LASAR Annual

[xrs135]

I'm having my annual done at LASAR next month. I've started generating a small list of squawks, and things I might like to have done while I'm there.

 

A few extra things I'd like done while the plane is down:

1.) Shoulder belts on the front seats.

2.) JPI carburetor temp probe.

3.) Overhaul my DG or buy a refurbished DG.

 

Is there anything else extra that I should consider having done? Especially since it will be sitting at LASAR, I figure that there will be an abundance of parts should I need anything special.

 

[RobertGary1]

I'm having my annual done at LASAR next month. I've started generating a small list of squawks, and things I might like to have done while I'm there.

 

A few extra things I'd like done while the plane is down:

1.) Shoulder belts on the front seats.

2.) JPI carburetor temp probe.

3.) Overhaul my DG or buy a refurbished DG.

 

Is there anything else extra that I should consider having done? Especially since it will be sitting at LASAR, I figure that there will be an abundance of parts should I need anything special.

 

You don't really need Lasar to overhaul your DQ. They're just going to remove the 4 screws and the vac hose and send it out (they don't do any gyro work). You can just remove the 4 screws yourself and send it out (Gyro House in Auburn likely). Just have an A&P back home sign off the R&R. Could save you some money.

 

-Robert

[xrs135]

You don't really need Lasar to overhaul your DQ. They're just going to remove the 4 screws and the vac hose and send it out (they don't do any gyro work). You can just remove the 4 screws yourself and send it out (Gyro House in Auburn likely). Just have an A&P back home sign off the R&R. Could save you some money.

 

-Robert

Yeah, I thought about just sending the DG away myself... but I'm just going to ask them how much it would be to swap it out with an overhauled one at the fields' avionics shop (assuming they have one?) 

[xrs135]

I don't really like my DG anyway. I could kill for a heading bug, or at least N, S, E, W markings. Mine is about as primitive as they get, AND it precesses like crazy!

[RobertGary1]

I don't really like my DG anyway. I could kill for a heading bug, or at least N, S, E, W markings. Mine is about as primitive as they get, AND it precesses like crazy!

 

The heading bug adds an amazing amount to the cost. Mostly because they don't just come with a visual bug. The bug has electronics to drive an auto pilot. I seem to recall that Sporty's used to sell a glue on bug that included a dial in the middle. Not sure of the quality.

 

-Robert

[xrs135]

The heading bug adds an amazing amount to the cost. Mostly because they don't just come with a visual bug. The bug has electronics to drive an auto pilot. I seem to recall that Sporty's used to sell a glue on bug that included a dial in the middle. Not sure of the quality.

 

-Robert

I was worried about that. I guess I will be keeping my poor man's DG, and eventually get it overhauled.

[RobertGary1]

I was worried about that. I guess I will be keeping my poor man's DG, and eventually get it overhauled.

 

If you get it overhauled you can probably have the face card changed to give you the fancy cardinal headings.

 

-Robert

[M016576]

$$$$$$$$

[N601RX]

You can get a DG with a heading bug but no autopilot. I would not want anyone to swap it out with a overhauled part they had sitting on a shelf. Get one with a fresh overhaul and ask them about upgrading to one with a heading bug. Sitting is bad for instruments. New ones have a 6 month shelf life. They will usually run fine for 30 hrs or so and then die.

[jetdriven]

Yeah, I thought about just sending the DG away myself... but I'm just going to ask them how much it would be to swap it out with an overhauled one at the fields' avionics shop (assuming they have one?) 

you may find all the air hoses are bad as well under the panel. they get old and hard and must be cut off the gyros.

[larryb]

If you ever want an aspen, now would be the time.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[xrs135]

I'd absolutely LOVE an Aspen... My checkbook would not!

[bonal]

Shoulder harness for sure I'm going to get them as soon as I have an annual that doesn't kick my ass. Not sure of the benefits of a carb temp probe carb Ice is pretty easy to recognize and cure. For me my goal is to just get through with no big fixes then start to think about improvements.

[Hank]

Carb Temp Gage lets you know that ice may form before it appears, so that you can crack just enough carb heat to prevent it.

There are times, such as over Greenville, SC before Thanksgiving, at night, dragging the tail through the bottom of the clouds and OAT fell from 48° to 31°F. The carb temp was about 3°C, in the danger zone, but about an inch of carb heat pushed it to nearly 10°C, nice and safe.

[carusoam]

In other words...

Carb temp allows you to use partial carb heat to maintain more power along with that clear carb...

Otherwise, partial carb heat is dangerous and not approved.

Adding another thermocouple can cost a few bucks, but...

Having the JPI already, priceless!

Best regards,

-a-

[RobertGary1]

The jpi along with fuel flow was the best investment I made.

[carusoam]

Like Robert said...

Do you have FF?

Best regards,

-a-

[xrs135]

Yep, I already have FF tied to the GPS... It's GREAT!

I'm pretty sure the carb temp probe is a pretty cheap and easy add on, so I'll probably do that. The other 'extras' will be depended on how the rest of the annual goes!

[RobertGary1]

Yep, I already have FF tied to the GPS... It's GREAT!

I'm pretty sure the carb temp probe is a pretty cheap and easy add on, so I'll probably do that. The other 'extras' will be depended on how the rest of the annual goes!

 

If its like other probs (oil temp, OAT, etc) its very simple. The diagram shows you which ports to push the new sensor wire into the back of the plug. You push the wire and it locks in. I'm guessing your carb has a port already for the probe and you just remove the plug. Probably a pretty simple DIY job. 

