Advice / Recommendations of items to inspect and check after my wheels up incident!!

[RocketAviator]

Ok folks after more than 3 months my ol bucket of bolts is "supposed to be delivered" next week from the shop that did the work after my wheels up incident on June 1.  I am compiling a list of items that I need to check after such a repair and I also had the shop do a complete annual and full AD compliance review. 

 

Any input, advise or suggestion would be appreciated.  After the shops completion of their own test flights, the plane is scheduled to be flown about 3.5 hours to my home airport for delivery.  I will inspect the plane in part with my local A&P whom I know and trust and has done what little maintenance (oil change) I have ever had to do on this plane.  Then I will fly the pilot back to Mena AR for additional inspections  assuming I don't find any issues with my initial inspection I will fly the plane home for a total of a little over 7 hrs flight plus the 3.5 of the initial plane delivery to me time.

 

Right now these are the items on my list I plan to check:

• Every area that was mechanically effected or repaired that I can get to by the removal of the inspection panels & cowling etc.  I have a scope with a flexible head but do not expect to have to use it much if at all. (ailerons, hinge covers, gear doors & linkage, antenna, belly panel, prop etc)
• No damage was done to the structure except the belly panel and the one main cross member at the front of the belly panel.
• Prop run out (new prop supposed to be dynamically balanced after test flight) but I will check with dial indicator for static run out.  Manual says +/- 1/16" inch.
• There were a couple push / pull connecting rods that had new pins installed, I will check for secure pins.
• New front wheel bearings were installed (not associated with the incident).
• New gear actuator overhaul
• Engine tear down and inspection and rebalance of engine and prop (nothing on inside I can check but I will check the outside visual items & confirm the mags are tight, oil lines clear of exhaust, turbo and connections tight and wired, all wires and tubes secured within the engine department, new baffling installed and fits correctly, new prop governor cable installed will check what I can see on this, will check engine RPM with photo tach, will check fuel flow & cylinder head temperatures  during a field test flight, all gauges, engine analyzer and avionics, will download the latest current engine analyzer info for a base reference.
• True and straight flight.
• Up on jacks will test for proper Gear retract & extension.
• Check all lights panel & outside

 

The shop made a mistake and applied excessive air pressure to the pitot static tube and caused damage to several items in the new avionics I just had installed.  They have reported that they had a qualified avionics shop handle the repairs and all were replaced or repaired.  This portion makes me very unhappy but mistakes happen by all of us, but I do want to check it as carefully as I am able and am worried about long term effects!

 

Thanks in advance.

[John Pleisse]

I'd zero in on hands off flight and expected TAS. Likewise, control surfaces and all of the push rods, rod ends, rod end bearings, etc that are in the belly aft of the gear motor and bulkhead.

 

This begs the question. if one asked a Mooney SC or Factory IA, what would the number one discrepancy with Mooney specific gear up repairs typically be?

[Dave Marten]

Lacee,

 

Glad to hear you're getting your bird back. Personally, I'd go to Mena myself and accept delivery on-site. Conduct your own test flight (with a the shop's pilot if needed) and ensure everything is up to snuff before you depart. If you'd like an independent A&P to inspect then bring him to Mena with you.

 

Call it way overboard, but If it was me I'd ask for the airplane to be de-cowled (and maybe even on jacks so we can run through a gear swing). You're right to "trust but verify".

 

A whole lot easier to resolve any issues in Mena before 'accepting' the airplane vs. after arrival in El Paso.

[jetdriven]

Lacee you are on the right track, Id have your mech disassemble the plane in ELP and go over it with a fine tooth comb.

[manu damaschin]

What was the cause for the gear up landing?

[jetdriven]

usually the landing gear is not down at landing

[RocketAviator]

Lacee,

 

Glad to hear you're getting your bird back. Personally, I'd go to Mena myself and accept delivery on-site. Conduct your own test flight (with a the shop's pilot if needed) and ensure everything is up to snuff before you depart. If you'd like an independent A&P to inspect then bring him to Mena with you.

 

Call it way overboard, but If it was me I'd ask for the airplane to be de-cowled (and maybe even on jacks so we can run through a gear swing). You're right to "trust but verify".

 

A whole lot easier to resolve any issues in Mena before 'accepting' the airplane vs. after arrival in El Paso.

Dave, I decided to extend the acceptance and do both.  I thought it would be a good idea to have the plane flown for a few hours and then check everything so I negotiated in advance this whole double inspection idea by having the plane flown home to me and my A & P then back to Mena for a complete review after we have a chance to do the same and then and only then upon will I accept the plane.  I hope that makes sense to someone other than me!

[RocketAviator]

Lacee,

 

Glad to hear you're getting your bird back. Personally, I'd go to Mena myself and accept delivery on-site. Conduct your own test flight (with a the shop's pilot if needed) and ensure everything is up to snuff before you depart. If you'd like an independent A&P to inspect then bring him to Mena with you.

 

Call it way overboard, but If it was me I'd ask for the airplane to be de-cowled (and maybe even on jacks so we can run through a gear swing). You're right to "trust but verify".

 

A whole lot easier to resolve any issues in Mena before 'accepting' the airplane vs. after arrival in El Paso.

Dave, and yes the agreement includes the shop putting the plane on jacks and de-cowled at Mena and we plan to do the same before we get to Mena.... and NO I don't think it is overkill...

Thanks again for all your help and support and introduction to Larry he has been a great support too!  I hope to see him in October in AZ.  Any chance you will be there too?

[Dave Marten]

Lacee,

Good luck. Keep us posted. Look forward to meeting you in AZ.

[N9201A]

Yes I am planning on being in Arizona.  Several of us are undergoing SARDOT's tutelage for our four-ship wing cards.  These will permit formation flyin gin waivered airspace, so we can have Mooneys in the OSH showcase, like the Bonanzas have done.  

 

Lacee I hope your shakedown flights go well and you make it to AZ next month.

[RocketAviator]

Yes I am planning on being in Arizona.  Several of us are undergoing SARDOT's tutelage for our four-ship wing cards.  These will permit formation flyin gin waivered airspace, so we can have Mooneys in the OSH showcase, like the Bonanzas have done.  

 

Lacee I hope your shakedown flights go well and you make it to AZ next month.

Thanks,

Headed out tomorrow to see if we can get some issues resolved, a small chance I can bring it home... if it checks out that is!  Hope to see you guys in AZ next month.