient to establish operating or weight and balance applicability across the full PA-44-180 production history.

The source-linked PA-44-180 calculator represents a maximum ramp weight of 3,816 lb, maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 lb and maximum landing weight of 3,800 lb.

The represented loading stations are 80.5 inches for the front seats, 118.1 inches for the rear seats, 95.0 inches for fuel and 142.8 inches for baggage. Maximum baggage represented is 200 lb.

The calculator treats ramp weight separately and subtracts Piper's published 16 lb allowance for engine start, taxi and run-up at the fuel arm before evaluating the takeoff condition.

These model-level limits do not replace the individual aircraft's current basic empty weight, moment or arm, equipment list, POH or AFM and approved weight and balance records.