First annual inspection approaching - seeking guidance

[CChris]

Dear fellow Florida Mooney owners,

My first annual inspection as an aircraft owner is approaching, so I am reaching out for recommendations on A&P/IAs or shops in the South Florida area (I am based in KHWO), as well as best practices on how to oversee the process from more experienced aircraft owners.
This 65 M20C was based in NJ and had the last annual performed a couple of months before I bought it. It had been maintained by an authorized Mooney Service Center for the last few years.

Before I bought it I had a pre-buy inspection done, so I already have an idea of what to expect in terms of squawks and parts that might need replacement, although I know that any inspection might be similar to opening a surprise (or pandora's) box. Any special recommendations on how to approach the process are more than welcome.

Lastly, I have been doing research on Savvy Aviation's SavvyMx service - have any of you used it? I am an engineer, but since I am not very familiar with acft mechanics/maintenance I thought that the investment in the service might be a wise one.

Clear skies to you all,

CChris

[Tommooney]

SavvyMx has been good for me and saved money that was significantly more than the cost.

Good luck

Tom

[Schllc]

Cole aviation in Georgia is an excellent choice. 
there is a shuttle from Atlanta that can take you back and forth after you deliver the plane.  
if you would like to stay closer, Switlik aviation in ft myers is very good as well. He is not a Mooney service center, but has no problem using the 100hr guide.
I have used them both more than once. 

[PeteMc]

I don't have any info on your options down there....   But something that holds true these days with any Shop is to TALK TO THEM NOW! 

A lot of shops have personnel issues and it is taking longer to get the Annual done and there are a lot of people in line.  So once you decide upon whom you're going to use, call and get on their schedule.  If you keep using the same shop, they (should) remember when your annual is due and be expecting you.  But it will make the scheduling much smoother if you still call a few months out just to be on their radar and then follow a few times as you near the date.  And my shop didn't care if I moved it a week or so because of my schedule, so you shouldn't be tied to A drop off date.  But just work with them and they'll work with you.

[CChris]

I noticed it. Called a few shops and they all said that I must schedule ASAP or would miss my position in the line.

[philiplane]

There are no good shops at HWO. The airport is full of hackers who keep the worn out trainers barely in the air. 

Advanced Aircraft at TMB is good but your bill will be large. They will fix things that didn't need fixing and charge double for it.

There are three decent shops at Pompano: South Florida Aircraft Maintenance, Aerodiesel, and Aircraft Specialty Services.

Premier Aircraft at FXE is a Mooney Service Center and authorized wallet cleaner. They will leave your wallet empty and spotless. But you'll get to know them well since you'll take your plane back several times to get everything right. 

Lantana is a dumpster fire. Forget it. Go further west to find Johnny Stinson at North Palm Beach County Airport, (F45) Aircraft Maintenance Specialist. They are good people.

You'll find that many shops won't work on any older Mooneys, just the newer Ovations and Acclaims. 

[CChris]

Thank you to all who contributed. I now have a shortlist of places to look for and those to avoid.

Cheers!

[daytonabch04]

+1 for Cole Aviation.  Short flight up from South FL. 

[NewMoon]

On 10/18/2023 at 10:20 AM, philiplane said:

There are no good shops at HWO. The airport is full of hackers who keep the worn out trainers barely in the air. 

Advanced Aircraft at TMB is good but your bill will be large. They will fix things that didn't need fixing and charge double for it.

There are three decent shops at Pompano: South Florida Aircraft Maintenance, Aerodiesel, and Aircraft Specialty Services.

Premier Aircraft at FXE is a Mooney Service Center and authorized wallet cleaner. They will leave your wallet empty and spotless. But you'll get to know them well since you'll take your plane back several times to get everything right. 

Lantana is a dumpster fire. Forget it. Go further west to find Johnny Stinson at North Palm Beach County Airport, (F45) Aircraft Maintenance Specialist. They are good people.

You'll find that many shops won't work on any older Mooneys, just the newer Ovations and Acclaims. 

Love your honesty, these kinds of responses is why this forum is so valuable.  Cheers to being truthful about your experience with these shops. 

[PeteMc]

Looking at some of the comments on going someplace else for you Annual...   If you want to run up to NJ, I can highly recommend my old shop.

Air Mods & Repair at Trenton-Robbinsville (N87) 

[CChris]

12 hours ago, PeteMc said:

Looking at some of the comments on going someplace else for you Annual...   If you want to run up to NJ, I can highly recommend my old shop.

Air Mods & Repair at Trenton-Robbinsville (N87) 

Thanks for the recommendation. Until I bought it earlier this year, the plane was based in NJ and has been maintained by Air Mods & Repair.

Most likely I'll be flying somewhere else for the inspection, so I'll keep them in mind.

[Pinecone]

OTOH, I have heard some stories about Air Mods that would keep me away.

