GeeBee

So are you saying losses do not affect premiums?

No it is not my airplane but looking at the other two previous accidents which met the definition of both substantial damage and an accident, there has been more payouts for damage than this aircraft is worth in hull value. Tack on this gear up and we are after these three mishaps, at near two times hull value. As for the gear up, while it is not legally defined as an accident the FAA if they find out without a report will likely look for a 709 ride, and a vindictive one at that.

You don't think 3 major accidents in a given make and model has an effect?

She sure has been badly handled for the last 12 years. There is why your insurance rates are so high.

Nice Acclaim, sadly gear up landing. It appears to have been a hard luck airplane. Two other major accidents both at KDGO on landing in 2012 and 2014. https://mail.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/287250

I would not worry. As I remember, the Sky Ranch manual said up to 20% of the highest in differential is acceptable.

I had my Basic Med exam last week. The doc got to that part and said, "No finger but I got to check". She called in a witness. I dropped trousers, bent over on the table, grabbed hold of my butt cheeks and I said, "See, no shivs and no contraband", she said, "I do see.a politician, how did he get up there".

I disagree with do it yourself in this case. The OP is way too inexperienced by his own admission in his OP. He needs a Sherpa. I am sure in years forward he can do it himself, but we want a good outcome here for a first timer.

If asphyxiation were a problem with Halon, ETOPs wide bodies with Class C cargo compartment would have real problems. As designed they can keep a fire suppressed, but not extinguished for 3:30.

You would have to exceed 7% concentration for longer than 15 minutes to have a problem. That is not going to happen with a little 2.5 pound unit in your airplane.

Hangar vs tie down. In the south and midwest one word. Hail.

I had the same problem with my M20R a while back. Start out at 27.5 then gradually taper down to 24.3. Bad alternator. It was a Plane Power unit only a year old. I went back to the old Continental unit. The guys on Beechtalk say it is caused by out of round commutator rings which start the brushes bouncing which seems to be a recurring problem on the Plane Power units.

Jim Garrison at Gmax. Good guy with good advice who can lead you to a good purchase. https://www.gmaxamericanaircraft.com

Congress has 535 members. There are doctors, lawyers, pilots, farmers, homemakers, nurses and so on. The Congress has led through two of the worst wars the world has ever seen, dealt with nuclear enemies, 3 depressions, etc. Was it perfect? No. Did it turn out good? Yes. To quote William F. Buckley, "I would rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone directory than by the Harvard University faculty,” Right now, we are being governed by the faculty. Let's look at some of the bureaucrats governing us. Don't know about you, but I'll take my chances with Congress because I can at least have a say if they are playing with a full deck. Health and Human Services Department of Energy White House

No if you have been watching this court, they have been "getting out of the legislative business". That was the whole idea behind Dobbs, the bump stock decision and numerous others. What this Court has been saying is "we are not legislators" and "Congress do your job". Where legislation or regulation has failed or been non-existent the court has said, "No controlling authority and if you are looking to us to be the controlling authority, we're not it."

Congress needs to do its job and thus be accountable for its actions rather than creating broad mandates with little definition. In doing so, influence pedaling will actually decrease because you won't have this interest or that interest trying to get help with government agencies who have over reached.

I used to be a heavy equipment operator so my view of the airlines may be a little jaded. However it has been over 5 years since I operated a heavy and I rarely use my pass privileges, I usually buy tickets like anyone else. The thing about the airlines is it is a lot like Disneyworld. Sure you can rent a car, stay in Kissimmee for less, pay for parking, ride the tram in, be last in line for fast passes etc. I call that, "Fighting the Mouse". When you fight the mouse, the mouse likes it. The Mouse will roll around in the dirt happily with you just to watch you save a few bucks that he reclaims at a later date anyway. So it is with airlines. I am a member of Skymiles, Rapid Rewards etc and yes I have their credit cards so I get my first bag free except for SWA where it is free anyway. I get the perks and when the flight turns to crap, I am higher up on the re-book. The other day I was at Dallas Love and SWA throws me a "move up to A boarding for 20 bucks. Hey, 20 bucks is what it costs to watch monkeys do the nasty, so yeah, got A2. To heck with the bag check, I"m A2. Ditto Skymiles. I got AMEX Skymiles Platinum if the the flight cancels, go the lounge. Don't fight the mouse, do grab it by the tail and strangle it whenever you get the chance.

That is correct. The lock pin often shears, it is a point of inspection not to be overlooked. It is a hardened pin that once it is scored shears quite readily. The C-46 is famous for it shearing because of the enormous loads upon it. What is interesting is Gryder complains the NTSB did a very cursory inspection of the cockpit. Either they saw the video or inspection of the cockpit inspection quickly showed the tailwheel lock handle position.

Actually a 2940' runway does not leave much margin after brake work. You can take a lot of energy off a taildragger without brakes. I've landed Beech 18's without brakes, but you need some pavement and 2940' is not enough.

Left brake will always win over rudder in a tail dragger.

I have to say, I know Dan personally. He has some very sharp edges and it is very sad, because he had so much to work with, so much aviation talent and yet he applies it all in such a perverse way as to make himself an anathema to any well mannered and thoughtful person. I think he has some personality problems that really need professional attention because no normal person acts as irrationally as he does, even for money.

When you replaced the alternator did you check the drive coupling with a torque test and/or did you replace the coupling?

I've seen many aviation operations, in particular airlines chew up managers who failed to grasp the necessity for implicit trust which is gained only by ethical conduct. They think managing is an art transferable to any industry. Which brings me to the famous Captain Robert Buck answer from a reporter who asked, "Captain Buck what is the greatest threat to aviation safety". Captain Buck replied, "The Harvard MBA".

I remember that video. He hooked up a spreader rig and lifted the airplane at the firewall and the aft wing root, slightly nose down, controls locked. He had lines from the wing tips to keep it from spinning. Worked brilliantly. Meanwhile:

Eh, we used one of these if you can get it through the filler hole.