Shadrach

Agreed, but we are privy to the images of the paper estimates…unless the OP fabricated them, which seems unlikely.

Ask him if he paid more than factory overhaul price on each overhaul or received a frequent flier discount on the next few.

The fact that Brown makes it in white makes it an easy choice.

Quotes are for various levels of overhaul, not inspections. Removing and reinstalling an IO360 is ~20-25hr job for a competent mechanic (30% removal 70% install. I have both paid to have it done and I have done it personally. Removing cylinders and splitting the case of an IO360 is a 5-6 hour job. I know because I dropped my engine off at my builder mid morning to have the case sent out for overhaul and he called me before close of business that day with his assessment of the internals and to provide a tracking number for the case which was already crated and on its way to the overhauler. 45k for a prop inspection is ridiculous. The OPs shop charged 12k for the prop inspection (top of the invoice). The other 33k is in unauthorized maintenance. Professionals should be paid well for skilled work. They should be ridiculed for taking advantage of the of a customer’s vulnerability and ignorance. The fact that you have recently had the work performed does not mean that what you paid was reasonable.

According to who? Based on what? How many cases have you split? 45K is nowhere near "about right" for a prop strike inspection. Here are some posted field overhaul price lists from reputable overhaul shops. Gann Aviation -Factory new limits - $36,050 (good luck getting new cylinders) A&E Aviation - Overhaul with Serviceable Cylinders - $22,225 (Plano Tx) Corona Engines- Overhaul with Serviceable Cylinders - $31,500 (Corona, CA) Prices for field overhauls vary +/- 30% depending on options and region, but in no world does a prop strike inspection cost $45K.

It is "U" channel trim piece. There are several off the shelf products that will work. I do not recall the correct size. you should perhaps remove and measure a small piece to ensure you order the correct size. I think this company has been used by others: https://www.trimlok.com/catalog

The teardown and reassembly should fall under the inspection covered by the insurance company. It would take a monumental shift in the facts surrounding this situation for me to believe this is anything other than a shop strong arming a captive customer. It happens. Sometimes it happens to people who don't know it’s happening to them. I would make one polite attempt to give the shop an opportunity make this correct. If they failed, I would seek to sever ties with as little drama and acrimony as possible while trying to minimize the possibility of property damage/sabotage. Negotiating with terrorists rarely goes well.

Indeed, if the shop performs a field overhaul, it is going to cost almost $13,000 more than an factory overhaul exchange. No one in their right mind would pay that for a field overhaul...unless they we're made an offer they could not refuse.

I appreciate your push for a calm tone, and perhaps there is indeed more to this story. However, if this shop has initiated $10,500 of work without communicating with the owner, I question the notion that they are suddenly going to find their ethics and come to the table. This has all of the elements of a hostage negotiation. I don't think he should have a Lawyer contact them. I think he should have a lawyer help him use the proper channels to remove his property from the shop ASAP. The removal needs to take place with as little warning as possible and under supervision. I would sooner take a crate of parts to another shop than do business with someone that treated me this way.

Did the shop communicate in detail the issues with your crank, cam, cylinders, fuel servo, crank case, lifters, gears in the accessory case etc? I had my engine torn down for a case crack year ago. We had a very in depth discussion about the condition of the internals the same day that the case was split. Your description reads like the shop just elected to do a field overhaul without your consent or consultation. There are two side to every story. Did he not disclose any of this to you before beginning the work?

@kortopates does savvy take on new customers while they are in a dispute with a shop? @BS20E If it were me, I would contact a lawyer about the best method for retrieving my unassembled property immediately and with as little notice to the shop as possible. I don't know that this shop is being unscrupulous, but so many things stink about this. You're ostensibly being forced into a field overhaul that is more expensive than a factory overhaul exchange even with insurance paying for the teardown.

My Bull$hit detector is screaming. Cases can be overhauled and cracks repaired. Cylinders that were previously operating just fine don't just fail.

OK now I understand. This is a difficult situation. Unauthorized work always is. Where is the airframe located? where is the closest engine shop to your location? Insurance should have covered anything damaged by the prop strike. The invoice does not seem to differentiate between damage and wear items.

I don’t mean to offend, but this answer makes clear that this is an emotional decision rather than a logical one. It’s an inanimate object with the engine torn apart. That has nothing to do with what “you” need. it’s about the best course of action moving forward to minimize your financial pain. No one will be able to help with that if you do not provide details as to what’s going on with the engine.

Brilliant solution if not a bit bulky when deployed.

A Lycoming Factory Overhaul from AirPower is $43,830 so I’m guessing that $45,000 is a typo. $4500 is chump change to have an IRAN’d engine that will likely run 2000hrs + if well cared for. Need more details to give a meaningful analysis of your situation.

Sort of, but I did not really intellectualize it in that way. Years ago on a particularly windy/gusty day when winds were favoring 27, I asked tower if I could have 20. I don’t recall the exact numbers, but they were stupid…something like 280 27G38 (I’ll check my logs). I don’t recall if I ran out of rudder or just became uncomfortable with the varying bank angle needed to track the runway. I elected to transition from a slip to a crab, which was fairly extreme, but more comfortable than having to stand on the rudder while varying bank angle. I wish I could say that I transitioned from the crab into the perfect amount of slip for the flare. It was more of an align the nose with the runway and do whatever seemed necessary to facilitate an expeditious touchdown. Donk, donk, donk. Right main, nose, then left main. I wheelbarrowed slightly in my efforts to get the thing planted. Flaps up. Then a gust blew us into a skid. Awful sound of tire screeching and gear chattering under side load. I did not bend anything, but I would never intentionally land in conditions like that again. I’m a late bloomer in some ways. I was in my early 30s when I did this. I started flying plenty early enough to have gotten something this stupid out of the way in my 20s.

This is a more detailed description of the technique I mentioned earlier. I’ve never read Barry’s piece, but I think a lot of pilots stumble into this method with time.

Handsome fella!

It’s a gift that keeps on giving. It’s an old pic but Simon is still with us. He’s now fine with hanging out in his carrier. When he was young, his preferred spot was what you see in the pic. The “three toed sloth” grip on the yoke is just weird but he’s done it several times.

Groan…

It happened to me many, many years ago after getting questionable instruction from my IA on how to test the Bendix switch. We had installed the new muffler the day before. It had about 10 mins in service before I tried to turn it into a giant firecracker. No damage but it sounded terrible.

Definitely has his head on a swivel. He’s good with pitch but requires intervention when bank angles exceed about 5°.

I always make oxygen available but Simon won’t wear a cannula. He’s pretty adamant that we cruise at or below 6000.

I read 2850 as a typo. Unless he rolled into a split S and pointed it straight down, the fine pitch stops are going to keep any excursions over red line to a minimum.