Review of Highlights at Annual

[Yetti]

Alternator mounting bolts were loose. - tigtened

strobe light one side was out - Replaced with AeroLEDs  - $1000.00   Have old ones for sale

Compression on number 1 was wonky/leaking would sometimes come up.   Staked, no bueno.   Tossed valve into cylinder and reamed with .4995 ream.   Used grabby things through spark plug hole and top of cylinder and screw driver through bottom spark hole to get valve back in.    found cracked insulator of bottom plug.  Replaced.  Retested compression and passed with 78.

Greased landing gear

Washed engine down with mineral spirits.

Replaced fancy ELT battery $275.00

Emergency gear test.

Lubed all pivots with Triflow

Pitot/static test passed on Dynon.   May have leaky legacy ASI

 

 

 

 

[hammdo]

Lots of fun there!

-Don

[Yetti]

On my third piece of wire for the alternator tensioning bolt I knew it was time to quit.

[Yetti]

So over the weekend I thought if one plug was cracked.   Maybe I should check them all.  These are the REM37BY.  They have the longer  nose that were put in because one of the cylinders was a bit oily.  Of the other three 1 had part of the insulator cracked away.   One had a hairline crack on the insulator and the other I could not find an issue.   So I put 3 new in and will have to contact Champion.    The log books are at the IA, so not sure when these were put into service.

Edited March 5 by Yetti

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, Yetti said:

So over the weekend I thought if one plug was cracked.   Maybe I should check them all.  These are the REM37BY.  They have the longer  nose that were put in because one of the cylinders was a bit oily.  Of the other three 1 had part of the insulator cracked away.   One had a hairline crack on the insulator and the other I could not find an issue.   So I put 3 new in and will have to contact Champion.    The log books are at the IA, so not sure when these were put into service.

How often do you do ACF treatment on yours?  Do you fully remove the interior each annual to look at the cage?

[Yetti]

1 hour ago, Ragsf15e said:

How often do you do ACF treatment on yours?  Do you fully remove the interior each annual to look at the cage?

Never have done ACF, Never will.  Adds weight and creates a big mess.  We check the spar and the other corrosion points each year.

[Ragsf15e]

26 minutes ago, Yetti said:

Never have done ACF, Never will.  Adds weight and creates a big mess.  We check the spar and the other corrosion points each year.

Fair enough. I use it and haven’t had huge mess issues. Probably took me 1 pint or possibly 2 to do the wings and tail this year.  I do it every 2 years even though I live somewhere relatively dry and it’s hangared.  It did fog the inside of my IAs shop though, but I told him I wouldn’t charge for the corrosion control.  Possibly im just too paranoid for corrosion.  This year I also took the wing root fairings off and did acf on the wing attach bolts.

I have had the interior out but we don’t do it every year.  I was just wondering how many other people don’t take it out every year.

[jetdriven]

3 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said:

Fair enough. I use it and haven’t had huge mess issues. Probably took me 1 pint or possibly 2 to do the wings and tail this year.  I do it every 2 years even though I live somewhere relatively dry and it’s hangared.  It did fog the inside of my IAs shop though, but I told him I wouldn’t charge for the corrosion control.  Possibly im just too paranoid for corrosion.  This year I also took the wing root fairings off and did acf on the wing attach bolts.

I have had the interior out but we don’t do it every year.  I was just wondering how many other people don’t take it out every year.

It depends, but if you take a very critical look at it when you first get the plane, and it’s hangared and it never gets rained on and you have the SB 208 compliant insulation that doesn’t touch any of the tubes you’re probably good for a quite a long time, a few years anyways. 
If the plane lives outside, I would make sure absolutely that all of the windows seals and the pilot storm windows seal are 100% watertight. I mean pressure washer, water, tight. And even then I would look at the steel fuselage tubes every couple or three years.

