Damaged nose wheel on 1980 Mooney Rocket

[Jeffrey Keim]

The nose wheel was damaged by my home flight line crew - they repaired and replaced at the FBO expense. My question is how to prevent the damage in the future?  My Rocket N305KM is hangered at a very busy facility in class D airspace and I have primo hangering at the FBO,so pull out and hangering by owner is not an option. What works to keep line personnel from towing the plane >15 degrees - I can tel them, stay and watch them but should I get a warning sign to hang on the prop?

Thanks - Jeff Keim N305KM (Rocket M20K)

[carusoam]

There is a pointer, and decal that indicates the limits for somebody using a tow bar…

There are updates for the nose gear that bumps into mechanical limits before destroying tubes…

Some people hanging signs to respect tow angle limits…

 

Spreading awareness is probably the key message…

Having the decal/pointer on it is helpful when they are looking…

Mooneys aren’t the only planes to get their nose wheels torn off…

Find a local Long Body to see how it is done currently…. It is still an imperfect solution…

PP thoughts only, not a nose gear engineer…

Best regards,

-a-

[Will.iam]

I notice too when my cowl flaps are fully open it partially obscures the tow limit pointer. If you close the cowl flaps you can see it much better. This is on a 252 btw. 

[PT20J]

You could hang a warning sign on the prop. I guess that if the FBO has had to pay for repairs once they might be more careful in the future. Make sure all the placards are attached and legible. If your nose gear doesn't have the stops, you might consider upgrading it although they only minimize the risk without eliminating it. Really, it is a design defect in the airplane that we all live with. I'm sure that insurance companies factor that into our hull rates.

Skip

[Guest]

Mooney’s are not the only ones to suffer broken nose gears.  Suggest to the FBO that they buy a tug that picks up the nose wheel in a lazy Susan.

Clarence

[N201MKTurbo]

Norm used to sell a locking device that went into the tow bar hole that precluded the FBO from using a tow bar. 

[carusoam]

The 90s version of a tow bar from Mooney…

has a nice extension with a hole for a padlock.

So…. The hand tow bar gets locked in place.

 

It is hard to accidentally bend tubing on a 90s+ nose wheel… still not impossible.

Best regards,

-a-

[KB4]

Standard U bike lock with do not tow streamer attached, just slide it thru now can’t get a tow bar in. Also put your phone on a card tape it so they know who to call if planes needs to be moved 

[FlyingScot]

I use this - hard to miss - cell phone # is on back of flags with instructions. But make sure to remove in preflight! 

 

[PT20J]

The problem with the Mooneys is that the turning limits are lower than with most other airplanes and that the early design didn’t have hard stops.

The problem with leaving a phone number, of course, is that they will call you in the middle of your day at Disneyland, or whatever.

The most common tugs I see these days, scoop up the nose wheel, so putting something through the truss won’t prevent tugging.

The best option I’ve found is to ask the FBO where they want to put it for the duration of your stay and park it yourself.

Skip

[natdm]

@FlyingScot are these sold anywhere? Or I take it you just made them? What parts? I'd like to do the same. 

Edit: found it! Thanks! https://mooneyspace.com/topic/30801-service-bulletin/?do=findComment&comment=516775

 

[FlyingScot]

6 hours ago, natdm said:

@FlyingScot are these sold anywhere? Or I take it you just made them? What parts? I'd like to do the same. 

Edit: found it! Thanks! https://mooneyspace.com/topic/30801-service-bulletin/?do=findComment&comment=516775

 

Enjoy! I continue to use them and haven’t had an issue - hope they work for you as well. 

[Max Clark]

On 8/8/2021 at 5:42 AM, N201MKTurbo said:

Norm used to sell a locking device that went into the tow bar hole that precluded the FBO from using a tow bar. 

This is kinda amazing - what would they do instead?

[N201MKTurbo]

2 hours ago, Max Clark said:

This is kinda amazing - what would they do instead?

They have those tow machines that pick up the nose wheel on a swivel plate.

[Pinecone]

On 8/10/2021 at 1:03 PM, PT20J said:

The most common tugs I see these days, scoop up the nose wheel, so putting something through the truss won’t prevent tugging.

A lot of those are perfect for towing a Mooney, as there is a turntable, so the nose gear does not get turned at all.  All the turning is in the tug.

[Fly Boomer]

9 hours ago, Pinecone said:

A lot of those are perfect for towing a Mooney, as there is a turntable, so the nose gear does not get turned at all.  All the turning is in the tug.

What keeps the nose gear from turning?

[N201MKTurbo]

2 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

What keeps the nose gear from turning?

The rudder peddles. There is a fair amount of friction.