Jewell Aviation - Kennett MO PIREP

[201Steve]

On 3/19/2023 at 7:37 PM, GeeBee said:

I guess I have to ask @201Stevewhy not Gann in LaFayette, GA? You could have driven over there, work is top shelf.

Hind sight is 20/20. My closest airport compadre, a fellow Mooney driver, had his done at Gann and I went through that process as an observer on his overhaul. No complaints. I spoke to Carlus about it. But as is described in the post, I found so much positive feedback on this forum, spoke to several folks on the phone, and everyone had nice things to say about Jewell. So ultimately, the deciding factor was that Jewell was cheaper and they seemed to be very capable Mooney airframe mechanics. It was a failing cam so… you don’t really get to identify that until you start ripping it apart. I figured I’d let them inspect it, and then if it was confirmed a failing cam, they could get right to work and do all of the work on site, including an annual inspection in its down time. Made a lot of sense from a downtime reduction standpoint. 
 

alas, I discovered they are clowns without a sense of pride in their work and no intent of setting right their admitted wrong unless they got a second shot at it. For better or worse on my part (and the part of my pocketbook), there are no second chances with me when you show that level of incompetence. The engine eventually got built again by Zephyr, because they already had my cylinders that were being legitimately overhauled after discovering they’d only used a dingleberry brush to hone cylinders and left rusted exhaust studs on the barrels. It was at that time we did a deep dive and found the cam was already failing again at 60 hours and shipped the rest of the engine down to FL for proper overhaul. 

[201Steve]

2 hours ago, Evan said:

Did you ever figure out why your cam started to fail at 60 hours? I find that the most distressing about your story. 

My overhaul from them has been good so far. Oil burn is 1 quart per 10-15 hours and everything else seems to be working ok. 

Nobody can explain it, but that’s not their job or expertise to determine why the last guy messed up, they are experts in tearing engines apart, measuring, making right, and reassembling. I’ve found most shops don’t go to too much trouble to investigate the past transgressions of another shop. They simply let you know it’s wrong and sort of take the high road on bashing another fellow too hard  

Metal in the filter and boroscopy doesn’t lie. If you have time on engine and those check good, you’re probably fine. 

[daytonabch04]

I just completed an engine O/H at Mena Aircraft Engines in AR.  Seemed to have good reviews as well.  The engine has been shipped back to Maxwell for reassembly and annual inspection.  I'm curious and excited how it'll perform after OH.  I had about 1250 hrs on the original engine before metal came back higher than anticipated in the analysis.  

[N201MKTurbo]

14 minutes ago, daytonabch04 said:

I just completed an engine O/H at Mena Aircraft Engines in AR.  Seemed to have good reviews as well.  The engine has been shipped back to Maxwell for reassembly and annual inspection.  I'm curious and excited how it'll perform after OH.  I had about 1250 hrs on the original engine before metal came back higher than anticipated in the analysis.  

About the only thing that will affect the performance of a rebuilt engine is the quality of the cylinders. When you buy a new cylinder assembly, the honing and ring fit has been done by the factory that built the cylinders, not the rebuilder.

[daytonabch04]

13 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

About the only thing that will affect the performance of a rebuilt engine is the quality of the cylinders. When you buy a new cylinder assembly, the honing and ring fit has been done by the factory that built the cylinders, not the rebuilder.

6 new ones....what could go wrong?!?  *fingers crossed*

[N201MKTurbo]

Just now, daytonabch04 said:

6 new ones....what could go wrong?!?  *fingers crossed*

New engines always seem a bit peppier. Climbs a bit faster, cruises a bit faster. Nothing earth shattering, but better. They usually come into their stride after about 25 hours.

[exM20K]

33 minutes ago, daytonabch04 said:

I just completed an engine O/H at Mena Aircraft Engines in AR.  Seemed to have good reviews as well.  The engine has been shipped back to Maxwell for reassembly and annual inspection.  I'm curious and excited how it'll perform after OH.  I had about 1250 hrs on the original engine before metal came back higher than anticipated in the analysis.  

What was wrong with your (very, very) expensive engine that impelled you to overhaul it with such low time?

-dan

[ilovecornfields]

15 hours ago, 201Steve said:

I found so much positive feedback on this forum, spoke to several folks on the phone, and everyone had nice things to say about Jewell.

As much as I like this forum, the advice on here is often worth what you pay for it. I had the same experience with an MSC that also had a stellar reputation here but the owner suffered from a similar confidence:competence mismatch and I ended up having to redo things that were done incorrectly. For the record, I think the owners was actually knowledgeable,  but whoever worked on my plane had no idea what they were doing and were clearly not supervised properly. 
Fortunately, the expense was small in aviation terms but you definitely have to take the things you read online with a grain of salt. Even here.

[Boilermonkey]

53 minutes ago, ilovecornfields said:

As much as I like this forum, the advice on here is often worth what you pay for it. I had the same experience with an MSC that also had a stellar reputation here but the owner suffered from a similar confidence:competence mismatch and I ended up having to redo things that were done incorrectly. For the record, I think the owners was actually knowledgeable,  but whoever worked on my plane had no idea what they were doing and were clearly not supervised properly. 
Fortunately, the expense was small in aviation terms but you definitely have to take the things you read online with a grain of salt. Even here.

