What is your post annual checklist?

[Max Clark]

What is your post annual checklist?

Are you taking panels off and inspecting yourself, getting under the plane, under the dash?

Changes to your preflight, run-up?

Any tips or tricks that you've picked up over time?

[alextstone]

This is a helpful guide: 

 

https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-01/Advanced Preflight After Maintenance.pdfAdvanced Preflight After Maintenance.pdf

[Schllc]

The only two times I have had an annual and not de-cowled prior to flying off was my  first and the last annual.  After flying home, post first annual, I smelled a heavy oil smell when I landed.  I removed the upper cowling and found a pile of rags under my oil filter.  Every annual until the last one with Brian Kendrick I have de-cowled, started, runup, shutdown and reinspect.  I have found a few minor things but nothing shocking.  After the last annual I went through with Brian K. I did not bother because he test flew the plane three times prior to my pickup and his work is impeccable. 

I have also been fortunate enough to have great service with only a few surprises with all of my annuals except for one in Ft Lauderdale at KFXE, by a criminal enterprise, which most of you know but I will not name publicly.  

I will likely assist with all of my annuals from this point on, so hopefully the post annual inspection will be much simpler.

[Hank]

Owner assisted annuals are the best, but are not an option with my new IA. They let me see everything, and participate in decisions, sometimes pointing out things to watch or to plan for next year.

Now, I just have a thorough preflight, checking everything external and under the cowl carefully. Inside, I make sure my seat locks in place, then check the position of every switch and button in the cockpit.

Then I make sure to.hit every item on every checklist from Pre-Start to Takeoff. Make one lap around the field, then a landing to full stop. THEN I fly home, all of 15 minutes from wheels up to pattern entry. Followed by a walk around and leak check.

[redbaron1982]

Regarding owner-assisted annuals, can anyone recommend a shop/IA in the Houston area that is okay with it? For my last (kind of first) annual, I tried to go this route, but all the shops that Savvy contacted were not open to get the owner to help with the annual. 

[Paul Thomas]

I've only gone through one annual/prebuy. I was present and confident with the work that had been done. I treat all post maintenance flights the same, whether it is an annual or something minor.

During pre-flight, I pay special attention to the areas that have been working on or could have been affected by the work being done. If engine work has been done, I'm even more careful about oil pressure after start/watching temperatures. I like to keep my post maintenance flights to ~45 minutes. The big change in procedure for me is post flight: I'll check again the same areas I gave special attention during pre-flight. If the maintenance involved anything that could cause a leak, I will inspect that area again. Each fitting is checked with flashlight and a mirror because sometime you don't have a leak but just slight seeping around a fitting and something you wouldn't catch until the next annual. A post maintenance run-up normally catches those things but I like to double check and a 45 minute flight is more likely to show problems.

[Fritz1]

Highly recommend owner assisted annual, make it clear up front that you do not expect any discount, you will typically discover things that the AP/IA does not or does not deem important and you can fix them in addition to what he does, two sets of eyes see more than one, when decisions are to be made you are right there, it helps to bring bagels, cash and other valuable consideration, the best annuals I have ever had were with Brian Kendrick in San Marcos, he sees things that other people don't and he test flies the airplane what most A&P IAs are not able to do, he does not need any assistance, with most other A&P IAs assistance is helpful and welcome, sometimes you  have to nudge yourself in, convince the guy that you will not cut into his profits and not cause any trouble but want to be part of the solution. Once a relationship is established the guy will work on your airplane instead of working on airplanes of owners that have pissed him off.

[Fly Boomer]

4 minutes ago, Fritz1 said:

Once a relationship is established the guy will work on your airplane instead of working on airplanes of owners that have pissed him off.

I can be a much closer working relationship than any other service I can think of.  Well, almost any.

[DCarlton]

Based on experiences, I'd like to know and understand in advance what will be wrenched on or disassembled and why, and I'd like to be there for final inspection when that work area is closed out.  I'm caring less about assisting these days, but I'd prefer complete awareness of what work is being done and what quality assurance steps are taken to make sure the work is done properly.  Once bitten, twice shy...  

