Tie-down Rings in Flight?

[Jeff_S]

Here's an interesting one. For no real reason, I was perusing some Service Instructions from the Mooney web site and came across one for jacking up the airplane. Since I'm having new tires put on this is relevant, so I thought I'd just see the proper way to do that (although I leave the actual work to my A/P). That document describes replacing the tie-down rings with the jack points, which makes sense. But in two separate places, it also says "Do Not Leave Tie-down Rings In Place During Flight."

That's a new one on me. Has anyone heard this before? Does anyone actually follow it? My transition CFI, who used to own a J and has over 800 hours in them, never mentioned it. I guess the idea is they can come loose and fall off...and now that I say that, I do remember that after having the plane tied down in Destin a few weeks ago, when I got home to Atlanta I noticed that one of them was loose, probably due to some twisting action that occurred in that tie-down configuration. One more thing to preflight...

[rob]

This is an old topic that gets covered from time to time. Some question the airworthiness of a Mooney with the rings in, etc. Others mention that it's a pilot-servicable part. I just leave mine out. I tie down so very rarely that I'd rather have the .0004 knots that I gain without them in.

 

 

[231Pilot]

Mine have always been left in, I guess I should remove them until I want to tie down (I'M usually in a hangar).

[FlyDave]

Laser has a nice mod for $35 (yes, 0.035 AMU). It's a set of jack pads with a tie down attached. So you'll always have a set of jack pads along with your tie down rings. VERY handy if you need to change a tire away from home.

It's your option to take them out during flight.

[flight2000]

I have the LASAR combo set installed as well and leave them installed all the time.  I don't carry an allen head wrench to take them off every time I fly unlike the originals that are screwed in by hand.  I like them.  Oh and the originals are something like $60 EACH to replace ($45 used from various parts dealers if you can find them).

Brian

[N201MKTurbo]

If you don't care about the plastic bag with the Mooney part number they are $17.00

http://www.mcmaster.com/#eyebolts-and-eye-nuts/=7rgg91

 

[scottfromiowa]

I also have the Laser wing tie down's and combination jack point.  They appear more streamlined than OEM and are angled making it easier to get tight for tie down.  I am frequently tying down (with cockpit cover-Bruce Custom Cover) while traveling overnight away from home base.  I can't imagine removing these for flight...Never any issue with these.  I didn't install hub-cpas or tail tie down (sold as kit) returned these for credit from Laser.

[Jeff_S]

Y'all talking about LASAR, or something else? I Googled "Laser Mooney" and that was the only thing I could come up with, and I didn't see the mods you're talking about.  I'm not that worried about it, actually...my plane lives in a tie-down so I'm going to just leave them on and make sure they're snug from time to time. But now you've got my curiosity up...

 

Edit: Never mind, I found them under the Wheel Cap listing, which strangely doesn't show the wheel cap at all but only these jack/tie-down devices. Now that I've seen them, I recognize them from fellow-Mooneyspacer Mac201's plane which we flew last week. I wondered why his were different than mine.

[carusoam]

From Dan at Lasar.......regarding the tie down / jack points...

        Still available.... $35.00 for the set for the wings.

 

        Dan

----- Original Message -----

From: Anthony Caruso

To: Parts

Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 12:14 PM

Subject: Customer Message

Customer Inquiry:

Sender Name:

Anthony Caruso

Country:

usa

Message:

on the LASAR website Mods list... Hub Caps indicate a picture of tie-down ring replacements. I could not find the SS tie-down rings. Is it possible they got mixed on the website? I am looking for the SS tie-down rings for my M20R. Used to have them on my M20C. Best regards, -a-