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Not just KRHV, Centennial in Arapahoe, CO and most recently KVNY have come under the lead gun. Look, we can argue about the validity of the studies, the numbers etc all we want, and it matters little. Like the drone scares in NJ, once the public is stampeded, you better have a plan to GTFOOTW.

My maintenance log tells me your're not wrong. Cowl flap hinges have been addressed more than once. Last repair a couple Annuals ago was by Arapahoe Aero in Centennial, CO and the hinges have been doing well since.

I had a co-worker that was totally freaked out because another plane passed within 2 NM of them (near KPAO) and they didn't get a call from the tower and they didn't have ADS-B in. They said they were going to file a complaint about the tower controller and will never again fly a plane without ADS-B in. They got mad at me when I asked if they were only ever going to fly in ADS-B mandated airspace for the rest of their life. And I totally agree with you on the idea/joke/whatever that if another aircraft is 'too close' you can just zoom in on your EFB to get some better perspective. Does anyone know where the last 50 mid-air accidents have occurred in relation to towered Vs. untowered airports Vs. not in the vicinity of an airport? Is there a difference in mid-air collision frequency per flight hour or airport operation between towered and untowered? FYI, "close calls" don't matter, only actual accidents/incidents. See @Vance Harral, @Schllc and my comments about how various people have different opinions on what makes a close call. Of the last few I can think of, 2 were at towered (Coeru D'alene, and Arapahoe) and 1 was not in the vicinity of an airport (Alaska) But I'm not really doing any research here, I'm just going from faulty memory. Anyone else is welcome to actually research this.

So funny, I know people that fly at towered airports only and will refuse to go anywhere without a tower, and those that fly at untowered airports only and will refuse to go anywhere with a tower. Remember: All of the 'traffic procedures' and radio calls are there to prevent mid-air collisions. There are not all that many midair collisions to start with. Looking at the most recent ones listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-air_collision l Out of these 3 out of 8 might have been prevented if the pilots had and used ADS-B in and out or their radios. The other 5 out of 8 would not. In the Winterhaven one, the cub didn't have a radio and having the cub on the radio could have prevented it, as could have ADS-B in on either plane if both had ADS-B out. In the Dallas one both aircraft had and were using radios, but they were doing a bunch of close proximity maneuvering due to the airshow. I doubt ADS-B would have helped, due to the update frequency and known close proximity they were flying. So this would not have been saved by radio or ADS-B. In the Longmont one, it looks like the Sonex didn't have operating ADS-B out but since there are RADAR tracks (according to the article on cpr.org), and while they both had radios, they were not in a location where we would expect them to be on the same frequency. The Sonex did have a working transponder and was visible on RADAR, so if either plane had ADS-B in, both planes would have been visible. According to some comments on the avweb article about this accident, the Cessna did have ADS-B in. But despite having it and having both planes be visible to the ADS-B in aircraft, they failed to see and avoid. This was not prevented by having radios and ADS-B. In the Malibu/Cessna midair in Vegas in 2022, and regardless of ADS-B status, both aircraft had and were using radios. But since they were operating in known close proximity, ADS-B would not have helped. So this was not prevented despite having radios and ADS-B. The Key Lime & Cirrus mid-air in Arapahoe County in May 2021 is extremely similar. Such close proximity that ADS-B would not have helped, and both were on the radio, just that one wasn't flying what they were supposed to. In the Soldotna accident, one had ADS-B -out and the other did not. I didn't find anything to say if the ADS-B out equipped plane also had ADS-B in, but if it did (and the pilot had used it, AND the other plane had ADS-B out) that likely would have prevented the accident. The George Inlet midair in 2019 could have been prevented by having and using ADS-B in and out, but it doesn't seem like it would be reasonable to expect even above average radio use to have prevented this. Just out in the middle of nowhere, I don't make regular position calls on 122.75 (Air-to-air frequency) The F-16 & Cessna 150 was also not preventable by ADS-B or radios; the F-16 pilot was provided plenty of advance warning about the 150 and chose not to change their course.

