Little Dipper

Making a long story short. My Ovation started using up a lot more runway than normal and flying much slower than it used to on the same power settings. All engine instruments, cht, egt temps etc. operated normally but could feel a vibration at high rpm. As it turns out I have some sort of blockage in the muffler. My A&P estimates blockage at 70%. This happened gradually over a period of several months. I never had this happen before and thought I would share it with the group. Pictures attached. Norm N995K

I have pictures somewhere of 1.25 inches of ice built up on my landing lights and will post them if I can find them. I'm not giving advice except for this. I strongly suggest you trust no one and find out for yourself. Select a day when you have multiple outs. For example when there is a overcast layer between 4000 and 7000 and file an hour long trip IFR at five or six thousand and find out for yourself. I've been flying with TKS since 1998 and there are comments on this post that I disagree with.

Why accept a tailwind? So you don't have to land on runway 26 when the sun blinds the pilot on final during sunset. So you don't have to taxi in 95 degree heat and extra five minutes. Even AWOS calls winds light and variable when winds are less that 5. I'll take the tail wind.

Thanks. I got the appraisers name from the AOPA's legal department. The issue is the Ovation is fully depreciated which means my company will have to pay capitol gains tax 20% on the appraised value. The appraised value would also be charged to me personally as income or dividend income and I would also be responsible for Pennsylvania's six percent sales tax. The bottom line is I end up paying 46+% of the appraised value of my own Ovation just to transfer the ownership from own company to myself personally.

That alone wouldn't satisfy IRS requirements.

I am planning to take my Mooney Ovation out of my company business name and personally own it. There are negative tax consequences in doing this that both I and the company will have to pay. It pisses me off that I have to pay significant taxes on an aircraft I already own but that's another matter. I had my Mooney appraised by a AOPA recommended appraiser and the appraised value came in much higher than I had anticipated. I am planning on getting a second appraisal and hope it comes in lower. I am looking for recommendations for names of appraisers. Thanks. Norm

Roberto did my front seats. Your in good hands.

After a two year wait in line to get my Ovation painted. I picked up my Mooney back from Lancaster Aero in Smoketown Pa. I am pleased with their workmanship and their timeliness. The downtime was one week less than I had anticipated. I chose to stick with the original paint scheme and colors. It feels good to get my wings back. Norm N995K

You are in good hands. Roberto did my front seats. i am vey pleased with his craftmanship.

31K

Getting close to completion. I am pleased with the workmanship so far. If I am lucky I will be flying this time next week. Norm N995k

I'm looking to purchase a camera and mounts to take videos that can be mounted both externally and internally in my Ovation and can be controlled wirelessly from a app on my cell. Any recommendations?

FikI installed in an Ovation by Mooney at the factory in Texas was a bit over 50K in 1997

Thanks. Appreciate the advice.

Your probably right. I don't know what anodes are but they look like rivets and were installed by the factory. In either event I wouldn't have wanted the paint shop to remove the TKS and disturb all of the plumbing that goes along with it. Over the years I had to replace two stall strips which became unglued.

The glass is in excellent condition as I have been anal about getting the bugs off before they dry/fry on the glass and keeping it clean. I didn't do the fuel tanks because I had Weep No More in Minnesota reseal them almost nine years ago in Minnesota. To your point I hope I am not making a mistake on that.

I never thought about that till you brought it up.

The paint shop didn't want to remove them because they are riveted on and have them covered up pretty well.

UPDATE Rented a PA28-180 and stopped in at Smoketown to check the progress of my Mooney and am pleased with what I see so far. On a side note, I had forgotten how nice the Ovation performs until I rented another I flew a rental. I can't wait to get her back. Norm The paint on my Ovation stood up pretty year but after 29 years of flying ice pellets and crystals had taken their toll especially above the wind screen. So off to Lancaster Aero she went to get a makeover. I am having per painted the same colors and paint scheme as original. This is going to take six to eight weeks for completion as well as a sizable dent in my pocket. Unless I rent a plane this will be the longest duration I have gone without piloting an aircraft since 1985. UPDATE Rented a PA28-180 and stopped in at Smoketown to check the progress of my Mooney and am pleased with what I see so far

Good luck on your interior refurbishment. I have a 95 Ovation and after 3,000 hours it was time. I had mine refurbed last year. You clearly possess a skill and have patience and the time that I do not.

Smart move. I lost a tks stall strip about four years ago and if I remember correctly the part cost about 3k.

Anyone know where I can buy a set of seat belt extenders for an Ovation? I couldn't get my seat belts around a lady on a volunteer medical flight last year and almost had a repeat this past week. Seems like women always lie about their weight.

+1

I could comment but for now am all ears. Interesting post.

Where did you come up with that? I'm seventy-one, own a Ovation and have no insurance issues.