AI needs overhaul, time to upgrade? Advice?

[gsengle]

Quote: allsmiles

This is an excellent choice. In my humble opinion I would have done the same thing.  If you want to perform a crude cost analysis I arrive at the following:

Proactively OH AI and HSI  $2200 every 1000 hours

Proactively replace vaccuum pump every other annual $300

Install electric AI  $2000

Total icost over say 20 years of flying approx. $200 per year or thereabouts? Do the math for your own unique situation.

You can even install a standby vaccum if you want additional layer of safety.

How much was that glass panel again??!!

 

[bnicolette]

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: Bnicolette

Dang Parker!!!  That airplane is one heck of a mess!!!!    That had to be from a flight school or something???  I have almost 7000 hours and 800 of that was flight instructing in several different aircraft.  I only had 1 vacuum pump failure.

I think to keep apples to apples, maybe count them from the same airplane.  I really think all he was trying to say is that you would like to have a certain amount of confidence in the platform that you're utilizing, and "he" just wouldn't have it with the Aspens.  At least thats what I got out of it.

[PTK]

Quote: gsengle

Thanks everyone, this has been an education!  I'm sure there is a special spot in heaven (or hell) for anyone who sets off a thread like this.  I suspect that our Mooney accident record is better than many other types is in large part the people who fly em.

So I've decided after all this to overhaul my King AI, and that the only near term upgrade I will make is a standby electric AI.  This is the least expensive path and maximizes my mission capability.  And besides, I really like the way the King units look and I like my instrument scan.

I'm no luddite, I'm a pretty young guy, and actually work in technology and software.  But sometimes if it ain't (too) broke, don't fix it.

Now, since the backup AI is just that a backup, can folks point me to what my best options are - i.e. cheapest.  Refurbished?  Model/Brand?  Best source?  I've never bought something like this before.

thanks!

Greg

[PTK]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

I'll chime in with real data from my flight experience.  Let me think of my instrument equipment failures in just under 900 hours of flying. These failures are from 3 Cessna 172s and 3 Mooneys M20C - M20J.  All had good maint history.

1. Electric turn coordinator while entering IMC after takeoff x 1

2. Vacuum based Attitude indicator total failure x 1

3. Vacuum based Attidude indicator caught starting to die in IMC x 1 and VMC x 1 - each time was leaning 10-15 degrees to the left or right.

4. Entire Vacuum system failure x 2 (read lost both AI and DG)

5. DG Failure x1

6. Failed Marker beacon panel (not a big deal)

Yes, that is 7 failures in the standard 6-pack and one failure on the audio panel.

 

G-500 Failures - 0

G-1000 Failures - 0

[peter]

Quote: allsmiles

Anyone can recite statistics and data to support any given point of view.  

[bnicolette]

Quote: peter

 I saw a statistic that 83.62% of all statistics are made up on the fly. 

[peter]

Quote: Bnicolette

 I saw a statistic that 83.62% of all statistics are made up on the fly. 

[PTK]

Quote: peter

Yep, and 75% of the time it happens everytime!! 

[danb35]

Quote: allsmiles

Here is some hand waving.  Start reading.  http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2010/SS1001.pdf

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: allsmiles

Anyone can recite statistics and data to support any given point of view.  

[PTK]

Quote: danb35

...and you post a link to a 91-page PDF which mentions the word "Aspen" once, in a footnote, that doesn't address failure rate.  How, exactly, this this support your apparent belief that Aspen units are less reliable than steam gauges?  Seems you're bringing up a completely unrelated issue so yes, you're right, it is more hand-waving.

[PTK]

You want more?

[danb35]

Well, I have to admit you're being honest--yes, it is more hand-waving.  You don't have to convince me that Aspen displays have failed; I know that already.  However, if you want to support your comments about their products in a rational way, you need to show that the rate of those failures (measured against time in service, number in service, or something) is higher than for whatever alternative you think is better.  You've made no attempt to do this.

[PTK]

Quote: danb35

Well, I have to admit you're being honest--yes, it is more hand-waving.  You don't have to convince me that Aspen displays have failed; I know that already.  However, if you want to support your comments about their products in a rational way, you need to show that the rate of those failures (measured against time in service, number in service, or something) is higher than for whatever alternative you think is better.  You've made no attempt to do this.