[Hank]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

OTOH, I have heard some stories about Air Mods that would keep me away.

Nobody is perfect . . . . Every chain has a weak link . . . .

I've never flown my Mooney to NJ.

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

Air Mods that would keep me away.

Air Mods had some issue during COVID with staffing.  But my guess is the multitude of regulars that keep going back would disagree with any long term issues. 

[PeteMc]

2 hours ago, CChris said:

has been maintained by Air Mods & Repair

Dave's a great guy and really knows Mooneys.  If there are any questions I'm guessing he can answer them.  

I remember YEARS ago going to some other shop down in FL because I was there for a couple of weeks working on an event and figured it wouldn't hurt to have a second set of eyes.  They came back with a HUGE list of MUST DO NOW!!!  So we talked about them and they were all items that did NOT need to be done now and were on a scheduled rotation to be done over the next couple of years and then the cycle would continue.  So you may run across some stuff that the prior owner was intentionally deferring after a discussion with Dave, but not ignoring.  You may choose to clean it all up at once or not. 

But there's going to be something!  There always is when someone new looks.  

[CChris]

1 hour ago, PeteMc said:

But there's going to be something!  There always is when someone new looks.  

I expect that. And to be honest, since this is the first one under my ownership, might be good to have a new set of eyes taking a good look and helping me assess what must be done and what must be watched.

[sailon]

Find a good local mechanic that you are comfortable with working with.  Traveling way out of state is just asking for your airplane to become kidnapped by unscrupulous mechanics. Get your hands dirty.  Find a mechanic who supports owner involvement.  They respect owners who know their airplanes, and or will teach you about how your airplane works.  During my annual, I perform all of the owner maintenance functions prior, give the airplane a good cleaning before the annual starts, and participate if possible by removing and replacing the inspection ports for the mechanic and letting him inspect.  You are paying him to inspect, not to remove and replace inspection covers!  Other cardinal rule I follow, is when he is doing engine work, back off, leave him alone unless he asks for help (may need someone to help pull the prop for compression tests) until engine inspection is completed.

[Pinecone]

Thanks for the input on AirMods.

I have no problem going a ways for work, but not to just anyone.  There are good, honest shops out there.

[chriscalandro]

If your airplane is in Florida just follow the advice of everyone on here and plan for your airplane to be scrapped due to all the corrosion in Florida. 
 

It’s repeatedly said that nobody here has interest in Florida planes. Might as well just throw it out now. 

[cliffy]

Remember there is a difference between the "Inspection" and "Servicing" the airplane (oil change, lubrication, etc)

You will need to discuss with the shop just what they intend to do and the scope of their work. 

Just don't leave an open check book by saying do the annual and fix what you find. If you do be prepared for $$$$$$$$$$$

Find out what is included in their "annual Inspection" fee 

Have then make a list of items to fix and then discuss how and when to do them'

Some will be Airworthy items that must be dine right now Others can be done over time.

Have a plan in place that they will call you before any fix it items are worked on for your approval

Also remember that they can sign off the annual inspection as being done and giving you a list of items that need to be done,

Then you can have any other A&P fix the issues if things get nasty. 

 

[Jim Peace]

On 10/20/2023 at 11:31 AM, Pinecone said:

OTOH, I have heard some stories about Air Mods that would keep me away.

yup...they removed my carb heat system and said I was good to go...that the plane did not need it....I have an O-360...LOL

took me many visits back to get it somewhat working and a few more at other shops to get it to where it was....then years later they send me a bill for the oil change I had at the same time.....can make that up....years and years later looking for a few dollars after they did something illegal to my plane....that I had to pay thousands to fix afterwards...

but thats okay...I just did an annual at Carter in Sebring and they did not clean my air filter...I asked about that when I picked up my plane and he said he does not do that...so I fly my plane home and remove the air filter and clean several months of grit out  of it and it was fine....it really should be done during annual...But what do I know...I only write checks.....

[Jim Peace]

On 10/20/2023 at 1:34 PM, PeteMc said:

Dave's a great guy and really knows Mooneys. 

If that shop really knows Mooneys then why did they remove the carb heat system on my 1964C with a carburetor?

[Jim Peace]

On 10/17/2023 at 6:22 AM, Schllc said:

Cole aviation in Georgia is an excellent choice. 
there is a shuttle from Atlanta that can take you back and forth after you deliver the plane.  

Can you explain that shuttle further?

[Schllc]

It’s called groome. 
they run a limited service bus/shuttle.  You book online and catch the shuttle at ATL. 
 

[RoundTwo]

1 hour ago, Jim Peace said:

Can you explain that shuttle further?

There are daily shuttles running several times a day between Chattanooga and Hartsfield, right down I-75. Cole is in Dalton, right on 75 and getting something arranged to be picked up/dropped off shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Additionally, there are several of us Mooney drivers close to Dalton that might be persuaded to shuttle you between endpoints.