{{Short description|Twin engine light aircraft}} {{Infobox aircraft |name= PA-34 Seneca |image= File:Piper PA-34 Naples run (cropped).jpg |caption=Piper PA-34-220T Seneca |type= Business and personal aircraft<ref name="Foster"/> |national_origin= United States |manufacturer= [[Piper Aircraft]] |designer= |first_flight= 25 April 1967<ref name="Peperell"/> |introduction= 1971 |retired= |status= |produced= 1971–2019 |primary_user= |more_users= |number_built= 5,037<ref>Roger Peperell: ''Piper Aircraft – Freedom of Flight, Supplement'', Air-Britain, Tonbridge 2020, {{ISBN|978-0-85130-524-0}}, p. 92–93.</ref> |developed_from= [[Piper Cherokee Six]] |variants= [[PZL M-20 Mewa]] }}

The '''Piper PA-34 Seneca''' is a twin-engined [[light aircraft]], produced in the United States by [[Piper Aircraft]]. It has been in non-continuous production since 1971.<ref name="Plane and Pilot"/><ref name="Piper"/><ref name="A7SO1"/> The Seneca is primarily used for personal and business flying<ref name="Foster"/> as well as multi-engine [[class rating]] [[flight training]].

==Development== The Seneca was developed as a twin-engined version of the [[Piper Cherokee Six]]. The prototype was a Cherokee Six that had wing-mounted engines installed, retaining its nose engine. The prototype was flown as a tri-motor aircraft in the initial stages of the test-flying program.<ref name="Foster"/>

===PA-34-180 Twin Six=== With the decision to abandon the three-engined design tested on the PA-32-3M, the PA-34 was developed as a twin-engined aircraft. The prototype PA-34-180 Twin Six, [[Aircraft registration|registered]] as ''N3401K'', first flew on 25 April 1967. The prototype had two {{convert|180|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-360]] engines, a fixed nosewheel landing gear and a Cherokee Six vertical tail. The second prototype flew on 30 August 1968, still with the {{convert|180|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycomings but had retractable landing gear and a taller vertical tail. During development flying the wingspan was increased by two feet. The third prototype was closer to the production standard and flew on 20 October 1969; it was fitted with {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming IO-360-A1A]] engines.<ref name="Peperell" />

===PA-34-200 Seneca=== Certified on 7 May 1971 and introduced in late 1971 as a 1972 model, the PA-34-200 Seneca is powered by a pair of [[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming IO-360-C1E6]] engines. The righthand engine is a [[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6]] engine variant, the "L" in its designation indicating that the crankshaft turns in the opposite direction, giving the Seneca counter-rotating engines. The counter-rotating engines eliminate the [[critical engine]] limitations of other light twins and make the aircraft more controllable in the event of a shut down or failure of either engine.<ref name="Plane and Pilot"/><ref name="A7SO1"/> A total of 934 Seneca models were built, including one prototype.<ref name="A7SO1"/><ref name="MM34I"/>

The early Seneca models have a maximum gross weight of {{convert|4000|lb|kg|-1|abbr=on}}, while later serial numbers allowed a takeoff weight of {{convert|4200|lb|kg|-1|abbr=on}}.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

===PA-34-200T Seneca II=== [[File:Piper.seneca.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|A Piper Seneca II]] Responding to complaints about the aircraft's handling qualities, Piper introduced the PA-34-200T Seneca II. The aircraft was certified on 18 July 1974 and introduced as a 1975 model.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

The new model incorporated changes in the aircraft's control surfaces, including enlarged and balanced ailerons, the addition of a rudder anti-servo tab, and a stabilator bobweight.<ref name="Plane and Pilot"/>

The "T" in the new model designation reflected a change to turbocharged, six-cylinder [[Continental IO-360|Continental TSIO-360E]] or EB engines for improved performance, particularly at higher altitudes. The Seneca II retained the counter-rotating engine arrangement of the earlier Seneca I.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

The Seneca II also introduced optional "club seating" whereby the two center-row seats face rearwards and the two back seats face forward allowing more legroom in the passenger cabin.<ref name="Plane and Pilot"/> A total of 2,588 Seneca IIs were built.<ref name="aerofiles"/>

