Comanche 260 Rear Seat Removal

[Joe Johanson]

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

[Chris Kuyoth]

Joe,

Zach pretty much covered the mechanics but another tip is to tape some clean terry cloth rags over the recline adjustments. Your rear windows will thank you later.

Chris

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

...and while you're at it, tape up the front frame ededs too, I have a nice scratch on the pilots side glass from the lower frame...
-Zach

[Chris Kuyoth]

Another trick, albiet a bit more time consuming, is to elimiate the bench seat, install a floor, tracks and rear seats out of a B-model. My rear seats are out through the baggage door is less than 2 minutes and with the floor in place, the utility of the aircraft was increased exponentially.

Chris

[9089P]

Hi Joe,

Chris is right, the B model seat arrangement is much better. However, I don't believe you need to limit your options to B model seats. Other pipers had similar seats. I had an Archer before the comanche and I liked that arrangementr best. There is a slot attachment at the front and a 1/4 turn cam loc in the back. No rails. Seats literally were out in 30 sec each and just snap back in w/o fighting the rails. If I were doing the conversion this is the way I would try to go.

Good luck, Don

[Chris Kuyoth]

Don,

I am familiar with the Cherokee rear seats as my dad flies a 235. To install cherokee seats in a Comanche, I would have to think that the services of a DER would be required in order to obtain FAA approval. The Cherokee seats mount in a piece of 5/8 plywood that is the rear floor. There is no structure in the correct location to hold the Cherokee seat nor a plywood floor in the Comanche.

The FSDO that approved my modification sent my proposal to the FAA Engineering office in Chicago prior to doing the work for a "pre-approval". I had to have drawings for the modification. Since I was simply installing B-model components, the Piper Comanche parts manual was deemed sufficient. I was advised by the FSDO to make sure I clearly stated in the 337 that I used only Piper PA24 parts and that the PA24 was certified with this configuration. Also, I had to include instructions for continued airworthiness. Since the owners & service manual for the 260 B & C addressed removal, installation and operation with & without the seats, I was covered with that verbiage. Long and short, I believe the path of least resistance is the B-model seats and supporting structure. Honestly, I doubt that my dad can get his rear seats out any faster than I can.

There is an old STC for "A" model Comanches that incorporated split rear seats and a 5th seat in the baggage compartment. A friend of mine has a Comanche with this mod. The front of the rear seats actually bolt to the spar.

Chris

[kflyer]

[jeffrey aryan]

[Chris Kuyoth]

[kflyer]

[jeffrey aryan]

[Jeffrey Barrett]

[Chris Kuyoth]

[jeffrey aryan]