[Yetti]

3 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said:

Fair enough. I use it and haven’t had huge mess issues. Probably took me 1 pint or possibly 2 to do the wings and tail this year.  I do it every 2 years even though I live somewhere relatively dry and it’s hangared.  It did fog the inside of my IAs shop though, but I told him I wouldn’t charge for the corrosion control.  Possibly im just too paranoid for corrosion.  This year I also took the wing root fairings off and did acf on the wing attach bolts.

I have had the interior out but we don’t do it every year.  I was just wondering how many other people don’t take it out every year.

You can also check behind the panels with an inspection camera.

[EricJ]

15 minutes ago, Yetti said:

You can also check behind the panels with an inspection camera.

I was fortunate to learn that before I even bought my airplane, while I was shopping.   It's super easy to take only one or two screws out and send a borescope or even a cheapie endoscope down the wall and check the insulation and tubes.   That was very worthwhile when looking at sketchy airplanes. 

[Yetti]

10 minutes ago, EricJ said:

I was fortunate to learn that before I even bought my airplane, while I was shopping.   It's super easy to take only one or two screws out and send a borescope or even a cheapie endoscope down the wall and check the insulation and tubes.   That was very worthwhile when looking at sketchy airplanes. 

and can check the fuel hose attach to the tank and the Sender unit for leaks.

[Pinecone]

12 hours ago, Yetti said:

The log books are at the IA, so not sure when these were put into service.

I don't give my logbooks to anyone.  I have a PDF of them and give the A&P/IA the PDF copy.  They provide a signed sticker for me to add to the log book and scan to add to the PDF

There are a number of stories around of shops losing logbooks.  Or owner dies and logs are locked up, sometimes for years.  Or shop goes under.  Or, there is a dispute with owner over what was authorized, done, or charges and the shop refuses to release the logs.

[Yetti]

13 hours ago, Pinecone said:

I don't give my logbooks to anyone.  I have a PDF of them and give the A&P/IA the PDF copy.  They provide a signed sticker for me to add to the log book and scan to add to the PDF

There are a number of stories around of shops losing logbooks.  Or owner dies and logs are locked up, sometimes for years.  Or shop goes under.  Or, there is a dispute with owner over what was authorized, done, or charges and the shop refuses to release the logs.

You need a better relationship with your IA.   The IA trusts me to do work every now and then I help him on other planes.   I trust him with the log books, cause it makes his job easier.  He does not charge me enough for the inspection and I write the check for a bit more.

[Yetti]

Oh and now the fix things after the annual update post.     First 2 flights after annual the Manifold steam gauge is reading high.  Like 29 instead of 24.   The #3 CHT is staying around 200.

The number 1 CHT and EGT have never worked since the install.    Started looking at the wires and seems like the Red does not go to the Red wire and the White does not go to the white wire.    Hmmmm   Switched those and will test.

 

Wiggle the little MP line at the reducer thingy.   Seems loose.   Remove  line and it has cracked in two pieces.   Grumpy IA has the cool little flare tool for the itty bitty line.   Wait till tomorrow.   I could make the tool, but taxes need doing.

 

Notice the number 3 CHT probe has come out where it was twist locked into.   Reinsert and twist lock it again.   Was touching the cylinder so kind of doing it's thing.

[Danb]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:37 AM, Pinecone said:

I don't give my logbooks to anyone.  I have a PDF of them and give the A&P/IA the PDF copy.  They provide a signed sticker for me to add to the log book and scan to add to the PDF

There are a number of stories around of shops losing logbooks.  Or owner dies and logs are locked up, sometimes for years.  Or shop goes under.  Or, there is a dispute with owner over what was authorized, done, or charges and the shop refuses to release the logs.

Couldn’t agree more Terry, years ago the shop lost mine after 3-4 months no logs, I asked the owner if I could go through his files, found em, never went back and logs never leaver my home. 

[Danb]

On 3/5/2024 at 10:27 PM, Yetti said:

You need a better relationship with your IA.   The IA trusts me to do work every now and then I help him on other planes.   I trust him with the log books, cause it makes his job easier.  He does not charge me enough for the inspection and I write the check for a bit more.

