Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt
11 models built 1950–1963 · 2,940 on the US register today
The Tri-Pacer, built 1951-1960 on type certificate 1A6: the Pacer on a tricycle undercarriage, a fabric-covered four-seater sold in enormous numbers with 125, 135, 150 and 160 hp. The PA-22-108 Colt (1961-63) is the two-seat trainer version; the S-suffix rows are seaplanes; and the PA-22/20 designations record Tri-Pacers converted back to tailwheel gear, one of the most common modifications in light aviation.
The variants
| MODEL | YEARS | ACTIVE | TAILFAX SCORE | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA-22S-135 | 1950–1960 | 4 | — | Seaplane 135 hp |
| PA-22S-150 | 1950–1960 | 8 | — | Seaplane 150 hp |
| PA-22S-160 | 1950–1960 | 1 | — | Seaplane 160 hp |
| PA-22 | 1951–1953 | 277 | 28.2/50 | The original 125 hp Tri-Pacer |
| PA-22-20-150 | 1952–1960 | 0 | — | Tri-Pacer converted to tailwheel gear (PA-22/20) |
| PA-22-135 | 1952–1954 | 409 | 31.2/50 | 135 hp O-290-D2 |
| PA-22S | 1952–1954 | 0 | — | Seaplane model |
| PA22-20-135 | 1952–1960 | 0 | — | Tri-Pacer converted to tailwheel gear (PA-22/20) |
| PA-22-150 | 1954–1960 | 1,198 | 27.5/50 | 150 hp O-320 |
| PA-22-160 | 1958–1960 | 456 | 29.2/50 | 160 hp O-320-B |
| PA-22-108 | 1961–1963 | 587 | 35/50 | Colt: two-seat 108 hp trainer |
Family fleet, active
2,940
FAA registry
NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs
46.6
137 events over 2,940 active aircraft, pooled across the family
Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30