Best Place for a Mooney Annual in the Northeast

[joegoersch]

I just bought a 1987 M20J and am based in Northern NJ.  I was wondering people's experience with various mechanics in the area (or far away).  Is it worth it to go to a Mooney Service Center?    I have a good local mechanic (not a MSC) whom I trust, he did a great job on my old 182.  He says he's comfortable working on M20J's and annuals at least 2 a year based at his airport.  Would you take a Mooney to a good non-Mooney mechanic ?  How is the MSC in Robbinsville ?  Is it worth it to fly elsewhere to avoid the high labor costs in the Northeast ?

Any thoughts/bits of wisdom would be appreciated

Joe G.

[carusoam]

Joe,

My M20R has recently finished its annual in Robbinsville.  The plane has 15 years of MSC documentation.  I bought it with a pre-purchase inspection done at an MSC.  There will be no surprises by taking it back to an MSC.

If your plane has not seen an MSC in a while, it is a good idea, but may be slightly surprising...

Your other choice of mooney knowledge is Caldwell, KCDW.  I have no experience with them.

It is worth visiting Robbinsville to see what mooneys they have opened up on their floor.  Dave Mathiesen is the key person running the business.

Best regards,

-a-

[roundout]

I was happy with the guys in Nashua, NH. Can't remember their name. Infinity, maybe? They did a good job on an Acclaim for a friend of mine a few years back. 

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: joegoersch

I just bought a 1987 M20J and am based in Northern NJ.  I was wondering people's experience with various mechanics in the area (or far away).  Is it worth it to go to a Mooney Service Center?    I have a good local mechanic (not a MSC) whom I trust, he did a great job on my old 182.  He says he's comfortable working on M20J's and annuals at least 2 a year based at his airport.  Would you take a Mooney to a good non-Mooney mechanic ?  How is the MSC in Robbinsville ?  Is it worth it to fly elsewhere to avoid the high labor costs in the Northeast ?

Any thoughts/bits of wisdom would be appreciated

Joe G.

[joegoersch]

So there really isn't that much specialized equiptment to work on a Mooney ?  Anyone else have good (or bad) experience with AirMods in Robbinsville ?

[JaredDavis]

I've had repair work performed by AirMods. They re-skinned and painted my '65 M20C rudder.  The rudder repair was excellent.

 

[jasong]

I can vouch for AirMods.  Dave and Lisa are great to work with and have been working on my Mooney since I bought it.  They're always fair and straight up.

Jason

[richardheitzman]

Dave and his shop have had a fine reputation for a long time. I always recommend that you take your aircraft to a MSC for its annual, and if this is your first annual since you bought the aircraft, I highly recommend it. You have to remember that the MSC (mostly) work Mooney aircraft and see dozens, and like Dave at AirMods or Don at Maxwell, see hundreds a year, and they know what to look for to keep you safe. (edited for berevity) I get on a rant when I talk about service centers. SORRY

[Rocket 305]

I had work done on my K at C&W at Caldwell (MSC) and Sean and team were very good.  They did some good avionics work and basic maintenance in a couple visits.  I would recommend them without hesitation.  And ditto on using a MSC.

[Mooney_Allegro]

Henry Weber Aircraft is a MSC in Lancaster, PA.  My Step-Dad used him for 10 years when he owned his J-Model. No issues or complaints with them.  I have personally visited their shop a few times, and they were very professional with me and I would use them if I lived in the northeast.  As far as I know, Lancaster, PA still has airline service, but I'm not 100% sure anymore.  I haven't been there for over 4 years now.

[joegoersch]

Thanks for all the input !  Anyone ever fly down to Texas for an annual ?  e.g. Dugosh or Maxwell for an annual ?  would I save any money (e.g. assuming I could make a vacation out of it-so don't count operating cost !)

Joe

[fantom]

Quote: joegoersch

Thanks for all the input !  Anyone ever fly down to Texas for an annual ?  e.g. Dugosh or Maxwell for an annual ?  would I save any money (e.g. assuming I could make a vacation out of it-so don't count operating cost !)

Joe

[carusoam]

By flying further away you add a tinge of risk.  How do you get home while an important part is on back-order for a week? 

-a-

[joegoersch]

Good point.  I guess a bit of a crap shoot.  I guess you'd be in a bit of trouble if the "important part" could ground you.  Maybe I should just more to Texas...except I'm afraid of big cockroaches...

[flight2000]

Quote: richardheitzman

Dave and his shop have had a fine reputation for a long time. I always recommend that you take your aircraft to a MSC for its annual, and if this is your first annual since you bought the aircraft, I highly recommend it. You have to remember that the MSC (mostly) work Mooney aircraft and see dozens, and like Dave at AirMods or Don at Maxwell, see hundreds a year, and they know what to look for to keep you safe. (edited for berevity) I get on a rant when I talk about service centers. SORRY

[joegoersch]

Are there a lot of Mooney-specific tools that a MSC might have that a fine mechanic not working dozens of Mooneys might not have ?

