Minor Hail Damage

[Texasmooneypilot]

I sustained some minor hail damage to my Ovation 3 while it was tied down in Fredericksburg 2 weeks ago.  The thin skin on the ailerons was that only surface that was damaged from the dime sized hail.  I have filed a claim with my insurance that is suggesting "reskinning" of the ailerons.  My insurance agent's opinion is that reskinning is a less desirable option vs. replacing the ailerons.  Any suggestions?

[Kwixdraw]

Reskinning would probably take longer but ,depending on who did the work, shouldn't make any difference in the end. If it was a Bonanza with magnesium skins it might be another story. I'd be pushing for the new assemblies depending on what the down time looked like. How long to get that rocker switch from Mooney now?

[Becca]

Quote: Texasmooneypilot

I sustained some minor hail damage to my Ovation 3 while it was tied down in Fredericksburg 2 weeks ago.  The thin skin on the ailerons was that only surface that was damaged from the dime sized hail.  I have filed a claim with my insurance that is suggesting "reskinning" of the ailerons.  My insurance agent's opinion is that reskinning is a less desirable option vs. replacing the ailerons.  Any suggestions?

[FlyDave]

When I bought my plane the right aileron had just been re-skinned because the previous owner backed it into the hagar door.

I looked at the re-skin job and, in my inexperience, didn't think it was a very good job because it had a slight bow in it. I contacted a MSC just outside SF Bay area and they had an aileron they could reskin and ship to me. I was going up that way on business so I flew into their airport to look at it after the reskin. I soon realized how nice a job the people that re-skinned the original aileron did!

But the plane had consistent right turn after the re-skin/my purchase so I flew it up to Lasar and Robert made some adjustments (see http://mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=1&threadid=1269) and my plane flys straight and level hands off.

If you get it re-skinned correctly it should be fine. I'm not sure how many ailerons the Mooney factory has, but it they have some they're going to be pretty expensive (would insurance cover all of it?)

Best of luck,

[KSMooniac]

Reskinning might be the only option available given the current state of affairs in Kerrville.  I suggest you get some good recommendations for a shop to use, and hopefully a warranty on the work.  Make sure they have all of the Mooney specs and tooling required to get a straight aileron too!

[Ron McBride]

FlyDave    Do you remember what MSC in the bay area did the Reskin job?

Thanks  Ron

[M016576]

Quote: FlyDave

When I bought my plane the right aileron had just been re-skinned because the previous owner backed it into the hagar door.

I looked at the re-skin job and, in my inexperience, didn't think it was a very good job because it had a slight bow in it. I contacted a MSC just outside SF Bay area and they had an aileron they could reskin and ship to me. I was going up that way on business so I flew into their airport to look at it after the reskin. I soon realized how nice a job the people that re-skinned the original aileron did!

But the plane had consistent right turn after the re-skin/my purchase so I flew it up to Lasar and Robert made some adjustments (see http://mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=1&threadid=1269) and my plane flys straight and level hands off.

If you get it re-skinned correctly it should be fine. I'm not sure how many ailerons the Mooney factory has, but it they have some they're going to be pretty expensive (would insurance cover all of it?)

Best of luck,

[1964-M20E]

If you really want to fix the ailerons I think I’d find a set from salvage strip, paint to match rebalance them and then swap them out.  You then could sell your slightly damaged ones for less than you bought the other salvage one and recoup some of your $ and your plane will be grounded for a day or two not weeks.

[KSMooniac]

Quote: 1964-M20E

If you really want to fix the ailerons I think I’d find a set from salvage strip, paint to match rebalance them and then swap them out.  You then could sell your slightly damaged ones for less than you bought the other salvage one and recoup some of your $ and your plane will be grounded for a day or two not weeks.

[jezzie]

Quote: M016576

 

I have light hail damage on my aileron's as well.  At my last annual at LASAR, I asked about it, and was told that the ailerons are extremely thin and prone to such damage (go figure.. makes sense).  My flight controls are balanced and I don't have any roll off or anything, so I have two questions for the board...

A)  What would be the advantage of reskinning the aileron's other than aesthetics/resale/ramp appeal (particularly if I have to foot the bill myself)?

  What does an aileron reskin typically cost?

                    Thanks!

                            -JoB

[Texasmooneypilot]

Thanks to all of you for your help. 

[John Pleisse]

Quote: FlyDave

But the plane had consistent right turn after the re-skin/my purchase so I flew it up to Lasar and Robert made some adjustments (see http://mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=1&threadid=1269) and my plane flys straight and level hands off.

Best of luck,

[Texasmooneypilot]

I called the factory and they are about 2800 bucks each.   Thanks N4352H for your help as well.   Now I just have to deal with the insurance company.  

[jetdriven]

Why not have the factory or Dugosh reskin them?  Done properly, it WILL be the same, and will likely be quite a bit faster.

[jetdriven]

error, double post

[John Pleisse]

I wouldn't settle for less...especially after learning the hard way.

[TLSDriver]

Quote: jetdriven

Why not have the factory or Dugosh reskin them?  Done properly, it WILL be the same, and will likely be quite a bit faster.

[kortopates]

Although N4352H wasn't specific about the aggravation he went through, I get the impression that many of you don't realize that both a new aileron and a re-skinned one will require the exact same re-rigging and some delicate adjusting after test flying to fly straight - just like when the plane came off the assembly line. Slight imperceptible bends make huge differences in the ailerons and rudders and understanding how and where to bend probably takes more skill than riveting a replacement skin on - something every A&P is taught in school. So my guess is that both Dave's and N4352H planes didn't get the required tweaking they needed after the repaired ailerons were installed and rigged - and new ailerons likley wouldn't have performed any better without the post-flight test tweaking.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: Texasmooneypilot

I called the factory and they are about 2800 bucks each.   Thanks N4352H for your help as well.   Now I just have to deal with the insurance company.  

[John Pleisse]

Paul is dead on....you'll chase it to get it hands off.

Frankly, I could go into the number of times I took it back, flew it, tabbed it, flew it again and then paid people to do it, but it is almost embarassing to chronicle. At one point, I handed the service instruction and Kerrie McIntyre's MAPA article on rigging to an independent shop and said...here...go for it...get it right. The aileron I got from repair was ever so slightly bowed from the skin being too tight. It was not noticable until my MSC guy laid a yard stick on the aileron and showed me the impefection. I couldn't begin to over emphasize, there is nothing like a factory jig. Theres a factory jig and weighting and then there's "good attempts".

In fact Parker, I told Jan Maxwell what happened and she was literally stunned.

[jetdriven]

double post

[KSMooniac]

Quote: jezzie

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: KSMooniac

[KSMooniac]

Parker, Don has done some re-skins in his shop in the past, but lately has been too busy to do it in-house and has sent them to our favorite shop in AR, with mixed results.  I'm not sure he is sending them there any more after my last go-round with them and their inability to follow directions and use factory specs or tools.  

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: KSMooniac

Parker, Don has done some re-skins in his shop in the past, but lately has been too busy to do it in-house and has sent them to our favorite shop in AR, with mixed results.  I'm not sure he is sending them there any more after my last go-round with them and their inability to follow directions and use factory specs or tools.