Yetti stuff happens, I only go now to MSCs which none have had an issue with copies. 

[Yetti]

11 minutes ago, Danb said:

Couldn’t agree more Terry, years ago the shop lost mine after 3-4 months no logs, I asked the owner if I could go through his files, found em, never went back and logs never leaver my home. 

The log books go over along with the AD report from last year AFTER the work is done.   As one of my friends said "What's the point of owning a plane if it is in annual for 1/3 of a year."

[Danb]

9 minutes ago, Yetti said:

The log books go over along with the AD report from last year AFTER the work is done.   As one of my friends said "What's the point of owning a plane if it is in annual for 1/3 of a year."

What’s that got to do with copying logs my annuals are 7-14 days. 

[Yetti]

5 minutes ago, Danb said:

What’s that got to do with copying logs my annuals are 7-14 days. 

So you are saying your annual took a week or 2 and the log books were lost for 3-4 months?    I'd be concerned with an IA that can lose log books in 1-2 weeks.

[Danb]

8 minutes ago, Yetti said:

So you are saying your annual took a week or 2 and the log books were lost for 3-4 months?    I'd be concerned with an IA that can lose log books in 1-2 weeks.

Two separate annuals the lost logs were around 1990, agreed reason for my departure, lesson learned. Is there a correlation between logs which are copied and duration of an annual, just wondering. My response was actually to give thought of the value for f our logs while providing a reasonable situation where they could be missing, not trying to get in a pissing match just trying to give my situation. If one doesn’t value there logs it’s none of my business, sorry for giving a response not intended to insult anyone.

[EricJ]

FWIW, at the IA seminar this year the FAA folks seemed to go out of their way to remind people that owner/operators are responsible for record keeping, so leaving records with a separate entity may become problematic.    It's just another perspective and opinion, but a sensible one, I think.

[Yetti]

20 minutes ago, Danb said:

Two separate annuals the lost logs were around 1990, agreed reason for my departure, lesson learned. Is there a correlation between logs which are copied and duration of an annual, just wondering. My response was actually to give thought of the value for f our logs while providing a reasonable situation where they could be missing, not trying to get in a pissing match just trying to give my situation. If one doesn’t value there logs it’s none of my business, sorry for giving a response not intended to insult anyone.

I am just trying to understand.   It's a weird situation.   Essentially you are asking the IA to sign the plane off as being safe for you, your family, your pets.   But yet we can't trust them with the log books which we can agree have some value at buying or selling time (another topic since only required to keep a year).   And reading @EricJ response the FAA is saying we can't trust the safety of the log books with the IA.  Of course let's not talk about making the onus of an airworthy airplane on owner/pilots that don't know the difference between fuel injection servo and a carburetor.  And let those same owners remove the brake calipers to change a tire, but not trust them with changing the break pads in the rotors they just removed.

Going further, I have 4 very expensive Champion Spark Plugs that 3 of 4 broke.   The whole reason we are given for spending lots of money on parts is the PMA process.   The PMA Spark plugs were known to have issues.   https://mooneyspace.com/topic/42826-champion-spark-plugs/ Now given that my deal with the IA is the airplane is airworthy until it crosses his hangar door.   As noted in the three issues I found two flights after the annual.

 

Fly it fix it.

[jetdriven]

To me, the owner leaving his logbook in the back of the planes like leaving $20,000 in cash in a bag in the back of a plane. I would just as soon have the digital copies and let them keep those logs unless he just bought the thing or we’re doing a pre-buy and if we go over them together in person, it’s sometimes very helpful. Especially when you’re missing a bunch of AD’s. 

[Danb]

I’m glad your situation turned out good. BTW trust doesn’t enter the equation of logg, files etc. I’m entrusted with many sensitive documents being a CPA but stuff happens, recently a client had a devastating fire, not a mechanic nonetheless fire, hurricanes twisters happen..

[Danb]

I recently sold my Bravo and the pre purchase mechanic wanted them, lost sale unless you will accept copies, right there he didn’t trust, would never go there it was a MSC