So I'm missing a stall strip from the left wing...I have deice boots. Previous owner supplied me with a couple extra and I have an A&P ready to install... but can't find detailed drawings anywhere. The only thing I have is the 337 from 1972 and isnt useful.. just says they were installed.
Anyone dealt with this before? Wiggins airways is still the STC holder so I guess I'll contact them next.

- Robert Bitzer
N8898Y
PA39-33

Wiggins won't help. Their STC did not determine the positioning of the stall strips. That was Piper air flow modification kit that put those on. If memory serves, there is two on the right wing and one on the left.

Kris,
Does your aircraft have the airflow modification kit installed? I recall you did not. If the rest of the kit isn't there, then the stall strips are not applicable. The only documentation I have for the airflow modification kit is specifically for non deiced aircraft, so I doubt it would help much.
-Zach

By airflow modification kit, I assume you mean the vortex generators? I do not have those installed...deice boots, and a stall warning vane on the left wing. One stall strip on right leading edge..nothing on left which is why I think I'm missing one. Right strip is roughly in line with the aileron.

I guess I won't do anything until I know what it's supposed to have. Maybe it would interfere with the stall warning vane...which is perhaps why it's missing/not installed?

It's not like I can see any visual evidence of a missing strip on the left wing either.

Thanks for your help everyone.

Zach,

You remember correctly. I do not have any part of the Piper airflow modification kit. I don't see any value in it myself, having flown both. The kit might be different for a PA-39 or a PA-30 C/R.

Robert, I do not mean the vortex generators. I mean the Piper Air Flow modification kit where they were trying to get the Twin Comanche to be foolproof. That didn't work, but the FAA changing their foolish training standards solved the problem.

The airflow modification kit was Pipers attempt to curtail the bad reputation of the Twin Comanche in the stall spin crash scenario. It was more of an issue of the way the aircraft was operated and less of an issue with the aircraft itself, but it consisted of 4 major components. Stall strips, rudder hinge seals, aileron/rudder interconnect, and a reduced up travel limit on the stab. It was originally applicable only to those aircraft not modified by deice boots. I know there was a subsequent version that was for the deiced aircraft, but I have never seen the document so I cannot confirm the contents thereof. The regular kit included one stall strip on each wing for C/R and two on the right and one on the left wing on the normal rotating twins.

BTW, Kris, I somehow misread you had the question on this for some reason. That's why my answer might have seemed a bit strange!

Zach

Zach,

I understood your question perfectly.

I haven't seen any documentation for the deiced aircraft. Now that I have flown both, if I ever end up with another PA-30 I will remove it if it is installed.

I would too!
Zach

Got it all squared away with a beautiful scan of 46 year old Wiggins deice boot installation instructions! Turns out the stall strip locations were contained in the documents.

Thanks to a fellow ICS member for the info!