75_M20F

They (VA DOA) appear to using flight aware to see who is coming and going to generate revenue. Maybe try flying VFR into and out of OFP? I have a little experience with VA and this issue. I had been flying VFR without flight following into and out of the state for years with no letter, then once I started filing IFR and I got a similar letter. I had paid the 2% use tax many years ago on my Mooney (as I used to be a resident) so this particular letter I got just wanted me to purchase a VA Department of Aviation permit to be operating into and out of the state at a cost of $5.00 a year. It is a misdemeanor to operate an unregistered aircraft in Virginia according to the VA DOA. That means they want you to pay them a 2% tax (they will tell you the book value of the airplane if it was not purchased recently) and then you will need to purchase a permit annually to operate into VA. I have never heard of any enforcement action ever happening to anyone, I believe worst case scenario they would ask you to become current on what you owe should something come to a head with this. Another point would be if you are not overnighting there in VA. What is defined as a day? 24 hour period? If you only were there a few hours at a time, it could be argued you are not there a day, so you would not be subject to 90 days.

I don't believe that is correct. I am running the stock prop on my F with the Lopresti Cowling. Only change was the spinner and bulkhead which I found used off Mooney Space for a very reasonable price.

No prop change required. Just the spinner. ( I should know I have the Lopresti Cowling on my F.)

@Alan Fox Is this available?

That looks like it would work. Is the fuel pressure needle working? I was just wondering why it shows 30 PSI with no pressure on it? Thanks for taking some pics of it.

Anyone have one of these for sale? Thank you!

LoPrestis Super Mooney Cowl - Aviation Consumer - Article on the STC....

I was not pleased with the place that overhauled my FP/MP gauge. First they were really slow, then once I got it back it was not working properly so I had to send it back to them again.... So I can't recommend them.

Well my fuel pressure / MP gauge was stuck on 5PSI no matter what. I removed it and sent it off for repair. Cost me $200 and it is back in service. My 75F has the 66003-503 version. It requires an inline restrictor on the MP line under the cowling. There is a small amount of information in the Mooney parts manual if you can decipher it.

I have a 1975F with a Lopresti Cowling and speed brakes 201 windshield plus other mods, 260 hours on the engine, GTN 750. That I am going to be putting up for sale here this spring.

What was the reason for changing the mechanical pump? And how soon after changing the pump did the fuel pressure issues show up?

In my 75 F, there is no snubber on the fuel pressure gauge. The only snubber is on the back of the fuel servo where the line attaches to go the pressure gauge. I still have some minor fuel pressure needle rapid movement issues after clearing the line out, but it is much better then before (when it was similar to the video posted above before clearing out the line with air) My mechanic is puzzled as to what is causing it. We have discussed replacing the fuel pump and he suggested the issue could be the fuel servo. However, the fuel servo was overhauled 3 years ago, so I would not think it was the culprit.

I have been dealing with the same issue. In your case it appears the fuel line that comes off the fuel servo and runs to your sending unit or the back of the fuel pressure gauge has had all the air bled out of it and is full of fuel. That line needs to be purged of all the fuel. Disconnect one end from the servo and the other end off the gauge or sending unit, blow it out with compressed air. Then reattach the line. That will probably take care of that needle flying around. (The air in the line acts as a shock absorber to lesson the pulses from the mechanical pump). Otherwise I would say the mechanical fuel pump has issues.

All these statistical analysis are simply looking back at history of a lot of poor judgement out there in GA flying. It doesn't mean that no matter what you do that you are going to die just the same per the odds. Flying at night in a single engine plane, flying in low IMC, flying into icing, running out of gas, not having the proper maintenance done, overloading the airplane, not considering aircraft performance at high density altitudes, not proficient, flying into thunderstorms, on and on take your pick.... mistakes that some good judgment would have prevented. Unfortunately, the GA pilot community has a certain percentage that just do stupid stuff and it is a shame.

Thanks for the information!

Here is video of what it does in flight...... Fuel_Press_Mooney.mp4

RESTRICTOR FITTING F/I SERVO TO F/P HOSE - 610120-000 — LASAR I think this is the part in question?

Snubber is there, all parts are there. This problem just started up out of the blue and everything had been fine for years.

I really appreciate your input Mooney Doctor! It has been 4 years since the engine overhaul and the fuel pressure has been a okay the entire time up until recently (so I don't think it is a restrictor issue + I cleaned the fuel line out with compressed air). Now recently the fuel pressure has starting pulsating from startup to shutdown. Do you think it could be the mechanical fuel pump? The electric fuel pump does not cause any pulsating to the gauge, but once I start the engine the pulsing starts up. Thank you

Thanks Clarence, Do these restrictors ever go bad and need replacing?

Hello Clarence, Any idea what might be causing this (see video)? My fuel pressure gauge seems to keep time with the engine RPM. The higher the RPM the faster the needle oscillates back and forth. At times the needle is a blur even! I have cleared out the fuel line from the gauge to the servo like you suggested in another thread by disconnecting both ends and blowing it out with compressed air. The problem is still there. Engine is the IO360 and it a pure mechanical gauge with a hose running from the gauge to the fuel servo. Thanks! Michael Fuel_pressure.mp4

Hello, My bird has the older setup. A fuel line that runs from the pressure gauge out to the servo. I cleaned the entire line out and sent the gauge out for overhaul as it was stuck on 5 PSI. So, I don't know where this snubber would be?

OK, disconnected both ends of the line that runs from the fuel pressure gauge to the servo and blew it out with compressed air. Also removed and replaced the line from the firewall to the back of the gauge with a new hose. Also, during this the gauge was stuck on 5PSI, so I sent it out to be overhauled also. The shop reported back that the bellows in the gauge had fuel in it..... Unfortunately, the fuel pressure gauge is still pulsating just the same as before.... So what else can it be causing the pulsating? Fuel pump?

OK, that's scary! I guess its time for a new hose!