Amphibian Rockets

[Jeff H.]

Today was official notification that my Rocket is a total loss due to Harvey flooding.  Some pictures attached of when first opening the hangar and then after getting the belly open.  That would be mud and debris left behind when the water receded.  I think the airframe damage was enough, however the flooded avionics in the aft fuselage pretty much sealed the deal.  Remote transponder and audio through the GTN750 seemed like a good idea at the time, along with the FlightStream.  Those boxes were real purty sitting back there next to the G500 equipment.  

Carl Sharon at Houston Tank Specialists was a great help in getting through the repair estimate and tips on making it through the insurance process.

Thanks to everyone here for all their advice and help pre-buy and during ownership.  Very valuable and greatly appreciated.

Now to double down on more training and keep pondering those sweet used Acclaims . . . :-)

[KSMooniac]

Damn, that is sad. I saw a J up for auction due to Harvey as well... I would think some sweat equity labor cleaning out the belly/wing/tanks could save ones like this, but perhaps not. The J auction does not include the data plate so I guess it won't fly again as a whole plane.

 

I hate to see a Rocket go away...

 

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[Jeff H.]

Just now, KSMooniac said:

... I would think some sweat equity labor cleaning out the belly/wing/tanks could save ones like this, but perhaps not...

Gear motor, flap motors, limit switches, control tube ends and linkages and spar all submerged for 4+ days.  Also the lower turbo and motor.  Wiring issues alone were significant.  The expert guidance is that the wires would wick water at junction points and draw it inside the insulation up the wire.  Others here will know more . . . Provided in case you were pondering a reclamation project.  :-)

[KSMooniac]

I'm not... Way too busy with plans for my J to make it perfect for me to consider another one. I didn't think about wires wicking...that would be the gift that keeps on giving! Gremlins for years. The rest could be mitigated, I think, but I could be very naive. At some point it doesn't make sense, but some enterprising fellow could perhaps make it work.

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[carusoam]

Jeff,

I'm glad you are able to make the Pirep.

Those are some grizzly pics.

What's next in the plan?

Acclaims are pretty sweet.  There aren't that many around usually...

Best regards,

-a-

Jimmy and David are showing a 252 and a couple Bravos...

https://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/list/?pcid=17527&dlr=1

[steingar]

I am so so sorry the airplane is going away because of this.  I just hope it doesn't wind up in the hands of someone who just repaints it, cleans up the visible damage and sells it.  Seen it happen.

[N6758N]

3 minutes ago, steingar said:

I am so so sorry the airplane is going away because of this.  I just hope it doesn't wind up in the hands of someone who just repaints it, cleans up the visible damage and sells it.  Seen it happen.

Who would ever do such a thing?! 

[steingar]

Just now, N6758N said:

Who would ever do such a thing?! 

I recall a case in Tennessee where they did exactly this.  Airplane wound up crashing too, but the pilot was intoxicated at the time, so they got away with it.

I was just looking for this, and googled "submarine Mooney".  Got a story about a US submarine that hit an underwater mountain.  Wasn't on the naval charts, and Captain Mooney was following orders.  But there were charts showing the rock, and the Captain took full  responsibility for the accident.  Totally stand up guy.  Gotta love our military.

[Htwjr]

Was it fresh or salt water?  Seems it could be restored if fresh water.   Has the insurance company determined the salvage value?  Just curious. 

[KSMooniac]

Was it fresh or salt water?  Seems it could be restored if fresh water.   Has the insurance company determined the salvage value?  Just curious. 

It will most likely go up for blind auction, so it is hard to say what it will bring, and sale prices aren't disclosed.

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[Yetti]

4 hours ago, Htwjr said:

Was it fresh or salt water?  Seems it could be restored if fresh water.   Has the insurance company determined the salvage value?  Just curious. 

No.  Wiring harness would need to be replaced.  All the silt is in the seams of the aluminum and would just grind things away. Engine, seats, control surfaces and instruments. Airframe is shot.  No no no

Edited October 17, 2017 by Yetti

[KSMooniac]

If it didn't get into the panel and engine, it might be a viable project for someone that likes to tinker. Perhaps re-wing it. Won't be an easy fix/flip, but for someone that wants a Rocket it might work. There aren't many, and none are getting made so it becomes a matter of how bad sometime might want it to fly again.

We all know warbirds are retrieved from lakes or even the ocean and restored... so it is possible but the economics might not pencil out.

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[peevee]

sad to see a rocket get scrapped. I think they're special airplanes.

[Seth]

Sorry for your aircraft loss.  Glad you are looking to stay in aviation.  

I LOVE my Mooney Missile but as I've been instructed, if anything bad every happens, first thought is:  This airplane belongs to the insurance company.  Make sure you live.

If any storms are heading to any locations in the future, maybe setting up a better network to help move Mooney's, or any airplane for that matter, could be put into place.  I know insurance covers some of those expenses, as they'd rather not have a full loss.  Moving an airplane may not be possible with a storm bearing down, but if a group of owners like us got together to help out, or at least provide an option (even if using a one way airline ticket, parking fees at another airport, etc . . .), that may be something to think about in the future.

