M20J Airframe repair experience

[CoffeeRainman]

I am in need of suggestion(s) for belly pan repair and some structural work caused by gear up landing.  Current location is mid Atlantic Coast.

Can someone endorse Air Mods. in Trento NJ and or Royal Aircraft out of Hagerstown, MD?  I have no experience with either one of them but need first class work done on her.

will also be in need of a Lycoming prop with about 1500 TT and cowl flaps on both sides.

this is my first post and looking forward to hearing anything you can offer.  I am not restricted by insurance to either of these shops but really looking for top of class shop more importantly.

 

CoffeeRainman

[dzeleski]

Air Mods regularly does this type of work. Youll probably get multiple people here recommending them. I fly to them from LI specifically for my annual or anything more mooney specific.

[ArtVandelay]

They are mentioned numerous times by our northeastern brethren as the goto place for complex airframe repairs.

[KSMooniac]

Concur that Air Mods has an excellent reputation, but I've not used them since I'm in another part of the country.


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[Guest]

5 hours ago, CoffeeRainman said:

I am in need of suggestion(s) for belly pan repair and some structural work caused by gear up landing.  Current location is mid Atlantic Coast.

Can someone endorse Air Mods. in Trento NJ and or Royal Aircraft out of Hagerstown, MD?  I have no experience with either one of them but need first class work done on her.

will also be in need of a Lycoming prop with about 1500 TT and cowl flaps on both sides.

this is my first post and looking forward to hearing anything you can offer.  I am not restricted by insurance to either of these shops but really looking for top of class shop more importantly.

 

CoffeeRainman

Welcome to Mooney space.  I'm sorry that your first post involved some repairs to your Mooney.

I sent you a PM

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard Coffee!

+1 on the skills that AirMods has…

We have a prop guy around here…

But… when you say a Lycoming prop… I know some brevity may have crept into your description…

See if you can post what prop you had/want/need…. I can invite our prop guy @Cody Stallings to visit this thread… use as much detail as you can muster…

 

Where is the plane currently located… mid Atlantic is pretty big even with an AW Mooney…

Heads up warning from a friend…

Get your armor plated shorts on… be ready to be nice… while feeling uneasy…. 

Are you purchasing this plane in damaged condition?  (Tough conversation because of the costs involved in repairing often exceed the value of the plane)

Or you own this plane and had a gear up landing…?  (Tough conversation because everyone’s insurance rates depend on what the whole cohort has done…)

Use the search function to see more detail…

I’m glad you joined MS… better late than never… 

Best regards,

-a-

[bradp]

Welcome to Mooney space.  Sorry about your loss.  
 

Air mods or Henry Weber have extensive experience doing GU damage repairs. I’m not sure if freeway is experienced in GU repairs. What kind of structural work are you talking about? Most gear ups are limited to belly nose gear doors and flap hinges with paint and engine/prop work. 
 

Alan, Jerry or Lasar are good sources for parts. Send the prop to Cody and decide whether you need new blades or a new prop.  
 

Any lessons learned you’d be willing to share with the group here or over on the safety forum.  This is an enduring problem.  

[CoffeeRainman]

Thanks all to the ones that have replied.  Once back to the Norfolk, VA area next week I. An delve into the prop which is in need of replacement according to our A/P.  
Obviously the step needs replacement and some of the frame mid-ship has buckled some and needs to be cut out and replaced.  There are no fuel leaks noted.  The tape how’s where things need to be corrected.  Will post more upon my return.

 

 

[carusoam]

Coffee,

Nice work getting a really good pic posted!

When seeking pre-flown parts… we have a few resources around here…  

@Alan Fox

@Jerry Pressley

@SheryLoewen

if you have a parts manual… start collecting part numbers…

Mooney GU landings don’t usually go that deep into the belly….  What happened?
 

We can turn things around and see what falls out…  (see  re-oriented pic below…)

Gravity on!

-a-

 

 

 

[Jerry Pressley]

I have a good McCauley 201 prop.  If yours does not have de-ice it would be strange to have a Hartzell. Q tips were used on some 201s if i remember correctly

[rcwagner]

I bought a 1978 M20J from Air Mods in 2018 that had been totaled.  They had to replace the wing and tail cone from other sources.  They did an excellent job on the rebuild.  I have gone through two annuals now with the plane with no problems.  The only issue I have had is that the tail cone they used is from an L model, so getting an STC for a GFC500 install was not possible.  I had to go with an STEC55X.  The first annual found an omission in the Air Mods paperwork for the rebuild, which they quickly got corrected.  Air Mods was very good at standing behind their work.  Dave and his wife, are the owners and are good people.

[rbp]

My Bravo is currently in annual at Air-Mods. Very impressed. they know their Mooneys! 

[CoffeeRainman]

Thanks to all that have replied.  The situation now stands like this.  Power plant will be pulled, crated and sent up to Penn Yan which currently has a 12 week schedule open, once received at their dock.

The McCauley 2 blade prop’s serial number is B2D34C214-3.  It’s original to the aircraft 1997 model and has had only touch ups done to it.  During last years annual our A/P mentioned it was seeping ever so slowly from the hub, but minor and not a concern then.

The insurance Company will buy a new prop, if I can not find a suitable used one with same hours (1665+/-to). Sure would like a new one.

Sorry Gentlemen for my delay in getting this back out, but between a vacation, Holiday and then a nice Summer cold which I still have, it’s taken this long to get to the logbooks here in VA.

Again thanks for all of your input.

Rainman