Same experience with an MSC, Oasis, in my case.   The owner is great and did make things right in the end, however the work was not done right by his staff and nearly killed me.  I hope these shops learn from their mistakes and implement better ways to catch errors.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, daytonabch04 said:

6 new ones....what could go wrong?!?  *fingers crossed*

What could go wrong?  Plenty if your cylinders were built by Continental not Lycoming.

[daytonabch04]

18 hours ago, M20Doc said:

What could go wrong?  Plenty if your cylinders were built by Continental not Lycoming.

Lycoming. 

[daytonabch04]

On 3/21/2023 at 10:10 AM, exM20K said:

What was wrong with your (very, very) expensive engine that impelled you to overhaul it with such low time?

-dan

High metal in 2 consecutive oil analysis and going the wrong way... 

[201Steve]

On 3/22/2023 at 1:01 PM, daytonabch04 said:

High metal in 2 consecutive oil analysis and going the wrong way

Curious what they found upon Teardown ? Any metal in filter or solely oil analysis?

[daytonabch04]

10 hours ago, 201Steve said:

Curious what they found upon Teardown ? Any metal in filter or solely oil analysis?

Rust on the crankshaft and bad pitting requiring all new cylinders. 

[Jsno]

Sounds like a bad experience.  The cam probably galled because it was not properly prelubed per the O/H manual and Lycoming SL.  Sounds like the cylinders were just removed and installed. Lycoming has a list of parts replacement required to state that it is an overhaul.  They may not have even been replaced.  If they are nickel or Chrome you cannot hone them.  

Hate to say this but you probably should contact the FAA and let them inspect the shop.  

[Shadrach]

I don't think a shop like this stays in business producing this kind of outcome.  This shop likely gained it's reputation due to the hard work of the previous generation.  Steve was unfortunately the unlucky guy that had to discover the cratering of what was likely a viable business as the a next generation family member takes over.  The new owner does not seem interested in what he has inherited.  It's a sad story but not a reflection on previous customers that had a good experiences there.  I've severed ties with service providers after long relationships because they ceased to be what they once were. Businesses usually fail slowly. It's kind of a train wreck in very slow motion. From derailment to smoking pile of debris can take years. Sad to see. A telltale sign is demonstrating apathy to customer needs and defensiveness to the resulting customer complaints.  

[201Steve]

On 3/24/2023 at 3:35 PM, Shadrach said:

I don't think a shop like this stays in business producing this kind of outcome.  This shop likely gained it's reputation due to the hard work of the previous generation.  Steve unfortunately was the unlucky guy that had to discover the cratering of a likely viable business as the a next generation family member takes over.  The new owner does not seem interested in what he has inherited.  It's a sad story but not a reflection on previous customers that had good experiences there.  I've severed ties with service providers after long relationships because they ceased to be what they once were. Businesses usually fail slowly. It's kind of a train wreck in very slow motion. From derailment to smoking pile of debris can take years. Sad to see. A telltale sign is demonstrating apathy to customer needs and defensiveness to the resulting customer complaints.  

This is spot on

[billy hellcat]

This is where GMAX has there engines overhauled.  FYI

[Justin Schmidt]

Sounds like my first annual after purchase at CalkinAero in Huston (Apparently, was going through a buyout during). I did a cardinal sin and had the annual done before I picked up (I was across the country) with the same shop that the buyer used. I did have the prebuy done at another shop which found things I wanted fixed before flying it across the country (engine mounts, oil/fuel lines). After negotiations on price he didn't want to take it back there for an annual so I begrudgingly let his shop do it.   The shop charged me for things they did not do, did things wrong, connected wires wrong (as I found out this annual and now OH). Honestly, I don't think it will be a lack of newer generation pilots that kill GA, I think it will be the incompetence and lack of maintenance.

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, billy hellcat said:

This is where GMAX has there engines overhauled.  FYI

For what it's worth, there's a big difference in perspective if you are rebuilding an engine in an aircraft you are trying to sell vs. one you are keeping and planning to fly you and your family in and having it make TBO.

[Bigdaddie]

I don't think I'd try to save money on an engine.  That's like buying an overhauled artificial heart.  For my money, LyCon in Visalia, CA is probably the nations premier engine builder these days.

[neilpilot]

32 minutes ago, Bigdaddie said:

I don't think I'd try to save money on an engine.  That's like buying an overhauled artificial heart.  For my money, LyCon in Visalia, CA is probably the nations premier engine builder these days.

Using your logic, why even overhaul. Just sell your core and buy new….

[201Steve]

On 6/26/2023 at 12:41 PM, billy hellcat said:

This is where GMAX has there engines overhauled.  FYI

Yes, that’s detailed in the write up. A real shame bc that lowers my regard for them significantly. Prob works good to make the most money possible, though. I wouldn’t let them touch my lawnmower. 

[kortopates]

I don't think I'd try to save money on an engine.  That's like buying an overhauled artificial heart.  For my money, LyCon in Visalia, CA is probably the nations premier engine builder these days.

They are, but have you seen their backlog recently? Last i heard it was taking 9 months.


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[201Steve]

11 hours ago, M20Doc said:

But is it OK to cheap out on the overhaul and pass it to the next family?

 One participating in this would never ask themselves hard questions like that, and if they did, it would be quickly justified and reasoned that their INTENTION is not bad.