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Hey I have my annual coming up and recently relocated to Colorado Springs. I see Arapahoe up near Denver. Does anyone have a Pirep or other recommendation?

@Jonny any chance you can check on the status of MLG retract tubes (for 97 M20K Encore) on order since Jan/Feb? I've emailed with Frank Crawford and spoken with my local MSC (Arapahoe Aero) for the order and initially was told 12-14 wks but "likely much sooner than this." Feel free to DM me if you have any information. Thanks! Marc.

Arapahoe aero at apa is a msc. Why would you go elsewhere

Thanks for the info Arapahoe was a 6-8 week wait. I spoke to a guy with Mountain Aircraft Maintenance which is right at the airport in Steamboat and he said he could get to in a couple of weeks so I’m just going to go that route. Appreciate the help and hopefully in a few weeks I’ll be the newest Mooney owner.

I've used Arapahoe Aero at KAPA (Denver, CO) - closest Mooney Service Center - for oil changes, and am scheduled for annual with them later this month. I've also used Advanced Aerotech at KGXY (Greeley, CO) for avionics/oil change/fuel senders; one of the owners has a Mooney. Another well known MSC is KNR / Kerry McIntyre at KEVW (Evanston, WY). Not sure what the availability and time frame for any of these shops are. I'd imagine all of these options are close enough to SBS that you could have them take aircraft there for prebuy. Good luck!

Hello all. I have a 1980K. Yesterday the right mag gave out. Completely. On runup it acts like a total shutdown. Mechanics are looking at mag as cause. I am thinking switch as just had avionics work done. But they told me that unless grounded, the mag will produce spark....period as a rule cannot stop it. You are saying that something has to go back to the switch first? I also noticed that my headset connector plate down near left knee was a little bent after work. Seems like any time a mechanic gets near that plane, suddenly something goes wronger-er. 2 months ago after a different shop installed an Aerospace Logic MP/FF gauge- (absolutely awesome), my intercom switches ended up reversed ( Isolate/all and mono/stereo) AND I looked down as egressing and there is a part of a wiring harness clam laying on the carpet. Also the bottom cam locks disappeared- gone. What? Not going back there. Never had any problems like these at Arapahoe Aero with Scott. But then again, I did experience less money there.........get what you........ Anyhow, IF WIRES NEED TO GO TO SHITCH THEN BACK TO MAG, anyone give me a clue on what to look for? Try new /diff switch. ?? thanks Much btw, spent most of yesterday BJC-FNL-KXY. Ipad traffic looked like a beehive. BJC tower finally said- No new calls extend dwind". Super busy. I do not get it how busy it was. You think it is pent up covid? Every retailer Depot, Wally, etc says they are getting slammed, ?? Thanks

No there isn’t a model specific place to go. no need. Re title a thread and you’ll get a lot of K opinions. Turbo musing. I fell in love with Mooneys shortly after getting my private in 1992. I seriously fell in love with a near new MSE/J that I rented a lot. When that J was pulled off the rental line I started looking for one in earnest. There was one in the shelters at Centennial, had a for sale sign and everything. Probably would have bought it if I had been able to get a response out of the owner. His loss, my gain. Then purely by accident I Found a 231 on the Erie airport, 145 Piper Drive. Didn’t really know how different a K was from a J. They looked pretty much the same. Flew it with the seller up to Arapahoe Aero and bought it. 13 years old and about 1100 hours. Bought it. Flew it. Loved it. About 100 hours later the engine pumped out 5 quarts of oil in less than an hour. I was coming home from Spokane, put 6 quarts in at Orofino Idaho Got it back to Spokane, long story it’s now a Rocket. Put over 1000 hours on it but sold it to make a real estate deal. promised myself a retirement plane, took 3 more years. Bought a 1990 MSE. Thought I could love it like the one from 1993. But, can’t go back after owning a turbo. The flexibility to get over or around weather. Every flight in that MSE was just a reminder of what it couldn’t do. Sold it to a Texas flat lander. Now I need a turbo. You will love that 231. I had mine up to FL22 over Pueblo coming home from Texas. The ground under me was all flat but that turbo kept me in the clear and over the ice. Took the Rocket to 26 more than once. Amazing. In Denver you’ve got MEAs at 16600 just a few miles west of town. Yes you’ll want that turbo. Best piece of safety equipment you can have in a Mooney.