Gross weights are {{convert|4570|lb|kg|abbr=on}} for takeoff and {{convert|4342|lb|kg|abbr=on}} for landing, with all weight in excess of {{convert|4000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} required to be fuel.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

===PA-34-220T Seneca III=== [[File:Piper PA-34-220T Seneca III, with one piece windshield.jpg|thumb|Piper Seneca III showing the one piece windshield]] In 1981, the PA-34-220T Seneca III was introduced, having completed certification on 17 December 1980.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

The change in model designation reflected an engine upgrade. [[Continental IO-360|Continental TSIO-360-KB]] engines were used which produced 220 horsepower (165&nbsp;kW), although only rated as such for five minutes and then dropping to {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

The horsepower increase, with the new engines limit of 2800&nbsp;rpm (up from 2575&nbsp;rpm), combined for much improved climb and cruise performance. The new aircraft also incorporated a one-piece windshield and a bare metal instrument panel instead of one covered with a removable plastic fascia. Because of the raised zero-fuel weight and the raised maximum take-off weight, the Seneca III has the highest useful load of all the PA-34 variants. Some later models have electrically actuated flaps. More than 930 Seneca IIIs were built; the last 37 Seneca IIIs built had a 28-volt electrical system rather than the 14-volt system of previous aircraft.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

The aircraft's gross weight was increased to {{convert|4750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for takeoff and {{convert|4513|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for landing.<ref name="A7SO1"/> A typical Seneca III with air conditioning and deicing equipment has a useful load of {{convert|1377|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="POH Seneca III"/>

===PA-34-220T Seneca IV=== In 1994, the "New" Piper Aircraft company introduced the Seneca IV, having achieved certification on 17 November 1993. This model was similar to the Seneca III offering minor improvements, such as a streamlined engine cowl for increased cruise performance. It continued to use the counter-rotating Continental TSIO-360-KB engines and gross weights remained unchanged.<ref name="A7SO1"/> A total of 71 Seneca IVs were built.<ref name="A7SO1"/>

===PA-34-220T Seneca V=== [[File:SenecaV.jpg|thumb|Two examples of Seneca V]] Certified on 11 December 1996, the Seneca V was put into production as a 1997 model year. Again the cowls were redesigned for increased performance, several cockpit switches were relocated from the panel to the headliner, and an improved engine variant, the [[Continental IO-360|Continental TSIO-360-RB]],<ref name="A7SO1"/> fitted with an [[intercooler]], was used.

The Seneca V's gross weights remain the same as the Seneca III and IV at {{convert|4750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for takeoff and {{convert|4513|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for landing,<ref name="A7SO1"/> therefore, with all of the added features, the useful load is reduced by about {{convert|200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The standard useful load for the 2014 model is {{convert|1331|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} but typically is {{convert|1134|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} when the aircraft is equipped with air conditioning, deicing equipment and co-pilot instruments.<ref name="POH"/>

===Embraer EMB-810 Seneca=== From 1975 the Seneca was built under licence in Brazil by [[Embraer]] as the EMB-810.<ref name="Peperell" /> The PA-34-200T was produced as the EMB-810C Seneca (452 built) and the PA-34-220T as the EMB-810D (228 built).<ref name="Peperell" /> The EMB-810C is designated '''U-7''' in [[Brazilian Air Force]] service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators== [[File:Piper Seneka At Centennial.jpg|thumb|A Piper Seneca II with the engine cowl removed]]

===Civil=== The aircraft is popular with air charter companies and small feeder airlines, and is operated by private individuals and companies. One notable civil operator is Eid Air Aviation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bromont - Eid Air Aviation |url=https://www.eidair.net/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.eidair.net}}</ref> a flight school located in [[Bromont]], Canada

