Corrosion m20c

[robert7467]

I just bought a share in the plane. Its a really nice M20C.

I noticed a little corrsion around one of the screws by the alerion (bubbley paint)... Should I just leave it until the next paint job, or should I sand it down, and touch it up.

There is actually a couple corrosion spots around some rivets and screws on the skins... Luckily there is little or no corrosion when I opened up the inspection panels.

The plane has had the same mechanic for 20 years, and it seems like he was too comfortabe with the plane and missed a few spots on the annual.

The plane is hangared as well.

I am still a student pilot, and I have spent more time working on the plane than flying it, which is good, becuase so far I have not spent any money, and I am learing alot about the plane, which might prevent me from getting stranded in the middle of no where. Luckily my flight instructor is also a A&P instructor, so I am getting alot of info by picking his brain.

Other than that, the plane is in overall great shape with 50 hrs  on engine and prop and she was well taken care of and hangared. I just need to work out a few kinks, and she will be flawless...

[carusoam]

Formulate a plan and attack corrosion as early as possible.

They continue to grow in size.

My thoughts anyway...

 

Good luck with you M20C.

Best regards,

-a-

 

[robert7467]

Whats the best way to do it? Sand it down and put touch up paint on it? And what about the inside of the skin?

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Corrosion is to a Mooney what cancer is to a human.  Don't take any chances as like cancer corrosion could also kill you

[rbridges]

sorry to get off track, but keep an eye on the engine.  A high percentage of problems occur shortly after overhauls.

[jetdriven]

soak it in corrosion X spray, monitor.

[robert7467]

Even over the paint?? Should I just sand it and touch it up?

[jetdriven]

flake some of the peeling paint off, soak it, I mean submerge it, in Corrosion X spray.  Keep tabs on it,  Address during the annual

[robert7467]

ok, I spoke with my brother in law who is an A&P for a major airline, and does a ton of sheet metal work... He said to take the screw out, get some metal tape (too keep the other areas from being scratched) tape a square around the corrsion, get a dremmel with a scotch bright pad, remove all of the corrosion, then primer it with primer with some corrosion inhibitor (can't remember the ingrediant). Then touch it up with an airbrush (I have the matching paint from when it was painted). And then fog with corrosion x to cover the inside of the skin... I am sure it will not  be perfect and you will see the lines from the tape, but it will look alot better than blisters in the paint...

[carusoam]

Robert,

Good plan.  You will be surprised at how good your skills are.

Aluminum Primer is available in a spray can from aircraft spruce.

It is better to not have corrosion, than let it wait for a real paint job some day.

Note: do not sand down any rivets.  This is a problem of using power sanding equipment.  Stick to hand tools.  Attack small areas one at a time until you have good practice.

Best regards,

-a-

[Guest]

I for one would never take sandpaper to aluminum skins, green/red scotch bright yes but not sandpaper. Remove as little alcad around the surrounding area as possible.