I dunno. Maybe things have changed, The most common instruction I received when inbound from the east and APA was landing south was,. "Report Parker and Arapahoe." If the first call-in was further out, it would be "Report Aurora Reservoir," or "Report the Radome, but one of those was usually where we called in VFR, so ultimately it was as about "Parker and Arapahoe." Bravo along that route is no lower than 8,000 and no real reason to be higher if coming in for landing. Once there it would be a simple left base along Arapahoe Rd or, if things were busier, they'd turn us northwest to the center of Chery Creek Reservoir.. It wasn't a big deal at all to keep outside Buckley. I don't think I ever got a crossover or downwind entry to land to the south unless, of course, I was inbound from a position where a simple 45 to downwind or downwind join made sense.

Every deal is different. when I bought 231NH it was in the Denver metro area. I drove to his house, on a airport, we flew together to the local Mooney Dealer/repair shop Arapahoe Aero. We were both present for the prebuy. When I sold 231NH the buyer paid me to fly it to Top Gun, paid my hotel bill while the plane was checked. Then paid my airline ticket to Denver. Top Gun then did a annual. Buyer paid my airline ticket back to California. We flew it together to Las Vegas. He left it there for 90 days because of sales/use tax rules. Funds transferred from Vegas he paid my flight home. The Vegas deal saved him $17,500 in state taxes. Purchase of 1079V. It was based in Greeley Colorado. I inspected and flew with him there. He flew it to Arapahoe Aero for prebuy. We closed through escrow. When I sold it the buyer trusted the recent annual at Arapahoe Aero. No prebuy. each time the planes were as represented and both parties were happy afterwards. While shopping I found a Bravo in Texas. I flew there, test flew and had a prebuy done in Denton Texas at US Aviation, a Mooney Service Center. The plane was NOT as represented. Seller was not lying about the plane. He had bought it recently without a prebuy and thought he had a great plane. He was forced to sell because of a divorce. He had been had by the California lawyer that saw him coming. I made a corresponding offer and was turned down. 6 months later he sold it for less than I offered. Between the Crooked lawyer and the exwife he got screwed over in the deal. Poor guy shoulda had a pre nup and a pre buy. Cost him close to $100,000 to own a plane he flew just a few times. Hate to think what the good doctor paid for Her Services. each time the buyer paid the costs associated with the pre buy. Each was done at a Mooney Service center. The money to prebuy and then pass on the Bravo was money well spent.

We paid $220 for the kit at our local Mooney MSC (Arapahoe Aero) a few months ago - just now getting around to installing it. LASAR also has the kit listed for $236: https://lasar.com/service-bulletin-kits/service-bulletin-kit-289-m20-289-000 Not very expensive in aviation dollars, I guess, but a little frustrating. The kit contains an AN bolt, castle nut, and cotter pin that you can get from Spruce for about two bucks. The "magic" is the three specially-sized washers that exactly fill the gap where the rod ends are captured by the U-bracket.

I've been to Arapahoe Aero, and they've done work on my Mooney. But I've not used them for an annual. I have heard from several respected Mooney owners, that AA is the go to shop in the Denver area. They are a big shop which can be good in that they have a lot of resources and can probably stick to a time table and estimate. But with a big shop comes big shop prices as well. Steve, the owner, does know his Mooneys well. I sat in his office and discussed what I needed done and was quite impressed with his knowledge of Mooney specific issues. I'm sure you'd get a good quality annual done at Arapahoe Aero. Having said all that, the reason I've not used them for an annual is that I try not to have my first interaction with a shop, be an annual. A Mooney annual can run anywhere from $2000 to $20,000 and a lot of that depends on the shop. I want to get to know a shop through oil changes and other minor maintenance jobs, and for them to get to know me. And all before we jump in bed together for an annual. I will say that if I were getting my annual done in Denver, it would likely be at Arapahoe Aero.

