Rookie Posted September 18, 2016 Report Posted September 18, 2016 Does anyone know this aircraft? N201AL I see there was a gear collapse and a few other items that went wrong. Just running the N# on google it doesn't show much! Please if anyone knows anything about this aircraft, good or bad, please respond. Thanks, Quote
carusoam Posted September 18, 2016 Report Posted September 18, 2016 Where is it located? You might be able to refresh a memory if it is nearby... Best regards, -a- Quote
xcrmckenna Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 It's actually in Kelso, I looked at it about two weeks ago. Very clean plane. The tin on it is in great shape. I think there was just a little crinkle on the right tail feather. It has been annualed by a local guy but I don't know how in depth of annual it was. One of the first things I checked was the gas cap gaskets and they were very cracked. It has been hangered most of its life and Gary the broker tells me he flies it just to keep things lubed up. He was willing to fly it 2 hours to me so I could fly it since the weather was crappy when I was there. Avionics are lacking for the adsb but the price was okay at $60,000. I imagine the first annual at an MSC would be pretty expensive just to get everything up and running to their standards. If you want I could send you the pictures I took of it? Quote
xcrmckenna Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 The gear collapse was actually pretty bad. It folded two of the three legs. And since Mooneys gear are linked together it broke something pretty good. But I believe that was back in 88' or 98'. I requested a faa cd on it and there was no 337 or anything filed on the crash or repairs. So maybe it wasn't on the up and up. Quote
Rookie Posted September 19, 2016 Author Report Posted September 19, 2016 4 minutes ago, xcrmckenna said: It's actually in Kelso, I looked at it about two weeks ago. Very clean plane. The tin on it is in great shape. I think there was just a little crinkle on the right tail feather. It has been annualed by a local guy but I don't know how in depth of annual it was. One of the first things I checked was the gas cap gaskets and they were very cracked. It has been hangered most of its life and Gary the broker tells me he flies it just to keep things lubed up. He was willing to fly it 2 hours to me so I could fly it since the weather was crappy when I was there. Avionics are lacking for the adsb but the price was okay at $60,000. I imagine the first annual at an MSC would be pretty expensive just to get everything up and running to their standards. If you want I could send you the pictures I took of it? Please send the photos, Thanks. Quote
Tony Armour Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 Lots of Mooney's have had gear ups. The key IMO is a prebuy by someone that really knows their Mooney's. Hopefully it was repaired by an MSC or Mooney specialist. Hours since repair ? It's been a long time so very well could be a non issue. Quote
xcrmckenna Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 It was not a gear up landing. Quote
Rookie Posted September 19, 2016 Author Report Posted September 19, 2016 Just now, xcrmckenna said: It was not a gear up landing. I spoke to a few Mooney AP's about a gear up landing. He thinks it should not be an issue. It's been a while, a decent repair facility did the repair. Do we think a collapse is worst than a gear up landing? Quote
xcrmckenna Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 I'm sure the time that has been put on the plane since the crash means the repairs went well. My understand is the Mooneys landing gears are all linked together if one goes up they all go up. If one goes down they will all go down. So if during the crash it had two of the three wheels fold up then it hit pretty hard and had to of broke something pretty bad. But I'm no a&p so I could be way off. All and all I was still pretty impressed with the plane and Garry was great to talk to. He has a 201 himself and a few mods I've read about that made me laugh. But it is crying out to be flown and go to a loving family. The paint is I. Great shape and the blinds inside are original and not sun bleached or tattered at all. 1 Quote
carusoam Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 A GU landing is most often a controlled event that occurs on a smooth surface, at minimal speed and with power off. The Mooneys are constructed with defenses in place to minimize the damage. Loss of control on Take-off has too many variables to categorize. Especially when the runway has been left behind, resulting in the gear being forcibly removed. There is no way to build in reinforcements for this. A PPI would be most important... T/O loss of control often includes fences and buildings that are pretty far from the runway. PP thoughts only, -a- Quote
gsxrpilot Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 It always concerns me a little when someone says but the paint and interior are great. For my money, those are the two least important things when buying a vintage airplane. 2 Quote
gsxrpilot Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 Just now, bluehighwayflyer said: Alot of people feel that way but I disagree. Excellent paint and interior are a direct indicator of pride in ownership, which is something that I want my previous owner to have had in spades when I am shopping for a used plane. I get what you are saying, though. New paint and interior can cover up a lot of sins and distract an inexperienced buyer from seeing what lies beneath. I'll agree with you. But I'd rather find a vintage plane where the owner has spent money on the panel, engine, and speed mods. Of course if he's also spent money on paint and interior, then you've got a great find. 1 Quote
orionflt Posted September 19, 2016 Report Posted September 19, 2016 Paint and interior scare me if they were done just before listing the plane, If you see a steady history of improvements then I am not as concerned. Brian 2 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.