On 21 February 1978 Piper announced a new low-cost twin-engined four-seat cabin monoplane designated Piper PA-44-180 Seminole. A cantilever low-wing monoplane with a T-Tail, retractable tricycle landing gear and power provided by two Avco Lycoming O-360-E1AD counter-rotating engines, the Seminole was complemented on 24 April 1980 by a turbocharged version designated PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole with TO-360-E1AD engines. However, production of both versions was terminated at the end of 1982, when a combined total of 431 had been built. Production was restarted in 1988 and 29 were delivered over the next three years.