Hi, I know of Arapahoe Aero in KAPA but they are booked 3 weeks out. The seller is time constrained as they are the midst of purchasing another airplane and would not want to wait 3 weeks. Can you recommend another shop? Thank you, Yariv

Airport naming has gotten crazy lately. Between politics and pretentious promoters it’s hard to say who is worse. APA was Arapahoe County Airport, it’s now Centennial. FTG was Front Range airport it’s now Colorado Air and Space Port. BJC was Jefferson County Airport now it’s Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. even little U42 got pretentious, Salt Lake #2 is now South Valley Regional. LEE in Florida got in the act also. Who would have guessed there was an International airport on the banks of Lake Harris. I think my favorite is 48U, a dirt strip in Wyoming, officially named Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport. Ridiculous, I knew where Las Vegas was but who knows where Swamp Politician International is. But HillBilly international does have an appropriate ring to it.

Adding new link for an E Model. Arapahoe Flight Club, Colorado Springs, has a Mooney M20E for rent at 180/hr wet. Here's the https://arapahoefc.com/aircraft-and-instruction

Arapahoe Flight Club, Colorado Springs, has a Mooney M20E for rent at 180/hr wet. Here's the link: https://arapahoefc.com/aircraft-and-instruction

A long time ago in a land far-far-away, I flew a 152 from southeast Colorado to Boulder/Jefferson County (BJC) airport to take the PPL written. My instructor told me to fly to southwest Denver, then north up the corridor between the Stapleton TCA and the front range. I was 16. After flying VFR through the Arapahoe County approach path and scaring anyone on final to death (if they saw me), and then turning north, I contacted BJC tower and told them that I was a student pilot, but I couldn't find the airport. He asked me to look for big blue water tanks on the ground. Me: I see the tanks, I'm a few miles south. BJC TWR: You're on left base for the active runway. Clear to land. Everyone else stay out of the way.

Yes, Carusoam, I'm still here! If the OP can limp his RV up to Denver Centennial, Arapahoe Aero can repair it. They worked on my RV-8 for years until I moved to CA.

Hey everyone, Quick question, planning to make an offer on a Mooney that is near Denver. Does anyone around that area know of a good Mooney mechanic that can do my pre-buy? I saw Arapahoe, but they had 2 very bad reviews online. I know folks can get mad and leave reviews sometimes that don't reflect the kind of customer service a business normally offers, so if someone has used them and likes them, let me know. If you know anyone else though, let me know too. I know I can request the seller to take the plane out further but it's Denver.......there has to be a good maintenance shop around there. Plus, if all goes well I am going to take it straight to Wyoming! I appreciate it!

Another offer from a Denver-area pilot who would look at an airplane for you if you're inclined. Not an A&P, but after 16 years of owner-assisted annuals, I'm starting to know my way around a little. Maybe @gsxrpilot and I could field trip to look at it together. You've already gotten a few recommendations on shops I concur with. In addition to that, I'll add that Fly Elite aviation in Longmont (KLMO) maintains at least half a dozen Mooneys and can do a decent pre-buy. I'm not recommending them as superior to the other recommendations, just another option if scheduling becomes a problem. FYI, note that Arapahoe Aero is a "big" shop, that is both a Mooney and a Cirrus service center. Their hangar has a dozen or more airplanes in it at any given time, and they have a large staff with many mechanics. Mountain Aero at KBJC and Fly Elite at KLMO are "small" shops with a single head mechanic and a couple of assistants. Pros and cons both ways, you can decide for yourself.

Arapahoe Aero at KAPA has been an excellent Mooney Service Center in my experience. They can be more expensive and busy than others in the Colorado Front Range area.