231 Prop Clerance?

[PeteMc]

I'm filling out the PPP form...  And remembering why I didn't like school. 

So the one thing I can't find in the POH, Svc Manual, various other publications is the Prop Clearance for a K/231.  Google wasn't even my friend with various search phrases. 

I'm sure the info is right in front of my nose and I keep looking right past it.  So????  Can someone tell me where to look?  Or just tell me the clearance!?

(Feel like I should sign my post like one of those old newspaper columns... Maybe "Perplexed Prop Head")

 

[N204TA]

Looks like 11 inches.

 

Edited August 15 by N204TA

[PeteMc]

28 minutes ago, N204TA said:

Looks like 11 inches.

 

Interesting, my POH does not show that figure, but the Service Manual does.  I did a search, but never scrolled through the Svc Manual to the drawing. 

Thx!

And...  do you have a 252 or a 231?  Your pages look a LOT better than mine.

 

 

 

Edited August 15 by PeteMc

[PT20J]

3 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

Interesting, my POH does not show that figure, but the Service Manual does.  I did a search, but never scrolled through the Svc Manual to the drawing. 

Thx!

 

 

That is the POH  At least it’s in my 231 POH. 

[N204TA]

14 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

Interesting, my POH does not show that figure, but the Service Manual does.  I did a search, but never scrolled through the Svc Manual to the drawing. 

Thx!

And...  do you have a 252 or a 231?  Your pages look a LOT better than mine.

 

 

 

I actually have an Executive.  I found that in the POH in the downloads section.

[PeteMc]

4 hours ago, PT20J said:

That is the POH  At least it’s in my 231 POH. 

What can I tell you.  It's not in the POH that came in the plane and it's not in the one I called Mooney and ordered right after I got the plane to have at home.

 

[Fly Boomer]

5 hours ago, PeteMc said:

What can I tell you.  It's not in the POH that came in the plane and it's not in the one I called Mooney and ordered right after I got the plane to have at home.

M20K has about 10 versions depending on serial number.

[Igor_U]

19 hours ago, N204TA said:

Looks like 11 inches.

So it looks like M20K has a larger prop clearance then M20F (9.5"). Who knew? 

[MikeOH]

OK, I'm going to be bold and ask the question, just what does one do with knowing the number of inches of prop clearance you have?

I've always been told to 'be careful' as a Mooney doesn't have much prop clearance.  So, what can a M20K driver (11") do that an M20F driver (9.5") cannot?  Sorry, I'm just not seeing the practical value of knowing this number???

[EricJ]

30 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

OK, I'm going to be bold and ask the question, just what does one do with knowing the number of inches of prop clearance you have?

I've always been told to 'be careful' as a Mooney doesn't have much prop clearance.  So, what can a M20K driver (11") do that an M20F driver (9.5") cannot?  Sorry, I'm just not seeing the practical value of knowing this number???

It's an easy way to check that the gear pucks, motor mounts, etc., are reasonably healthy.    If clearance is not where it should be, something needs attention.

[Paul Thomas]

53 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

OK, I'm going to be bold and ask the question, just what does one do with knowing the number of inches of prop clearance you have?

I've always been told to 'be careful' as a Mooney doesn't have much prop clearance.  So, what can a M20K driver (11") do that an M20F driver (9.5") cannot?  Sorry, I'm just not seeing the practical value of knowing this number???

It's semi-useful if you intend to operate on non paved areas.

 

22 minutes ago, EricJ said:

It's an easy way to check that the gear pucks, motor mounts, etc., are reasonably healthy.    If clearance is not where it should be, something needs attention.

How is that clearance number calculated for our airplanes? On some airplanes, it's with the nose strut fully compressed.

[EricJ]

4 minutes ago, Paul Thomas said:

How is that clearance number calculated for our airplanes? On some airplanes, it's with the nose strut fully compressed.

Since Mooneys don't have oleo struts that can collapse or be overcharged, just sitting on level ground is relevant.

[Vance Harral]

9 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

So, what can a M20K driver (11") do that an M20F driver (9.5") cannot?

Aside from using slightly taller/longer tugs and tow bars without hitting the prop in the vertical position, I can't think of much.  It certainly doesn't make any operational difference in what runway surface you could/would accept.

I think the, "Be careful, a Mooney doesn't have much prop clearance" thing is overblown.  A PA-28-161 has an advertised minimum prop clearance of 8.25", and an A36 is 7.25".  An SR-22 clocks in at 7" even.  And those airplanes are a lot more likely to reach their minimum clearance than a Mooney, due to them having a conventional oil/air nose strut vs. the Mooney's shock disk design.  All these airplanes are more likely to drag their prop through the dirt pulling off the runway into the grass at KOSH than a Cessna 170, of course, but it's not like the Mooney is particularly special.

