bhtitle Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 Good Evening, Been browsing the forums for a while, first time posting. My '62C has been going strong since I bought it five years ago, but my mechanic and I just discovered an approximately 1.5 inch section of exfoliating corrosion on the right wing aft spar, inside the wheel well. Photo attached, looking outboard and aft from inside the right wheel well. It's also developing corrosion in the left fuel tank between the root rib and lower skin- one of the rivet heads on the lower surface under the rib popped off, discovered on preflight which led to me crawling over the plane and finding the spar corrosion. I should have caught the spar corrosion on an earlier preflight, no idea how long I was flying with it. Plane was hangared when I bought it and first two years of ownership, but moving for work it's been tied down in Oxnard, CA and St. Mary's Co, MD since 2017, so being outside in coastal locations the past three years definitely sped up the damage. I can't imagine this is something repairable short of replacing the left rib and right aft spar cap, which my mechanic probably doesn't want to take on. My engine is strong but getting up there with 1470 SMOH, and panel is basic VFR with a garmin 345 ADS-B transponder, so unfortunately with a $20K+ or worse repair, repairing the damage or replacing the wing doesn't look to make economic sense on a plane hardly worth more than that. I hate to be the last owner in 58 years, but can any of you recommend a salvage company in the mid-atlantic that may be interested in buying it? I'm based at St. Mary's Co, MD (2W6). My mechanic pointed out that airplanes are worth more as parts than as airplanes, but I don't have a great location to store the airframe should I part it out. How does one determine if it's safe to ferry a plane with this kind of damage? Or is there another idea you all recommend before selling it to salvage? Mostly just looking for advice or ideas at this point. This is my first plane, and definitely won't be my last- if I sell this plane I'll be searching for a Mooney in better shape ASAP! Thanks for your input, Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 Welcome aboard Ben. Are you familiar with your nearest MSC? There are experts in this type of work... MSCs are places that these experts frequent... If you have given up on saving the bird... we have @Alan Fox in NJ... he is really good with the recycling of old Mooneys... Don’t beat yourself up... corrosion happens over time... if you don’t see it... and your annuals don’t catch it... in the tank is a hard place to find it... Have the damaged measured before writing it off... there is acceptable limits to these kind of things... Unfortunately with some alloys... It can be a matter of months before the limit is exceeded. Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 Ben , Feel free to call me at 856 419 5209 , I cant think of a worse place as far as corrosion than Oxnard ... I cut up the F model , that was at the helicopter mechanics last year... Wasn't anything left on it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 I am currently doing a salvage at Freeway , so this is a good time , for me to bid.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 @bhtitle can we help you find the next bird? See Alan’s message above. Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukemzzz Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 How does one prevent this so we aren’t the next casualty? I’m going to be really bummed out if I get my E all back together with a new panel and engine rebuild to find a corroded wing spar next. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrach Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 Before writing this bird off, I would check with someone familiar with this type of work. As corrosion goes, what is depicted in the picture appears very repairable. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 He did , Me ...This plane is toast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrach Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 (edited) 15 hours ago, Alan Fox said: He did , Me ...This plane is toast Yes...to the man with the hammer, all the world's a nail. How many have you repaired? Edited July 3, 2020 by Shadrach 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscalandro Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 That doesn’t look bad at all and might clean up easily.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 47 minutes ago, Shadrach said: Yes...to the man with the hammer, all the worlds a nail. How many have you repaired? 8 or 10 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 10:24 AM, Nukemzzz said: How does one prevent this so we aren’t the next casualty? I’m going to be really bummed out if I get my E all back together with a new panel and engine rebuild to find a corroded wing spar next. This aircraft was based at Oxnard , no stopping it at that field , Might as well just wash it in the bay... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Chub Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 There has to be more to this story. What other areas were found to be badly corroded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prior owner Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Check the longeron stiffeners that run underneath the floor on each side of the rear seat... Intergranular corrosion seems to love this spots too.... hard to see them- will need a mirror Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 The fuckery , has begun..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscalandro Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 12 minutes ago, Alan Fox said: The fuckery , has begun..... What prop has it got, is it any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 It has a HCc2yk B hub yes the B hub prop.... Hartzell B hub... Drum roll please.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscalandro Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) @Alan Fox How many does it cost, how much time is on the prop? Edited July 4, 2020 by chriscalandro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 640 SMOH 6 K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscalandro Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Just now, Alan Fox said: 640 SMOH 6 K With spinner and shipping? Edited July 4, 2020 by chriscalandro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Sure , I have lots of spinners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscalandro Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Just now, Alan Fox said: Sure , I have lots of spinners I added the shipping part, maybe you didn’t see it before you responded. a new one is 9500 shipped, this is right on the price edge for me between new or used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Peace Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 just curious, is this a total loss to the owner, does insurance pay out some? what does Alan pay for planes like these? how does it all work to minimize financial damage to the owners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Ellis Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 4 hours ago, Alan Fox said: The fuckery , has begun..... Just out of curiosity...in the 60’s how many Mooneys would be on the assembly line at one time? I am just curious because this Mooney’s serial # is 2318 and mine is 2324. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeOH Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) 14 hours ago, Jim Peace said: just curious, is this a total loss to the owner, does insurance pay out some? what does Alan pay for planes like these? how does it all work to minimize financial damage to the owners? Well, what obligation do auto insurance companies have to owners when their cars rust out? Edited July 4, 2020 by MikeOH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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