===Military=== ;Brazil *[[Brazilian Air Force]] (EMB 810C Seneca)<ref name="Flight WAF 88 p31">''Flight International'' 3 December 1988, p.31.</ref> ;Belize *[[Belize Defence Force Air Wing]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2021"/> ;Colombia *[[Colombian Aerospace Force]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2022">{{cite web |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-directory-2022/146695.article|title = World Air Forces Directory 2022|publisher= Flightglobal |year= 2022 |doi = |accessdate= 7 February 2026|url-access=registration}}</ref> *[[National Army of Colombia]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2022"/> ; Dominican Republic * [[Dominican Air Force]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2021"/> ;Ecuador *[[Ecuadorian Air Force]]<ref>Westerhuis ''Air International'' May 2000, p. 280.</ref> ;Honduras *[[Honduran Air Force]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=75345|title = World Air Forces 2021|publisher= FlightGlobal |date= 4 December 2020 |access-date= 5 January 2021}}</ref> ;Indonesia *[[Indonesian Navy]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Willis |editor-first=David |title=Aerospace Encyclopedia of World Air Forces |date=1999 |location=London, UK |publisher=Aerospace Publishing Ltd |isbn=1-86184-045-4 |pages=293 }}</ref> ;Panama *[[Panamanian Public Forces]]<ref>English 1998, p. 156.</ref> ;Peru *[[Peruvian Air Force]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2021"/> ;Serbia *[[Serbian Air Force]] (PA-34-220T Seneca V)<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-serbian-air-force-receives-multirole-seneca-367496/ Serbian air force receives multirole Seneca] Flightglobal.com</ref>

==Notable accidents and incidents== * On 2 August 1978 a Seneca carrying [[Richard D. Obenshain]] home from an election campaign event crashed while attempting a night-time landing at the [[Chesterfield County Airport]] (a [[general aviation]] airport near [[Richmond, Virginia]]), killing Obenshain and the other two people on board.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/brief.aspx?ev_id=40060&key=0 |title=NTSB Identification: IAD78FA088|work=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date=February 7, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Harden|first=Blaine|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/08/04/pilot-of-obenshain-plane-called-very-cautious/fbadce7d-062d-4f46-8e70-04f6118ae205/ |title=Pilot of Obenshain Plane Called 'Very Cautious' |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 4, 1978 |access-date=8 May 2016}}</ref> * On 30 January 2009 a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca crashed near [[Tri-State Airport|KHTS]] in a snowstorm. The pilot was trying to divert to KHTS due to a fuel emergency; all six aboard were killed.<ref>{{cite web | title = Crash victims possibly from Chicago | publisher =[[Herald Dispatch]] | date = February 1, 2009 | url = http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x181485673/FAA-Six-people-dead-in-plane-crash | access-date = July 25, 2024 | archive-date = January 25, 2013 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130125013020/http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x181485673/FAA-Six-people-dead-in-plane-crash | url-status = live }}</ref> * On 18 August 2012 a PA-34-200 Seneca [[2012 Philippine Piper Seneca crash|crashed off the coast of Masbate, Philippines]], killing Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary [[Jesse Robredo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/270304/news/nation/small-plane-with-dilg-secretary-jesse-robredo-crashes-off-masbate |title=Small plane with DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo crashes off Masbate &#124; News &#124; GMA News Online |date=18 August 2012 |publisher=Gmanetwork.com |access-date=2012-08-18}}</ref>

==Specifications (PA-34-220T Seneca V)== [[File:Piper PA-34-200 Seneca 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-34-200 Seneca]]

{{Aircraft specs |prime units?=kts

|ref=Piper Seneca V Information Manual ''(October 25, 2005)'' |crew= One |capacity=Five or six passengers |length ft= 28 |length in= 7.44 |length m= 8.72 |span ft= 38 |span in= 10.87 |span m= 11.86 |height ft= 9 |height in= 10.8 |height m= 3.02 |wing area sqft= 208.7 |wing area sqm= 19.39 |airfoil= [[laminar flow]] [[NACA airfoil|NACA]] 652-415 |empty weight lb= 3212 |empty weight kg= 1457 |gross weight lb= 4773 |gross weight kg= 2165 |max takeoff weight lb= 4750 |max takeoff weight kg= 2155 |eng1 name=[[Continental IO-360|Continental TSIO-360RB and LTSIO-360RB]] |eng1 type= 6-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed [[piston engine]] |eng1 number=2 |eng1 hp= 220 |eng1 kw= 164 |max speed kts= 204 |max speed kmh= 378 |max speed mph= 235 |max speed note=at {{convert|23000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on}} |cruise speed kts= 188 |cruise speed kmh= 348 |cruise speed mph= 216 |cruise speed note=econ cruise at {{convert|25000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on}} |never exceed speed kts= 204 |never exceed speed kmh= 378 |never exceed speed mph= 235 |stall speed kts= 61 |stall speed kmh= 113 |stall speed mph= 70 |stall speed note=wheels and flaps down |range nmi= 870 |range km= 1611 |range miles= 1000 |range note=max fuel, econ cruise at {{convert|18000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on}}, no reserves |ceiling ft= 25,000 |ceiling m= 7,620 |climb rate ftmin= 1550 |climb rate ms= 7.87 |wing loading lb/sqft= 21.2 |wing loading kg/m2= 104 |power/mass=0.1 hp/lb (164 W/kg) }}

