Flying to Mexico

[Tmarsha]

Hello folks, before I sold my 182, I was a regular flyer to Mexico flying Dr's, nurses, interpreters to a small fishing village. I haven' flown down for 1.5 yrs since buying the Mooney wanting to get comfortable and knowledgable with my M20F. We basically enter the country in Guymas, fly across the Sea of Cortez to Mulege (dirt strip), then south to Lopez Mateo (dirt strip), back to Mulege, Guymas, Nogales and home. Trip is about 12 hours (hobbs) Fri - Sun.

I usually go down three times a year. Does anyone have experience landing their Mooney on dirt strips, anything I should watch for related to the gear, fuel tanks, etc. any other concerns ? I currently Have one or two rivets weeping (minimal) in one tank I am watching. I grease the gear during annual and again between annuals. Thanks. Tom

[cliffy]

Lets see-

How old are your landing gear rubber biscuits?  If they are old they get hard and they don't dampen the rougher surface of a dirt strip as good and then you get more leaks in the tanks. 

Obviously you know how to add power slowly as you accelerate for T/O to avoid rocks in the prop but your Mooney prop is closer to the ground (9" or there abouts) so be extra careful.

Keeping your nose in the air as much as possible when on the ground pays dividends to your prop also.

As a new Mooney owner are you aware of the "third bounce and you buy a prop" issue? On landing if you porpoise and continue to the third touch down you will most likely hit the prop. Don't porpoise a landing. 

Also AANMO, speed control on approach and landing is critical. Keep your speed down. 10 kts extra uses 1,000 more feet of runway. 

On a rough surface it's critical to make sure your landing gear over center links are adjusted properly. Did your A&Pat the last annual check them with the correct tool and torque wrench to verify or did he just run the gear up and down to see if it worked? 

Most improved dirt strips should be OK with proper technique and care. Unimproved dirt is another story in a Mooney.Taxi very slowly as any holes or bumps are magnified by our gear and the prop comes close to the ground.

What model Mooney do you Have?  I'm in a 64 D/C  an I'm in Page AZ,

[carusoam]

Check in with Bryan. (PiperPainter)

You won't need his off-road capabilities, but he has the most background in the area you are asking about...

Now, if somebody could point you to the latest outback thread. (See CabanaBoy post below)

Keep up the good work!

Best regards,

-a-

[DAVIDWH]

If you lose so much as a starter in Mexico, you are going to be there for a very long time.

 

With the politically corrupt and violent situation, I wouldn't consider it.

 

Lost a good friend in Mexico after the fuel he took on was about half water.  (Takes several hours for the water to sink down to the sumps)

 

Just my personal thoughts.

 

Best,

 

DH

[thinwing]

No problems...Mulege as you know is packed clay with just a few rocks at south end.Lopez Mateo I am not familiar with...The big change since you last went down..is Mexican Eapis flight notification...talk to BBP..I think they can handle that..k

[Cabanaboy]

Ask Piper Painter (mooney space member), he does it all the time!

 

http://mooneyspace.com/user/7134-piperpainter/

[Piloto]

The risk on landing is minimum since you are coming with minimum fuel. However on takeoff is a different story due to the fuel weight and runway condition. On grass Mooneys (specially the long bodies) are prone to have the nose wheel stuck in the dirt when fully loaded. Keep the elevator full up when taxing and on initial run.

 

José

[Tmarsha]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Biscuits are good, gear tension checked and within specs, no problem with EAPIS, never had a problem with fuel in Guymas. I believe the key advice is use soft field T/O and landing techniques to protect the prop. Runways are maintained fairly well but some areas can get soft.

[kortopates]

Exactly, I've flown my 252 into Mulege many times over the years and other worse strips as well and never had a problem dinging my prop. In addition to the good advice above I would also suggest being careful in picking a place to turn around for departure where you neither have excessive amount of rocks or may need excessive amount of power (e.g., softer dirt/sand). If you get into trouble turning around, rather than add more and more power just shutdown and pull it around. Not such an issue at Mulege as much as some other places like Laguna San Ignacio. There are almost always other folks to help, especially if you are going down with the Flying Sam's etc.. I will also walk the strip whenever I can to pick my turn around point. Really no different piloting techniques than just being zealous with the soft field techniques for your prop's sake.

 

The big difference that you will probably most notice going into Mulege in a low wing Mooney compared to your prior high wing Cessna experience though will be the close proximity of your wingtips to the fence on the narrow runway - it will really have your attention. Because of this hazard, I delay touch down till I am well past the pad at the threshold and right where the road is coming in from the left that runs along the other side of the fence along the runway -- i.e. a few hundred feet past the pad. By this point two things are in my favor, first the strip has widened appreciably by then and secondly any x-wind is greatly diminished by the hillside on the right starting to block x-winds at that point. You'll still have plenty of runway to roll out even if you are a little hot. 

 

Enjoy your trip down. 

Yeah, I've flown all over Baja and the mainland and into Central America and never gotten any bad gas, but these stories still persist.

[Tmarsha]

Thanks Paul. Excellent suggestions. There are generally a fair numer of aircraft into Mulege which softens the landing area so landing long is a good suggestion. Walking the runway is also good advice. Since buying the Mooney I have not flown below 2,000 ft, generally 4,000 and higher so looking forward to seeing how it performs/climbs at sea level. Dirt Strip at Lopez Mateo (clinic location) is usually better packed and wider so less risk. Wil also be close to gross weight departing Guymas with full fuel, people and baggage.

