Grass Strips

[Supercop0184]

Well my quote was for 1500 no exclusions - but that's probably because I have no previous complex time, and no IR. Hopefully that will come down as I build hours

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[Shadrach]

7 hours ago, bradp said:

Also be sure to review your insurance policy exclusions.   Mine excludes unpaved or unimproved (language along that line, approximately, the key being the use of "or" instead of "and").  I don't mind right now, but this would be something that would need to be addressed if my flying habits change.   

I would ask them to 86 that section. My policy has no such restrictions. With a stated value of $55K, we pay less than $1000 annually.

[gsxrpilot]

My insurance on $60K hull, no exclusions, was $1500 the first year and $980 the second year and just renewed at $800 this year.

[filmsense]

Not ideal. I only go to nice ones where I know them from my days in a 182. Otherwise I speak to the controller and ask whether mooneys fly in and out of their field. If they know their stuff they'll be able to warn you on various dodgy areas. As the other guy said: taxi slowly and land and take off with minimal weight on the nose wheel.

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[bonal]

Remember regardless of type soft field taxi should always be full nose up trim and control all the way back

[M20F]

Mooney's work on grass but if that is your major plan I would consider other models.  Gear doors as mentioned get dinged, the clearance is bad, the pucks bounce a lot on rough surfaces, the nose gear doesn't stretch out with a little power and back elevator, and it is rough on the sealant in the tanks (cracking).  Mooney's are great airplanes in many areas, unimproved surfaces isn't one of their strengths.  In other words just because you can roll a Mooney, it doesn't mean you should buy one if you are looking to do aerobatics.

[gsxrpilot]

If I read the original post correctly, SuperCop just wants to make sure he can attend two Texas fly-in's on grass, and taxi on the grass at OSH.  The correct answer is, Yes. A Mooney will do just fine in those environments.

You'll see me at all three with my Mooney.

[goterminal120]

On February 20, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Hank said:

I've never seen a real insurance limitation against grass strips, but I've heard about an awful lot of them.

i don't have such a thing now, I didn't in the past, and my primary CFI made sure I landed their plane at a grass strip before my PPL checkride.

 

My insurance spacificly says no grass. When I brought up the fact I live on a grass strip, they changed it to no unimproved grass landing area. Guess that wouldnt include dads hay field. Gotta live on the edge sometimes. 

[smwash02]

SuperCop,

I've been to Critters and Reklaw in my C. I also go to Ranger coming up in a few months, which is grass. Never had an issue. Just learn good soft field technique and good airspeed control.

[Shadrach]

I've taken my F into Keymar Airpark several times sometimes on hot summer days. It's 1,800' (airnav has the length wrong) of reasonably good turf (as in a bit rougher than the rough on a municipal golf course). No issues with any mowed turf strip I've landed on. I think the lighter Mooneys can handle just about anything that would be called a cultivated grass strip. It's not a bush plane, but folks who think grass is an issue likely don't land on a lot of grass. Some folks think it's hard on tanks...I don't; I find that grass is softer than asphalt.

 

 

[mike20papa]

I flew my M20A into Critters Lodge just this past year.  I've also flown it into the grass strip at the Pioneer Flight Museum, Old Kingsbury Aerodrome.  Again, if you're prudent with full nose up trim on final, land on the mains and keep the nose up and then continue to hold full up elevator through out the taxi, you'll have no problem.  At the Pioneer Flight Museum, some guy in a Cessna 210 came in and parked, then when time to depart, he started up, then pronto collapsed the nose wheel before he even got the thing moving.  Of course he was throttling the engine up with NO back elev. and he turned that 50K worth of engine and prop into junk.  I then got to start up, taxi past him, take off soft field and show him that Al Mooney knew what he was doing when he built the lightly wing loaded A model.

[jetdriven]

I've landed at Zeuhl, Kingsbury, Under the wire fly-in, critters lodge, reklaw, dry creek, and a couple other grass runways.  It isn't a big deal.  The only real hazard is stopping power with brakes, it isn't very good, and the tendency to start pitching during taxi which could hit the prop. But a slow walk speed taxi is NBD.  All the RV and experimental guys taxi with full up elevated while most production plane pilots don't do anything.  

[Supercop0184]

Good stuff y'all thanks!!!! This makes me feel much better. MUCH BETTER. I especially like knowing there isn't much difference in prop clearance between a M20C and a 172. Gotta start figuring things out -- looks like my Cherokee may be sold

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[Hank]

Woo-hooo! Step 1, Sell old plane-Check. Congratulations!

[Supercop0184]

Right?? All this looking I've been doing has been for not because I can't buy one til I sell this one. Sooooo hopefully that happens sunday!!

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[Supercop0184]

Mooney's work on grass but if that is your major plan I would consider other models.  Gear doors as mentioned get dinged, the clearance is bad, the pucks bounce a lot on rough surfaces, the nose gear doesn't stretch out with a little power and back elevator, and it is rough on the sealant in the tanks (cracking).  Mooney's are great airplanes in many areas, unimproved surfaces isn't one of their strengths.  In other words just because you can roll a Mooney, it doesn't mean you should buy one if you are looking to do aerobatics.

You can roll a mooney?? SWEET!!!

Naw I get it, GSXR is right, I will hit grass four times a year, two Texas fly ins, one South Carolina fly in, and Oshkosh.

That's all I foresee.

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[Mooneymite]

On 2/21/2016 at 1:27 PM, M20F said:

Mooney's work on grass but if that is your major plan I would consider other models. 

Dang!  I wish you'd told me that 18 years ago.   

 

 

[M20F]

57 minutes ago, Mooneymite said:

Dang!  I wish you'd told me that 18 years ago.   

 

 

They work, they aren't the best for it.  I tend to focus on mission over brand loyalty.  

[Mooneymite]

6 minutes ago, M20F said:

They work, they aren't the best for it.  I tend to focus on mission over brand loyalty.  

You are correct, of course....Mooneys really are happier on pavement.

[Hank]

8 hours ago, Mooneymite said:

You are correct, of course....Mooneys really are happier on pavement.

Says the man who lives on a grass field . . .

[Mooneymite]

40 minutes ago, Hank said:

Says the man who lives on a grass field . . .

The voice of experience? 

The neighborhood has been debating paving the strip for 18 years.  Still turf.  Nice turf, but still turf.

[Hank]

Just now, Mooneymite said:

The voice of experience? 

The neighborhood has been debating paving the strip for 18 years.  Still turf.  Nice turf, but still turf.

I didn't have a problem with it. Much longer than all other grass strips I've gone to--the next longest has been 3500 at 40 msl, never a problem even with the displaced threshold to clear the feeder lines into a power substation at my most frequent approach end, loaded for a week's vacation.

[mike28w]

My experience has been different than most, it seems.   I owned my "63 C for about 5 years and always had one rivet that would be blue from a gas leak.  Never more than a blue color on a rivet, not even a drip.  Ended up moving to a grass strip ( not particularly rough ) . No particularly bad landings.  Within a year the blue rivet turned into a significant leak that required a strip and re-seal.

Could have just been a coincidence....but after spending over $8,000  ,  I have no interest in landing my Mooney on grass.  YMMV....mike