[N33GG]

If you do come to Texas, I can highly recommend Don Maxwell.  My first experience with Don was recently when he did the pre-purchase inspection and first annual on my C model.  I have owned many airplanes including the C model which is my second Mooney (first Mooney was a J model), and I have used many, many shops in the Texas area.  I am not easily impressed, but Maxwell knows what he is doing, and I trust him.

Even if I trusted and loved my A&P, I would take a Mooney to an MSC every 2 or 3 years.  Sorry, but I am not familiar with shops in the northeast.

And don't be aftaid of the Texas cockroaches...just buy them a beer, and they are friendly down here!

[Mooney_Allegro]

Joe, my aircraft is in Kerrville at the Mooney Factory Service Center right now for an annual. The prices they charge are fair, and not higher than any other MSC would charge.  I've been to two MSC's in GA, and would NEVER use them again due to their not paying attention to detail and below standard work.  When the plane was based in PA, it went to Henry Weber(a Mooney Service Center) for 10 years, and NEVER had any issue there, they always did excellent work.

I visited the MSC in Kerrville, a month before I took my plane there and was so impressed with the knowledgable staff, that I used them this year for the annual.  Anyways, I would highly recommend using them if it's not too much trouble flying it there, however I guess we don't even know at this point whether or not the service center will remain open due to their recent layoff announcement. 

[Paul]

Wish me luck.  N231HY is in for her second annual as of friday this week at Weber's in Lancaster PA.  A great group of mooney guys.

 I paid for my mistakes during my last annual with an inaccurate prepurchase inspection(Not done by Weber).  I will consider last year as my post graduate work in Mooney Science and Engineering. 

I am excited to think that my wife of 25 years said that if this annual is reasonable I can add a 530W.  Of course, I did make sure that I was not standing on a loose rug when she said that.  At the same time she has in the past and continues to hint that maybe a malibu or a matrix may work for her.

Temptation is an evil mistress.

  

[Jim Peace]

 I've been to two MSC's in GA, and would NEVER use them again due to their not paying attention to detail and below standard work. 

I find that impossible.  Didn't they have a sign on the building that said MSC? Weren't they on the Mooney website?

 

This can't be.

[Cris]

This year I did a compromise with my my annual in that I used a highly trained MSC IA that trained at an MSC and has the Mooney tools as opposed to a trusted mechanic. Call Tom at On Site Aero Services at Eagles Nest Airport 31 E (north of Atlantic City) 732 -278-8201 if you want a through and fairly priced annual. I was very pleased as we cleaned up a number of niggling issues and he caught an AD that is on the R but not on the S and yet is actually applicable to my AC confirmed by the factory.

[PTK]

This year I did a compromise with my my annual in that I used a highly trained MSC IA that trained at an MSC and has the Mooney tools as opposed to a trusted mechanic. Call Tom at On Site Aero Services at Eagles Nest Airport 31 E (north of Atlantic City) 732 -278-8201 if you want a through and fairly priced annual. I was very pleased as we cleaned up a number of niggling issues and he caught an AD that is on the R but not on the S and yet is actually applicable to my AC confirmed by the factory.

I believe Tom was working at Air-Mods with Dave Mathiesen in Robinsville (N87.)

He certainly learned from one of the best. Dave is a premier Mooney specialist in the NE.

[John Pleisse]

I have a great IA...works out of his truck and has his own shop and private runway in nearby West VA. He knows everything....one of the best. We went round and round on a prop governor recently with a mysterious oil leak. Not surprisingly, it was a simple seal issue that was Mooney 201 specific. The vernier actuator bracket required sealant in six separate screw holes. This is dissimilar to Arrows with the same engine and governor, as well as C, E and F Mooneys. It really is a simple thing, but by the time we revisited the situation 4 times and flew the 201 to an engine shop run by a close friend of my IA, costs ballooned and actually exceeded a one time repair at a Mooney Service Center. If I had taken this problem to Weber Aircraft or Airmod, it is something they have seen 1000 times and would have identified in one minute.

 

Am I disappointed in my IA who works out of his truck? No way...the guy is talented and worth every penny. I will use him for installing STC's and expensive work like installing new glass, seat belts, etc. Stuff a Mooney Service Center would kill me on. In the end, any Mooney service center will work with you on the costs of making your airframe right, by deferring some items and offering other cost effective solutions. However, they don't do this for one time customers. You have to be a repeat customer and establish a relationship. Have them get to know your bird. In the end, all monies will become equal.

 

Weber or Airmod. I had a 12 year relationship with Weber. They are fair and have talented A&P's. Dorn Claire is the head IA. Dave Mathieson at Airmod is legend and is a fair, reasonable guy, too. They are both great.

[John Pleisse]

Are there a lot of Mooney-specific tools that a MSC might have that a fine mechanic not working dozens of Mooneys might not have ?

 

Only a few......jigs for re-skinning surfaces, landing gear donut stuff and rigging boards...that's it.

[WheelPantsOff]

Necro-bumping this to the top...

Any recent reviews on either Henry Weber or Air Mods?  My J-model is coming due for annual and I would like it to visit a MSC.  The punch list is small and I don't worry about the cost or logistics of getting there and back.  Either location is about 3 hours from me.

Thanks in advance.