Flying to Windowrock 11/15 with 25 other aircraft delivering clothes/toys to the Navajo reservation in Windowrock. This is the 30th anniversary. Taking the back seat out allows for more cargo. I have 300lbs of donations so the Mooney will be loaded. Did a W&B and well within the envelope and 100lbs below gross. Definitely not the 182 but the Mooney is working out fine. The Mooney is a nice change. Thanks again. Tom

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I fly to Cabo once or twice a year. Monitor Bush Pilots International if you're not already: https://www.bushpilotsinternational.com/smf/index.php?action=recent

 

Hurricane Odile back in September did a number on many airstrips on the peninsula so BPI is an important source for latest conditions at specific strips.

[ryoder]

I'd never do it as it is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and dangerous too.

[StinkBug]

I find it funny that people who wont go to mexico like to tell how corrupt and dangerous it is to the people who actually go and spend time there often. 

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I find it funny that people who wont go to mexico like to tell how corrupt and dangerous it is to the people who actually go and spend time there often. 

StinkBug, you nailed it.

 

To each their own.  I've done 6 round trips from Denver and SoCal to Cabo and it's some of the best flying I've ever done in 30 years as a pilot.

 

But I've also flown down there commercial, to central Mexico. Leon, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Queretero. Beautiful places, beautiful people.

 

It's a stunning country.

 

Some images from my flights:

 

 

 

[StinkBug]

I've never flown into mexico, but I've driven down there for the Baja 1000 and many other races. There are good places and bad, just like the US. There are neighborhoods I dont stop in, and I keep an eye on my truck when it's full of stuff that's easily stolen, but I do that in the US too. Most of the people down there are just like anyone else. Some bad, but mostly good. I've learned that if you dont go out and party and get drunk and act like an idiot american you dont have any problems. There are some beautiful places down there for sure, and it's definitely a whole different world.

[carusoam]

"dont go out and party and get drunk and act like an idiot..."

Guidance that works in most countries, and at home.

Best regards,

-a-

[kmyfm20s]

I can't think of any respectful, act like your in the USA friends, running into trouble in Mexico with exception of petty theft. Now the few friends with the anything goes, Mexico is a no rules playground attitude have had differing experiences but luckily have made it out. With that said, I wouldn't participate in an organized a protest against a major wife like those 43 college students where attempting, poof disappeared!

I took my wife to Baja to see the Whales and she put it just behind her Africa trip as the most amazing wild life experience.....Maybe it was because I was a respectable party animal;)

[Parker_Woodruff]

I have been to Mexico (Los Cabos) twice in the last year and would go again. But I wouldn't fly my own plane. Any type of breakdown sounds 1) expensive and 2) like it could take awhile to fix.

I was out on the beach one night outside my hotel with a buddy of mine after dark (with no substances in my body or on my person).

Cops showed up on ATVs and were insistent upon frisking us. They were stunned when we didn't have anything illegal on us. They let us go, but a million thoughts went through my head about how corrupt the cops and legal system are.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I have been to Mexico (Los Cabos) twice in the last year and would go again. But I wouldn't fly my own plane. Any type of breakdown sounds 1) expensive and 2) like it could take awhile to fix.

I was out on the beach one night outside my hotel with a buddy of mine after dark (with no substances in my body or on my person).

Cops showed up on ATVs and were insistent upon frisking us. They were stunned when we didn't have anything illegal on us. They let us go, but a million thoughts went through my head about how corrupt the cops and legal system are.

 

Parker,

 

Sadly, my days of flying my Mooney to Mexico are probably over, not only for the reasons you cite, but also because the cost of parking and fuel at either airport in Los Cabos have gotten out of hand. And, no, I'm not going to land at (cheaper) La Paz and drive to Cabo as some would suggest; defeats the purpose of the airplane. But I'm sure glad I made the trips I did over the past 3 years. Those flights were extraordinary.

 

At which beach did you have your dust-up with the cops? We have a second home down there and spend quite a lot of time in Cabo and I've never experienced anything like that. Would like to be sure to avoid that location.

 

Joe

[Parker_Woodruff]

Somewhere around where the pin is dropped...

 

Spirit Airlines is quite cheap to Los Cabos...

[WardHolbrook]

I've made my last voluntary trip to Mexico. Over the years, I've flown to Mexico countless times, to both the "normal" tourist spots and many other places throughout the entire country (our family had mining interests down there) I speak fluent Spanish and I have many dear Mexican friends. I love the Mexican people. That said, I'm tired of the corruption and all of the other stuff that goes on down there, I just am. I understand that flying to Mexico is something that most guys want to do once and I say go for it. But, there is nothing in Mexico that we don't have here in the US. 

[RobertGary1]

Flying over the Eastern Baja at 1,000 feet and looking straight down through the clean water of a lagoon to the sand below is something you can only do in Mexico.  I did have an accident in Mexico (Alphonsinas) once and it was a pain to get an A&P down with parts. The insurance co covered all expenses and was extremely grateful I didn't abandon the plane down there as is typical. At the time I don't think I had an active Stand-In policy; something that I should have had.

 

 

-Robert, CFII