Recommendations for aircraft repair? Probably structural

[javanhoo]

I have a M20K.  Had engine failure on climbout (500-900 feet AGL) after practice missed approach.  I put the aircraft down in a soybean field.  Reason not clear- engine quit after miss (almost as if I turned the ignition switch on and off a couple of times and then off for good).  Plenty of gas, several minutes after tank switch, tried aux fuel pump, switched tanks again after failure, and even tried alternate air etc.  In any case, gear collapse, engine prop and possible more involved structural damage (wing step driven up into fuselage).  I am looking for a good choice for evaluation and structural repair by a shop that somewhat knows Mooneys.  Of course, the wing will probable need to be de-mated to move the airplane.

I relatively recently purchased this aircraft from a well known Mooney dealer in Texas who partners with who is one of the best shops around for these aircraft  Someone else nearby did an annual at purchase in June.  I normally would be very happy to send the aircraft to the Texas shop and I currently have NO reason to necessarily think the failure was something missed.  However, because of the time proximity, I prob want the insurance company to ship the aircraft elsewhere (I think? Or do I?).

Any ideas, advice, or options.  I called Weber and have not received a call back..

 

Jim VH

Ohio

[Fly Boomer]

11 minutes ago, javanhoo said:

I have a M20K.  Had engine failure on climbout (500-900 feet AGL) after practice missed approach.  I put the aircraft down in a soybean field.  Reason not clear- engine quit after miss (almost as if I turned the ignition switch on and off a couple of times and then off for good).  Plenty of gas, several minutes after tank switch, tried aux fuel pump, switched tanks again after failure, and even tried alternate air etc.  In any case, gear collapse, engine prop and possible more involved structural damage (wing step driven up into fuselage).  I am looking for a good choice for evaluation and structural repair by a shop that somewhat knows Mooneys.  Of course, the wing will probable need to be de-mated to move the airplane.

I relatively recently purchased this aircraft from a well known Mooney dealer in Texas who partners with who is one of the best shops around for these aircraft  Someone else nearby did an annual at purchase in June.  I normally would be very happy to send the aircraft to the Texas shop and I currently have NO reason to necessarily think the failure was something missed.  However, because of the time proximity, I prob want the insurance company to ship the aircraft elsewhere (I think? Or do I?).

Any ideas, advice, or options.  I called Weber and have not received a call back..

 

Jim VH

Ohio

Welcome to MooneySpace.  Sorry about your mishap.  You will get more advice than you can stand here, but I just wanted to say that it's not common to de-mate the wing as it is with most other types.  Because of the Mooney spar, the usual method is to remove rivets from the fuselage behind the baggage compartment, cut a few wires and other connections, and thereby separate the front of the airplane from the tail.  Then the engine, cockpit, wings, and everything forward of the separation line are loaded onto a flatbed trailer sideways.  Maxwell uses this technique.

[Fly Boomer]

 

 

[javanhoo]

Whatever is done, need advice on a couple of options if as above.

thanks for help and quick response

jim

[KSMooniac]

Sorry to read this.  If the plane is in OH, I presume you would like to try to keep it regional.  I'm not very familiar with options near you, but might suggest Oasis Aero in Willmar, MN or Myers Aviation in Oshkosh.  I don't know if Oasis does major repairs, but I know Myers does or did and are familiar with Mooneys.  I believe Steve Myers might have recently sold and/or retired, though, so no promises!  Myers has a transportation rig to recover and move airplanes, too.

[Fritz1]

Sorry for your mishap, you might want to break down the daunting task, find appropriate rig yourself, find crew to remove tail and load aircraft, then you can drive wherever you want in the lower 48

[LANCECASPER]

Wherever you have it done it's going to have to be trucked, any you'll be flying it back home once it's done. If it was mine I'd much rather have it trucked back to Maxwell even though it'll take an extra day to get it there. Plus since you bought it and had the pre-buy there they might have more incentive to get it done to make things right. The insurance should be paying to transport it. Once it's there you know for sure that they have the capability of putting it back together and won't be learning on your airplane.

Great job in flying it all the way to the crash and walking away.

[mike_elliott]

Way to be here to tell about it! 

Something for people to consider if ditching in a soybean field. Consider landing gear up. soy beans are like Velcro on gear legs and could abruptly flip you.

Don has the wherewithall to get your plane properly repaired. 

[MarkD34M]

Sorry to hear about the incident and the damage. I believe you may be referring to the plane I used to own for many years and 800 hours of flying time if I am connecting the dots. It was a great plane and I am hopeful you can bring her back to life after the unfortunate circumstances. Please keep up posted on what ultimately caused the issue. Best of luck and happy the outcome didn't involve injuries. 

[UteM20F]

I agree with LanceCasper that the insurance company will handle the removal of the carcass from the field and will likely ship it to the shop of your choice.  A big concern is if the repair shop will be willing to store it waiting for the NTSB and/or the insurance company to release it to be repaired.  Our previous plane suffered an off-airport landing (sheared gear, etc.) in Q2 2021 and the NTSB just barely inspected it, and still has not issued the final report.  I wish you the best!

[Aerodon]

Hate to say it, but even if you are well insured it sound like the insurance company will write it off.  There are too many 'out of stock' parts, and very long lead time items.

Also sounds like you might be self insured?  Normally you insurance company will have already explained the process to you.  I would expect them to recover the aircraft, take it to a nearby airport or storage facility and then figure out what next.

The difference between taking it out properly and just hailing it away could be $20K, and that will figure into their decision to write it off?

Post some pictures, there are some well informed guys on this site that could chime in.

 

Don

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BDPetersen]

May I ask where in Ohio you and plane are?

[javanhoo]

Thanks for advice- for all!

Aircraft is in Nothwest Ohio

Jvh