preventing FBO from damaging nose gear with tug - signage?

[rwabdu]

Anyone have a way to put a reminder to FBOs not to over turn your airplane when pulling it with a tug? Just relocated to an FBO where they move the airplanes around and hoping they don't damage my nose gear. Looking for something that would go where the tow bar fits that says "poor turning radius do not over turn" Might ask a welder to fabricate one if there isn't anything commercially available. 

[DXB]

10 minutes ago, rwabdu said:

Anyone have a way to put a reminder to FBOs not to over turn your airplane when pulling it with a tug? Just relocated to an FBO where they move the airplanes around and hoping they don't damage my nose gear. Looking for something that would go where the tow bar fits that says "poor turning radius do not over turn" Might ask a welder to fabricate one if there isn't anything commercially available. 

Here's one I made a while back - I keep meaning to laminate it and put it on the prop. Usually I just refuse to let them tow it these days and insist on taxiing it to the tiedown and securing it myself.  

[wombat]

@DXB Can you share a file with that so I can print it out for my plane?   I really like what you've done there.

[DXB]

8 minutes ago, wombat said:

@DXB Can you share a file with that so I can print it out for my plane?   I really like what you've done there.

DM your email - not sure how to upload here

[47U]

1 hour ago, rwabdu said:

Anyone have a way to put a reminder to FBOs not to over turn your airplane when pulling it with a tug?

Maybe… paint tow bar limit stripes on the aircraft nose like my -135 had?  (To heck with paint scheme aesthetics?)  

[toto]

4 hours ago, rwabdu said:

Anyone have a way to put a reminder to FBOs not to over turn your airplane when pulling it with a tug? Just relocated to an FBO where they move the airplanes around and hoping they don't damage my nose gear. Looking for something that would go where the tow bar fits that says "poor turning radius do not over turn" Might ask a welder to fabricate one if there isn't anything commercially available. 

I always share the Mooney service letter with the FBO manager via email and I want a written reply before they touch the plane

 

Mooney-turn-radius-service-instruction.pdf

[buddy]

52 minutes ago, toto said:

I always share the Mooney service letter with the FBO manager via email and I want a written reply before they touch the plane

 

Mooney-turn-radius-service-instruction.pdf 163.92 kB · 7 downloads

Where can these decals be found?

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, buddy said:

Where can these decals be found?

Any MSC can order them. The part numbers are in the document. 

[wombat]

https://lasar.com/placards-decals

[corn_flake]

I'm not lucky to have somone tow my airplane.  I usually push it my self.  :). 

So, can somone confirm if FBO lift up the front wheel, will there still be risk of damage?  

[EricJ]

Just now, corn_flake said:

I'm not lucky to have somone tow my airplane.  I usually push it my self.  :). 

So, can somone confirm if FBO lift up the front wheel, will there still be risk of damage?  

It depends on the tug.   Many tugs that capture the nosewheel still turn the nosewheel when the tug turns.   A few, which seem to be rare in my observation, have a turntable that allows the nosewheel to be free when the tug turns.    Just my observations.

[dkkim73]

10 hours ago, 47U said:

Maybe… paint tow bar limit stripes on the aircraft nose like my -135 had?  (To heck with paint scheme aesthetics?)  

Maybe would be great whiskers for a catfish paint scheme. Like the flying tigers only different... 

Smart idea though! 

[Ragsf15e]

13 hours ago, rwabdu said:

Anyone have a way to put a reminder to FBOs not to over turn your airplane when pulling it with a tug? Just relocated to an FBO where they move the airplanes around and hoping they don't damage my nose gear. Looking for something that would go where the tow bar fits that says "poor turning radius do not over turn" Might ask a welder to fabricate one if there isn't anything commercially available. 

I used 1/4” pvc to make a sign that goes into the towbar hole.  Then I put it through and put a pvc end cap on.  They physically have to remove the sign to move the airplane.  The sign says “tight turn limits. Do not overturn. Damage will occur.”  It still would scare me.  I just hand push it everywhere, but that won’t work for you.

[Pinecone]

On 9/5/2024 at 11:14 PM, EricJ said:

It depends on the tug.   Many tugs that capture the nosewheel still turn the nosewheel when the tug turns.   A few, which seem to be rare in my observation, have a turntable that allows the nosewheel to be free when the tug turns.    Just my observations.

I am seeing more and more shops with the turntable tugs.  I guess a couple of damaged nose gears convinced them that the better tug was worth it.