Doing the first annual now... wowza!!

[Guitarmaster]

From now on my airplane shall be known as an M20F-SE!

[Guitarmaster]

Thought I would share some, "under the belly" pictures for those that are interested.

She is just about back in the air! Heading down to see Cody on Thursday.

[jetdriven]

I thought the ITT actuTor didn't come until later than 1978 but you have one

[Hank]

Nice pictures! I've never had that much light under my plane . . .

[HRM]

Nice pictures! I've never had that much light under my plane . . .

 

Yeah, if the sun is shining on that you are at the wrong attitude doing forbidden maneuvers and out of configuration compliance.

[N201MKTurbo]

It looks like the spring on the emergency extension cable is not extended. Normally it would pull the little lever back when the cable gets slack when the crank is engaged.

 

It is probably just the camera angle. I assume you did an emergency extension test and everything worked OK.

[Guitarmaster]

Yep, emergency extension test normal. All 80 cranks of it!

[Guitarmaster]

I thought the ITT actuTor didn't come until later than 1978 but you have one

What is the ITT actuator?

[mooniac15u]

I think it's next to the flux capacitor.

[Guest]

Thought I would share some, "under the belly" pictures for those that are interested.

She is just about back in the air! Heading down to see Cody on Thursday.

While you're there, you may want to have Cody re do the fuel bowl safety wire. It's backwards.

Clarence

[Guitarmaster]

While you're there, you may want to have Cody re do the fuel bowl safety wire. It's backwards.

Clarence

Didn't catch that. This was taken before we got to that in the checklist. I'm sure my IA put it back on the right way. Really is making me wonder who maintained this plane in the past.

[N201MKTurbo]

It keeps the bolt from vibrating too tight and shearing itself apart!

[Guest]

It keeps the bolt from vibrating too tight and shearing itself apart!

I thought that if I flipped the picture around it would look better.

Clarence

[Guitarmaster]

And so the saga continues...

 

Test flight/ferry to Cody for prop:

 

The PC system now works FLAWLESSLY!  I am very excited!  Thank you Jerry at Brittain Industries (and my IA) for all your help!

 

The engine idles MUCH smoother since the intake gaskets no longer leak.  

 

Shortly after leaving my home airport this morning to get the prop done with Cody, the altimeter decides that is a great time to take a dump.  When I say, "take a dump" I mean it!  

 

Flying at 2000ft, the altimeter snaps, spins about 12 times and stops at FL280.  Now, I know Mooneys have pretty good performance, but FL280 might be pushing it a little  Since the altimeter IS the encoder, ATC also shows me at FL280.   ATC asks, "what do you want to do?"  I tell them, I guess I better go see Dave at The Avionics Place.

Dave is presently doing surgery on my plane. New altimeter and encoder.  Goodbye 1.3 AMU's!  

 

Ahhh well, it's only money anyway.  The good thing about this; it happened VERY close to my home airport.  Could have given out around KSTL. I really wouldn't have been happy then!

I need a beer... Cheers!

[bonal]

You said your engine was running much smoother are you sure you werent just getting really great climb performance,  I hate annuals. too many things tend to get upset during all that shuffling around, especially my wallet.  

[HRM]

And so the saga continues...

 

Test flight/ferry to Cody for prop:

 

The PC system now works FLAWLESSLY!  I am very excited!  Thank you Jerry at Brittain Industries (and my IA) for all your help!

 

The engine idles MUCH smoother since the intake gaskets no longer leak.  

 

Shortly after leaving my home airport this morning to get the prop done with Cody, the altimeter decides that is a great time to take a dump.  When I say, "take a dump" I mean it!  

 

Flying at 2000ft, the altimeter snaps, spins about 12 times and stops at FL280.  Now, I know Mooneys have pretty good performance, but FL280 might be pushing it a little  Since the altimeter IS the encoder, ATC also shows me at FL280.   ATC asks, "what do you want to do?"  I tell them, I guess I better go see Dave The Avionics Place.

Dave is presently doing surgery on my plane. New altimeter and encoder.  Goodbye 1.3 AMU's!  

 

Ahhh well, it's only money anyway.  The good thing about this; it happened VERY close to my home airport.  Could have given out around KSTL. I really wouldn't have been happy then!

I need a beer... Cheers!

 

You have the patience of Job...have another beer.

[Guitarmaster]

I'd love to learn the story of that ADF behind the panel. Made me laugh out loud.

I found out the story behind the ADF behind the panel.

According to my Avionics tech, when they put the RMI in the airplane, they still had to have the original ADF receiver/indicator to power the RMI. That is why it is still in there.. In any case, it's going to disappear next time it goes to the avionics shop.

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[HRM]

I found out the story behind the ADF behind the panel.

According to my Avionics tech, when they put the RMI in the airplane, they still had to have the original ADF receiver/indicator to power the RMI. That is why it is still in there..

 

That now makes sense. Presumably there was not enough room on the panel for the ADF and an RMI is definitely more valuable than an ADF from an avionics standpoint.The amusement here is the way it was done 

[Guitarmaster]

Well, the final tally is in. Annual highlights:

New exhaust: $1450

New altimeter and encoder: $1750

Servos and tubing for PC: $400

Propeller disassembly, inspection and reseal: $1500

An IA and fellow airline pilot willing to work with me: PRICELESS!

We added a power outlet in the aft bulkhead. He had the idea to make it "always on." By wiring it to the hot side of the master relay, I can now run battery charger/maintainer up to 8A without taking the side panel off.

Cody Stallings did a great job with the prop! I got to watch and learn through the whole process. I now know exactly how and why my prop works. Thank you Cody! In addition, don't poo-poo the hub inspection! The pic I will post is off an airplane that flew in to the shop! Holy crap!

During the three-hour flight to his place in AR., I figured out the rigging issue; at least I think. The left flap is drooping about 5 degrees! This would account for the slow speed, the right roll and, with the wings level, the left flat-turning tendency. We are attacking this on Thursday. Right now, at 8000 I true around 145KTAS. That's up ~5 knots simply by adjusting the ailerons. I am hoping to hit 155KTAS, but I would be happy with 150. These numbers are 65%.

With the new exhaust and intake manifold gaskets, she has tons more power. I would guess around 20hp that I was missing. . Also, she idles really nice, but we had to change the mixture and idle since she would not idle below 1000 rpm. Try landing at 1000 rpm. Now, 675 and a nice smooth idle.

The annual is done. Hallelujah! There are still more items to address, but they are irritants, not airworthiness issues.

All in all, this has been a hugely stressful but extremely fun time! I know my airplane inside and out and would not change one minute of the owner assist annual!

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[Mooneymite]

Congratulations on a successful first annual....

 

Approximately $5000?

 

Pretty typical first annual.

[treebobboy]

How did the prop balancing go?  Did it run a little bit smoother on the flight home?

[Guitarmaster]

I should have mentioned that. Yes, it is VERY smooth! The only vibration comes from the big-bore four-banger. Worth every penny!

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[HRM]

Congratulations on a successful first annual....

 

Approximately $5000?

 

Pretty typical first annual.

 

Yup. Did good and nothing like a well-maintained Mooney.

[carusoam]

That cracked hub flew in???

-a-

[Guitarmaster]

Yep. Failed the eddy current. Fell apart when removed! Basically, the one blade was being held on by two bolts.

I learned these are VERY robust props. The only difference between the "A" and the "B" is the location of he zirc fittings.

Also, there is a SB on the "A" I didn't know about that directs the zirc fitting holes to be chamfered. This reduces the probability of cracking tremendously.

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