-Seth

Edited October 20, 2017 by Seth

[Bennett]

Just a comment about salt water emersion and insurance. About three weeks ago I was having an engine changed in my auxiliary sailboat. She was tied up at a work dock in a boat yard. The mechanic had removed the old engine on Friday afternoon, had not yet installed the replacement engine, and he “tied off” the shaft coupling with cable ties to stop water from entering via the shaft. He left to go out of town for the weekend. We know where this is going. On Saturday morning the Harbormaster called me to say the boat had sunk at the dock and he had a crew pumping her out. Obviously the cable tie idea didn’t work. On Monday I contacted my insurance carrier Safeco, and they dispatched a surveyor. He, the Safeco adjuster, the Boatyard owner, and myself all agreed that the boat was a total (constructive total loss) as salt water emersion ruined all the electronics, wiring, interior upholstery, and just about everything that could rust and corrode. The boat was insured on a “valued” basis (insured for and valued at), and so there was no argument about depreciation. I owned this boat since 1974 when I purchased her new, but she was kept up to very high standards. (Sort of like our Mooney’s) I had a check for the full amount of coverage (hull, unattached equipment, and personal property) Fed Exed to me by Friday morning. I am now looking for another boat. I left everything on board for the salvage company as they are entitled to everything under a constructive total loss. Since the replacement engine was not yet installed, Safeco said I could keep it, and sell it if I wished. Lessons:

After salt water emersion don’t try and refurbish the boat (airplane), Buy quality insurance coverages with proper policy limits, and take the emotion out of the situation.

 

 

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[xcrmckenna]

Just a comment about salt water emersion and insurance. About three weeks ago I was having an engine changed in my auxiliary sailboat. She was tied up at a work dock in a boat yard. The mechanic had removed the old engine on Friday afternoon, had not yet installed the replacement engine, and he “tied off” the shaft coupling with cable ties to stop water from entering via the shaft. He left to go out of town for the weekend. We know where this is going. On Saturday morning the Harbormaster called me to say the boat had sunk at the dock and he had a crew pumping her out. Obviously the cable tie idea didn’t work. On Monday I contacted my insurance carrier Safeco, and they dispatched a surveyor. He, the Safeco adjuster, the Boatyard owner, and myself all agreed that the boat was a total (constructive total loss) as salt water emersion ruined all the electronics, wiring, interior upholstery, and just about everything that could rust and corrode. The boat was insured on a “valued” basis (insured for and valued at), and so there was no argument about depreciation. I owned this boat since 1974 when I purchased her new, but she was kept up to very high standards. (Sort of like our Mooney’s) I had a check for the full amount of coverage (hull, unattached equipment, and personal property) Fed Exed to me by Friday morning. I am now looking for another boat. I left everything on board for the salvage company as they are entitled to everything under a constructive total loss. Since the replacement engine was not yet installed, Safeco said I could keep it, and sell it if I wished. Lessons:
After salt water emersion don’t try and refurbish the boat (airplane), Buy quality insurance coverages with proper policy limits, and take the emotion out of the situation.
 
 
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I'm going to up my insurance coverage.... glad it worked out in the end, sorry about the boat. I'm sure the mechanic felt like crap.


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[Bennett]

I'm going to up my insurance coverage.... glad it worked out in the end, sorry about the boat. I'm sure the mechanic felt like crap.


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He did, but I lost a great boat that I will never replace with the same quality. Life goes on.


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[DaV8or]

On 10/17/2017 at 7:22 PM, peevee said:

sad to see a rocket get scrapped. I think they're special airplanes.

It's a Rocket, not trust a regular ol' J, or K. I would bet money it flies again. How well it's cleaned up and repaired and how reliable long term, I'm not sure. We should all remember this N number so that in about a year or so when we get a new member asking, "What about this Rocket? It seems like a great deal..." we can give them the heads up if they don't already know.

I don't think this was salt water, so as long as the restoration is thorough and documented, I see no reason to not fly this plane again. I think it will only because it is a Rocket.

[gsxrpilot]

It won't fly again. The insurance company will pull the data plate and sell the scrap. There are quite a few of these "Harvey, Irma, Maria" planes up for auction now. None of them have data plates.

[aviatoreb]

41 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said:

It won't fly again. The insurance company will pull the data plate and sell the scrap. There are quite a few of these "Harvey, Irma, Maria" planes up for auction now. None of them have data plates.

..and cars.  Watch out for flooded cars flooding the used car market.

[DaV8or]

51 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said:

It won't fly again. The insurance company will pull the data plate and sell the scrap. There are quite a few of these "Harvey, Irma, Maria" planes up for auction now. None of them have data plates.

Is that right? Is that a new thing? Plenty of flood planes have sold in the past with data plates intact. Either way, I still say she will fly again in some form. Could be they just pull the Rocket parts and other cool upgrades and put them on another plane, or just swap data plates with a tired, dead K. 

[gsxrpilot]

2 minutes ago, DaV8or said:

Is that right? Is that a new thing? Plenty of flood planes have sold in the past with data plates intact. Either way, I still say she will fly again in some form. Could be they just pull the Rocket parts and other cool upgrades and put them on another plane, or just swap data plates with a tired, dead K. 

JD at SWTA is bidding on a few of them and we were talking about them. I thought he'd be buying to restore, but he informed me that none of them would have data plates and are only for parting out. He also used to be a Falcon rep so knows the business pretty well.

[mike_elliott]

On 10/20/2017 at 2:51 PM, Seth said:

This airplane belongs to the insurance company

Wise instruction

[Hank]

45 minutes ago, aviatoreb said:

..and cars.  Watch out for flooded cars flooding the used car market.

Yep. My next car, new or used, will be at least a 2019 model . . .

Sorry to see a good Mooney go like this!

[Jeff H.]

Final update - getting ready to go on the truck today.  Ovation from the field also undergoing the same tear down.  Sad to see her go.