Piper PA-23 Apache

The Apache, built 1954-1964 and the aeroplane that invented the cheap light twin: four or five seats and two 150 hp (PA-23/PA-23-150) or 160 hp (PA-23-160) Lycomings, with marginal single-engine performance. The PA-23-235 Apache 235 (1962-64) has 235 hp engines and the Aztec's swept tail. It shares type certificate 1A10 with the Aztec but is a different market.

The variants

MODEL	YEARS	ACTIVE	TAILFAX SCORE	WHAT CHANGED
PA-23	1954–1957	155	31.8/50	The original 150 hp Apache
PA-23-150	1954–1957	47	Partial 21.3/30	150 hp O-320 engines
PA-23-160	1958–1962	188	27.8/50	160 hp engines, swept fin
PA-23-235	1962–1964	25	—	Apache 235: 235 hp, Aztec tail

Family fleet, active

415

FAA registry

NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs

38.6

16 events over 415 active aircraft, pooled across the family

Successor

Piper PA-23-250 Aztec

Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30