 

-Robert

[NotarPilot]

I had front shoulder harnesses installed soon after buying my plane.  If self preservation is an instinct you possess you should have these installed sooner rather than later.  There was an accident involving a Beech A36 off Santa Monica, CA on March 13, 2006 where the plane lost power after take-off and ditched into the Pacific Ocean.  All occupants died.  The plane was NOT equipped with shoulder harnesses.  There is strong belief that had the plane been equipped with shoulder harnesses they would have likely survived the initial impact.  Here is an excerpt from the NTSB report about that...

 

1.7 Survival Aspects

The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. In June of 1985, Raytheon Aircraft Company issued mandatory Service Bulletin 2031 to announce the availability of shoulder harness kits on the accident model airplane and many others. In September of 1990, the SB was revised to offer an incentive to owners who upgraded their airplanes with the shoulder harness kits prior to October 31, 1992.

The FAA published Seat Belts and Shoulder Harnesses, Smart Protection for Small Airplanes (AM-400-90/2). In the publication it states that if an airplane was manufactured without shoulder harnesses, the owner should obtain a kit to install them from the manufacturer or manufacturer's local representative. In addition, the publication notes that seat belts alone will only protect the occupant in very minor impacts and that using shoulder harnesses in small aircraft would reduce injuries by 88 percent and fatalities by 20 percent.

 

I purchased my harnesses through Alpha Aviation and I really liked their quality.  While I was at it I replaced all the seat belts (Front and rear) with new belts.  Unfortunately there isn't a kit, that I know of, that allows installation of rear shoulder harnesses for early J models.  But the new seat belts look nicer and more contemporary.  They look like something from a car.  Red push button release instead of the old metal flap style you pull up to release.  I really like them.

http://www.alphaaviation.com/Mooney.html

[carusoam]

Since you have some really good things already....

Seat belts are incredibly important for off field surprises.

We have had a couple around here over the years.

Another low(ish) cost, good idea, technical gizmo for consideration is an AOA.

So many good things came from the factory in the 60's. Safety came from the pilots....

Today, the pilot gets some tools to help.

Speed, Efficiency and Safety! Go Mooney!

Best regards,

-a-

[xrs135]

I had front shoulder harnesses installed soon after buying my plane.  If self preservation is an instinct you possess you should have these installed sooner rather than later.  There was an accident involving a Beech A36 off Santa Monica, CA on March 13, 2006 where the plane lost power after take-off and ditched into the Pacific Ocean.  All occupants died.  The plane was NOT equipped with shoulder harnesses.  There is strong belief that had the plane been equipped with shoulder harnesses they would have likely survived the initial impact.  Here is an excerpt from the NTSB report about that...

 

1.7 Survival Aspects

The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. In June of 1985, Raytheon Aircraft Company issued mandatory Service Bulletin 2031 to announce the availability of shoulder harness kits on the accident model airplane and many others. In September of 1990, the SB was revised to offer an incentive to owners who upgraded their airplanes with the shoulder harness kits prior to October 31, 1992.

The FAA published Seat Belts and Shoulder Harnesses, Smart Protection for Small Airplanes (AM-400-90/2). In the publication it states that if an airplane was manufactured without shoulder harnesses, the owner should obtain a kit to install them from the manufacturer or manufacturer's local representative. In addition, the publication notes that seat belts alone will only protect the occupant in very minor impacts and that using shoulder harnesses in small aircraft would reduce injuries by 88 percent and fatalities by 20 percent.

 

I purchased my harnesses through Alpha Aviation and I really liked their quality.  While I was at it I replaced all the seat belts (Front and rear) with new belts.  Unfortunately there isn't a kit, that I know of, that allows installation of rear shoulder harnesses for early J models.  But the new seat belts look nicer and more contemporary.  They look like something from a car.  Red push button release instead of the old metal flap style you pull up to release.  I really like them.

http://www.alphaaviation.com/Mooney.html

 

Do you think if I brought a pair of Alpha harnesses to LASAR with me that they would install them for me? I think all they have are the manually adjustable shoulder harnesses there - but I'm not 100% sure?

[xrs135]

Are you mechanically inclined?

Oil changes, tires, installing/ changing seat belts are among the list of maintenance the FAA allows owners to perform. I bought a pair of Alpha seat belts with inertial reel shoulder straps from another MooneySpace member. He provided the new install kit (hardware) from Alpha ...

A little tedious to get the shoulder reel clamp around the frame ... and measuring where to drill to let the mounting bolt extend through the plastic trim. But apart from that ... was a pretty easy install. I installed ours on a day off. IA inspected before trim went back on and made logbook entry ...

Not known to take great pictures ... but here they are ...

 

I'd like to be able to tackle this by myself (I'm somewhat mechanically inclined) but I'd feel more comfortable if I had somebody to help me out. I've read some stories of people having a hell of a time doing this install by themselves. That's why I thought I'd just fork out the money and have somebody do it that knows what they are doing.

Looks like you did a great job with your install - I'm jealous!

[RobertGary1]

I could be wrong but I don't think you can install the harnesses without an A&P sign off afterwards. You're not R&R'ing the original belts. You'd have to look at the paperwork the accompanies the new harnesses, (STC, or whatever basis they are approved on).

 

-Robert

[Andy95W]

Adding shoulder harnesses is now a minor modification, so no STC or field approval is required. An A&P sign off in the logbook is necessary, however.