Annual duration

[bonal]

I was talking to a friend we were talking about annuals and he said that he effectively goes 14 months his IA starts the annual then basically lets him have the plane back for the month then does the actual inspection the following month and then signs the annual off.  I said seems like you are flying around in an airplane that is out of annual.  His excuse was that it would be the same as if he were doing a test flight or flying to get engine temps up for compression testing etc. I said so if you fly the airplane to get lunch and have an accident how can that be explained as a test flight.  this did not seem OK to me and not something I would do, just wondering.  Any thoughts on this. I start my annuals at the end of the calendar year and complete on the first week of the following month so I get the extra one month.

[M20F]

His excuse was that it would be the same as if he were doing a test flight or flying to get engine temps up for compression testing etc. 

He is correct that it is the same thing which would be against the rules.  If the plane is out of annual you can't fly it without a ferry permit this would include flight testing as part of the annual.  

Read 91.409(c) which covers the only instances where you can fly a plane without an annual. 

[DonMuncy]

In theory, if you drop your plane off at the IA on the last day of the month after he closes, he can not test fly it to check out any squawks without a ferry permit. Then after any repair work he can not test fly it until he has signed off the annual and returned it to service, without a ferry permit. I don't know whether they comply with this or not. I really appreciate an A&P/IA who test flies, before and after.

[Andy95W]

Nothing's a problem if you don't get caught.  Or try to file an insurance claim.

But God help you if you do.

[gsengle]

A 13 month annual by straddling month end in the shop is fine. Just don't fly it out of annual...

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[kris_adams]

I like keeping mine in the end of Nov/early Dec time frame.  It helps avoid the hot temps down here in Georgia.  I did move it forward from August (1st year I bought it) but now I'll probably keep it somewhere in the cooler months.

 

[Bob_Belville]

I've moved mine from July to November since buying the plane and will probably keep on going 13 months.

[wishboneash]

Trying to do the same. Moving it from July to October to avoid downtime during summer.

[ArtVandelay]

I agree, Oct is a good time, Nov&Dec you want to have the plane available for travel.

[gsxrpilot]

I was originally thinking that moving the annual one month every year was the best solution. I would effectively get 13 months out of every annual. But that plan has been scrapped. I intend to have the plane in Longview for it's annual by the last week of July whether it needs it or not!  August is not the month for flying in Texas, and therefore is a perfect month for annual.

[Guest]

A question concerning the 13 month annual.  Is the plane considered airworthy in the 13th month when airworthiness limitation such as 12 month AD's are overdue?

Clarence

[Yetti]

Trick question.  The plane is already out of annual so the ADs don't matter at that point.

[gsxrpilot]

If the plane is signed off by the AI for it's annual on the first day of the month, say July 1st, the plane is still in annual until the 31st of July the next year. That effectively gives you 13 months. 

[yvesg]

I always bring my plane to the shop for annual on Feb 1st. February is the !&@#% coldest month of the year here and having it being worked on in a heated hangar gives me a break from having to pre-heat, remove the wing covers.

Yves

[gsxrpilot]

I always bring my plane to the shop for annual on Feb 1st. February is the !&@#% coldest month of the year here and having it being worked on in a heated hangar gives me a break from having to pre-heat, remove the wing covers.

Yves

Just come to Texas in Feb. It's often great flying weather here in Feb.

[Marauder]

A question concerning the 13 month annual.  Is the plane considered airworthy in the 13th month when airworthiness limitation such as 12 month AD's are overdue?

Clarence

I've been doing the 13 month cycle for years. The key is getting scheduled for the last week of the month and get the sign off the first few days of the next month, which resets the 12 month clock.

My issues is that going through the summer months, my mechanic gets busy and I lose out on good flying weather. I'm seriously thinking of getting it back to October and leaving it there.

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[Guest]

If the plane is signed off by the AI for it's annual on the first day of the month, say July 1st, the plane is still in annual until the 31st of July the next year. That effectively gives you 13 months. 

I understand that, but what if an AD comes due after July 1, 12 months after signing the annual but before the due date of July 31. If you don't do the AD is the plane still considered Airworthy?

In Canada we are allowed the same 13 month privilege as long as no Airworthiness limitations are exceeded, things such as AD's with calendar limits, Annual compass swing, Annual mechanical tachometer accuracy checks, Annual ELT recertification, etc.

Clarence

[M20F]

I understand that, but what if an AD comes due after July 1, 12 months after signing the annual but before the due date of July 31. If you don't do the AD is the plane still considered Airworthy?

No the plane would not be airworthy same as if the plane was in annual and an AD came up (100hr hub inspection as example) the plane is grounded until complied with.  

[NotarPilot]

Are any of you getting an annual done in a day like I do? I've done 4 annuals with the same IA and I always fly it in in the morning, stay to help out, and fly it out in the afternoon? Is this too short? I haven't had any issues with the plane and we still have time to change tires, brakes, things that need to be addressed as they come up.

[mpg]

2 minutes ago, NotarPilot said:

Are any of you getting an annual done in a day like I do? I've done 4 annuals with the same IA and I always fly it in in the morning, stay to help out, and fly it out in the afternoon? Is this too short? I haven't had any issues with the plane and we still have time to change tires, brakes, things that need to be addressed as they come up.

i have been reading a lot about all the work involved in just opening up all the panels needed just to get at all the places that need inspection and maintenance.

usually it sounds like a complete, proper annual cant be done in less than 16 hour of work, even with a owner assisting!

[Marauder]

3 hours ago, NotarPilot said:

Are any of you getting an annual done in a day like I do? I've done 4 annuals with the same IA and I always fly it in in the morning, stay to help out, and fly it out in the afternoon? Is this too short? I haven't had any issues with the plane and we still have time to change tires, brakes, things that need to be addressed as they come up.

I have never had an annual accomplished in a day in the 24 annuals I have done with a mechanic or with the mechanic involved (I used the same IA for the past 18 years). Are they going through the complete inspection checklist? And are they doing things like repacking the bearings?

i suppose that if you are under a progressive maintainence program, an annual would be short, if it is even required.

[Bob_Belville]

Mine might take about a day of the IA's time including log books and AD research. But taking the plane apart and putting it back together, my role, is extra. And we're doing it in my hanger so Lynn comes over for an hour or 2 at a time. We do use the Mooney checklist. 

[bonal]

I can't imagine much as I'd like it an annual in one day. I've done 3 owner assit and as soon as we start its non stop. We almost got the last one done in 3 days but found an issue on day 3 when it was almost done that added another days time. I doubt we are going overboard on the items that are addressed and can't see how it could be completed in a single day.

[Yetti]

Mine spanned 4 1/2 days.   Pulling panels is a good days worth of work. To inspect everything on the checklist would take a day.  Replacing panels and recowling is a day. This was the first time the IA had seen the plane so I spent an evening researching the AD list.  Then we spent several hours reviewing it.  I would say the IA spent a half day on documentation because it was new to him.  Would go faster next time. Extras were replace 1 flexible brake line and bleed. Replace the front main seal. Probably added a day of time. 

[NotarPilot]

Interesting, thanks for the feedback.