 

[N201MKTurbo]

I used to fly a Rocket every once in a while. That plane had three! prop strikes on flat pavement. Wasn't me BTW! They finally convinced the owner to sell the plane and buy another Cessna.

[Hank]

53 minutes ago, EricJ said:

Since Mooneys don't have oleo struts that can collapse or be overcharged, just sitting on level ground is relevant.

This is my C in the hangar this afternoon. 

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, MikeOH said:

OK, I'm going to be bold and ask the question, just what does one do with knowing the number of inches of prop clearance you have?

As @EricJ pointed out, it's a quick way to see if everything looks good.  But in reality, I think it's just a quick question from the PPP staff to see if you can find the answer.  And since it's not in my POH, it took a little digging and help from my friends....

They have a couple of others paired together on the form I like.  The first is 4.5 Maximum baggage with 180 lb pilot, full fuel and then 4.6 [Location] of baggage carried for loading in 4.5  So....  Trick question or just poorly worded?  (I'll also note that they had "locating" and I changed it to "Location" here, so it could just be bad wording.)  But my "baggage" compartment is limited to 120 lbs.  Regardless of the wight of the Pilot, I can only load 120 lbs of "baggage."  And for the next one... It's in the "Baggage Area/Compartment."  Now, if they really meant how much can I LOAD in my plane with a 180 lbs pilot and full fuel.  Then I'd put 120 in the Baggage area and 171 in the back seat. 

[MikeOH]

13 minutes ago, Hank said:

This is my C in the hangar this afternoon. 

Did you check the tires for proper inflation before making this measurement?

[MikeOH]

9 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

As @EricJ pointed out, it's a quick way to see if everything looks good.  But in reality, I think it's just a quick question from the PPP staff to see if you can find the answer.  And since it's not in my POH, it took a little digging and help from my friends....

They have a couple of others paired together on the form I like.  The first is 4.5 Maximum baggage with 180 lb pilot, full fuel and then 4.6 [Location] of baggage carried for loading in 4.5  So....  Trick question or just poorly worded?  (I'll also note that they had "locating" and I changed it to "Location" here, so it could just be bad wording.)  But my "baggage" compartment is limited to 120 lbs.  Regardless of the wight of the Pilot, I can only load 120 lbs of "baggage."  And for the next one... It's in the "Baggage Area/Compartment."  Now, if they really meant how much can I LOAD in my plane with a 180 lbs pilot and full fuel.  Then I'd put 120 in the Baggage area and 171 in the back seat. 

Yeah, it seemed like a bit of a silly 'stump the chump' kind of question.  @EricJ had a reasonable point as a 'quick check' on the gear/tires, but I'm still a bit curious what the PPP CFI is going to say about the 'need to know' this bit of trivia

[PT20J]

The standard Mooney isn’t any more likely to hit a prop on pavement or grass than any other airplane. The risk taxiing on grass is hitting a hole you couldn’t see. Here is the CAR 3 requirement.

[Hank]

13 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

Did you check the tires for proper inflation before making this measurement?

No, but it taxied and landed well on Sunday. I have Michelin Air Stop tubes for peace of mind. Oh, the tanks were topped off after landing at home Sunday, 52 gallons. The hat rack is near ten pounds, and a few more in the baggage area.

Per Skip above, I need to load to Max Aft CG and deflate the nose tire, then it must be no less than 7" . . . . But I think it's fine as it is.

[MikeOH]

5 minutes ago, Hank said:

No, but it taxied and landed well on Sunday. I have Michelin Air Stop tubes for peace of mind. Oh, the tanks were topped off after landing at home Sunday, 52 gallons. The hat rack is near ten pounds, and a few more in the baggage area.

Per Skip above, I need to load to Max Aft CG and deflate the nose tire, then it must be no less than 7" . . . . But I think it's fine as it is.

I have the AirStop as well, very rarely need to air them up (6 months)

Wouldn't you load to Max Fwd CG for most adverse prop clearance?

[Hank]

2 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

I have the AirStop as well, very rarely need to air them up (6 months)

Wouldn't you load to Max Fwd CG for most adverse prop clearance?

My bad, you're right. But right now, she's unloaded except for things that live in the back--tie down ropes, spare headsets, flight bag, first aid kit, umbrella, and a few tools.