Base Cost of Annual - M20C

[Pinecone]

On 2/24/2024 at 4:20 PM, Van Lanier said:

P.S.  I'm adding the 64-gallon bladder tank kit from Griggs to my '63 Model M20C so I can get to the grandkids in Florida without a fuel stop.  No coffee before departure!  

Amazon.com : TravelJohn Disposable Urinal for Men, Women & Children 3 units (Pack of 1) : Traveljohn : Sports & Outdoors

I have Monroy tanks, so 104 gallons.

 

[Pinecone]

On 2/24/2024 at 4:23 PM, Becca said:

If you’re anything like Byron, no matter how much gas he has the perfect plane has 10 gallons more…

I think mine at 104 gallons has enough for even him.  Cruises at 10.1 GPH.

 

[Pinecone]

I have had my two annuals done at RPM by Byron.

Both we about double the minimum, but in both cases, most of the extra came from squawks I listed.   IIRC, he found one factory SB kit that needed to be installed.  And the second one, he came up with a couple of things he found that needed to be addressed.

Not everything found needed to be done to complete the annual, but I saw no reason to put things off until later.

[markgrue]

On 2/22/2024 at 5:46 PM, FlyingDude said:

Owner-assist or you do everything in the 100hr maintenance list?

 

Not owner assist.  I generally don't like owner assist unless I know them.  I usually spend more time answering questions than inspecting.  I use the Mooney checklist.  If the owner wants to accomplish things like changing oil and washing the engine before hand that will save him some money.   My rate covers looking at the aircraft and doing the paperwork.   Oil changes and wheel bearings are extra and billed by the hour.  If the owner wants to do them then they save that cost.  If they do all of the panel opening before I get there I will knockoff for that time.   I always close.  I have gotten bit by an owner who closed up a screwdriver in the belly panel so that is not going to happen again. 

I know it seems petty but once bitten twice shy as the saying goes...

 

Mark 

[skydvrboy]

I just paid for my annual today.  I was charged a flat rate of $1800 for the inspection, which is his normal rate.  I received no discount even though I opened all the panels, cleaned and lubed everything, and closed everything back up.  I'm not too disappointed that I didn't get a discount, even though I saved him hours of work while he was working on another annual, because his flat rate isn't too bad.  I didn't help with any of the engine side of it because he was finished before I even knew he brought my plane in the shop.

What I am a little disappointed about is that he thought the tires were too weather checked and just bought me new tires and tubes and was going to put them on without asking.  I had absolutely no choice in what tires or tubes were selected.  Last annual he replaced all 8 spark plugs because of the number of hours on them and this time around three of those tested bad is his plug tester (no idea what resistance they were).  Again he bought me new ones and installed them without even discussing what type of plugs I wanted.  Even worse, the old ones were thrown away without me being able to check the resistance.

To be fair, most of this is my own fault because I didn't make it perfectly clear to him that I wanted involved in any repair discussions before those repairs take place.  I wont' make that mistake next year as I'll have a document stating that "No repairs are authorized nor will be paid without additional written authorization."  He will have to sign that before starting my annual or I'll get it done elsewhere. 

Last year the inspection rate was $1,200 (without any assistance from me) and his shop rate was $72/hr.  This year he went up to $90/hr.  Not bad compared to what some of you are paying but this is in the middle of nowhere where hangars go for $50 - $100 a month, so cost of living should be factored into that as well.

[AdamJD]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:46 PM, skydvrboy said:

Last year the inspection rate was $1,200 (without any assistance from me) and his shop rate was $72/hr.  This year he went up to $90/hr.  Not bad compared to what some of you are paying but this is in the middle of nowhere where hangars go for $50 - $100 a month, so cost of living should be factored into that as well.

I need to move...  

+1 for RPM.  Just finished my second annual owning the plane.  The first was done at a MSC.  It was expensive, but that should have been expected for a first annual.  However, there were a few things done without asking and a few things done half-assed that I should have pushed back on.  First airplane ownership rookie mistake.

My second and most recent annual was with RPM.  Everything is explained and discussed.  The base "cost" is in the 30ish hour range.  It's a small business, so selfishly I hope you don't all go to Byron for a winter annual as I want to preserve my spot.  But the experience was great.  Right up until he removed a cylinder for a planned replacement and borescoped the cam shaft.  But that's another very painful story...

Edited March 30 by AdamJD

[DCarlton]

On 2/24/2024 at 1:20 PM, Van Lanier said:

Funny enough, I just booked my next Annual with Byron at RPM Maintenance.  I liked his full disclosure response to my inquiry and I respect the way he does business.  I also found his pricing to be reasonable.  

Thank you all for the informative and helpful comments.  

 

P.S.  I'm adding the 64-gallon bladder tank kit from Griggs to my '63 Model M20C so I can get to the grandkids in Florida without a fuel stop.  No coffee before departure!  

Are the 64 gal kits in stock or is there a long lead time?  

[Van Lanier]

It took almost a year to get the fuel cells.  Installation about three weeks.