==See also== {{Portal|Aviation}} {{aircontent| |related= * [[PZL M-20 Mewa]] |similar aircraft= * [[Beechcraft Baron]] * [[Cessna 310]] |sequence= |lists= * [[List of civil aircraft]] |see also= }}

==References== ;Notes {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="Foster">Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: ''A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition'', page 96. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. {{ISBN|0-395-62888-1}}</ref> <ref name="Peperell">Peperell 1987, pp. 227-232</ref> <ref name="Plane and Pilot">Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', pages 106-107. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. {{ISBN|0-918312-00-0}}</ref> <ref name="Piper">{{cite web|url = http://www.piper.com/aircraft/trainer-class/seneca-v/|title = Welcome to the Seneca V|access-date=2017-07-27|last=Piper Aircraft|author-link=Piper Aircraft}}</ref> <ref name="A7SO1">{{cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/79578854d89e712286257209007693d4/$FILE/A7SO.pdf|title = Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A7SO Revision 17|access-date = 2017-07-27|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = August 7, 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090205002738/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/79578854d89e712286257209007693d4/$FILE/A7SO.pdf|archive-date = February 5, 2009|url-status = dead}}</ref> <ref name="MM34I">The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2003, Introduction, p.2</ref> <ref name="aerofiles">{{cite web|url = http://www.aerofiles.com/_piper.html|title = Piper aircraft page|access-date = 2010-03-30|last = www.aerofiles.com|date=October 2008}}</ref> <ref name="POH">Piper Aircraft Seneca V Pilot Operating Handbook serial number 3449270, Section 6, Weight and Balance</ref> <ref name="POH Seneca III">Piper Aircraft Seneca III Pilot Operating Handbook serial number 3448049, Section 6, Weight and Balance</ref> }}

;Bibliography * English, Adrian J. "Air Power Analysis:Central America and the Caribbean:Panama". ''World Air Power Journal'', Volume 32 Spring 1998. London:Aerospace Publishing. pp.&nbsp;142–157. {{ISBN|1-86184-006-3}}. ISSN 0959-7050. * {{cite book |last=Peperell |first=Roger W |author2=Smith, Colin M | title= Piper Aircraft and their forerunners | year=1987 |publisher=[[Air-Britain]] | location=Tonbridge, Kent, England | isbn=0-85130-149-5}} * Taylor, John W.R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77''. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976, {{ISBN|0-354-00538-3}}. * The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. ''Piper PA-34-200 Seneca Airplane Service Manual''; Manual Part Number 753-817, dated October 30, 2003. * Westerhuis, Rogier. "Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana". ''[[Air International]]'', May 2000, Vol. 58, No. 5. pp.&nbsp;277–281. {{ISSN|0306-5634}}. * [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%203428.html?tracked=1 "World's Air Forces 1988"].''[[Flight International]]'', 3 December 1988. pp.&nbsp;22–87.

==External links== {{commons category|Piper PA-34 Seneca}} *{{Official website|http://www.piper.com/aircraft/trainer-class/seneca-v/}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180919132838/http://www.angloeuropean.com/en_GB/aircraft/detailview.php?aid=99 The Piper PA-34 Seneca V - Aircraft images and seat map]

{{Piper}} {{FAB aircraft designations}}

[[Category:Piper aircraft|Seneca]] [[Category:1960s United States civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1967]] [[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]