[Rick Junkin]

@Max Clark I referenced the guide linked by @alextstone above and, combined with what I've learned through my own experience, built post-annual checklists in Foreflight, stored last under the "Abnormal" tab. Unfortunately Foreflight doesn't provide a way to print or extract the checklists, only a way to share the entire checklist to another Foreflight user. I took screen shots of my checklists and am happy to share that way if you're interested and send me a DM. It's a checklist so only Big Rock items with little detail on the specific what's and how's. Here are the top level checklist subgroups, each with expanded checks beneath them. I have another 10+ pages of the underlying checks.

 

[Joshua Blackh4t]

I work in a different field (construction) but I also get people asking if they can help.

Obviously its a blanket no upfront. Anyone who asks if they can help is not likely to be helpful.

Specify what you can help with and it gets better "may I be present so I can clean any panels that get pulled off, and maybe assist pulling off inspection panels. I'll bring my own tools". That will be a lot easier for a mechanic to allow. (In my case if someone asks if they can be there to sweep up and take away the rubbish, thats most likely to be accepted)

Also, accept that the answer sometimes is no. They want to work in their timeframe, and it won't work to have you there.

It comes down to personal trust. So you'd have to go there yourself and ask. Its a catch 22, if you don't trust them to work on it without you being there, they shouldn't trust you to be there either. 

 

[EricJ]

I think it's a lot easier for an independent mobile mechanic (which is mostly what we have around here) than an IA in a shop to provide owner assisted annuals.   Having a customer banging around in a shop can definitely create issues, but if an IA goes to your hangar to do the inspection it's much easier to accomodate owner assistance.   Another thing that makes it easier is if it is evident that the owner is reasonably handy with tools and is not going to do damage along the way.    If you do some of your own maintenance, like oil and tire changes, etc., say so, as it'll convey that you may actually help things move along rather than be in the way.    That said, some shops do allow owner assist, so it may be worth asking a shop that you'd like to work with.

I suspect that sometimes when an IA says No to an assisted annual they're really saying no the individual rather than saying they don't do owner-assisted annuals.   

[Yetti]

Depending on how much was done.   I will do one or two fast taxi.    Then come back and check everything.     Then circle up over the airport.   land and check things.    Then the bird is ready to fly.

[jetdriven]

On 9/13/2024 at 10:22 AM, redbaron1982 said:

Regarding owner-assisted annuals, can anyone recommend a shop/IA in the Houston area that is okay with it? For my last (kind of first) annual, I tried to go this route, but all the shops that Savvy contacted were not open to get the owner to help with the annual. 

Bob Wagstaff at K&W Aviation in Laporte Texas, T41. I worked out there with Bob and his crew for the better part of 10 years and they know Mooneys quite well.  We learned together  

[Bart Chilcott]

In the 9 years of owning my Mooney, I’ve only had one annual that was not owner assist.  That one and only time was at a premier Mooney service center.  The aircraft was there 10 weeks and my post annual inspection revealed; 9 quarts of oil in an 8 quart IO 360, non functional toe brakes as the brake system had not been properly bled, pilots window hinges installed backwards, a Craftsman 9/16 wrench on the engine and two missing inspection plates from the bottom of the wings.  With that said, I don’t have a specific post-annual checklist as I only do owner assist.  However, from my experience, I believe it’s critical that you go beyond a normal preflight, as others have pointed out, and look it over THROUGHLY.  

[Max Clark]

On 9/13/2024 at 3:16 PM, Rick Junkin said:

@Max Clark I referenced the guide linked by @alextstone above and, combined with what I've learned through my own experience, built post-annual checklists in Foreflight, stored last under the "Abnormal" tab. Unfortunately Foreflight doesn't provide a way to print or extract the checklists, only a way to share the entire checklist to another Foreflight user. I took screen shots of my checklists and am happy to share that way if you're interested and send me a DM. It's a checklist so only Big Rock items with little detail on the specific what's and how's. Here are the top level checklist subgroups, each with expanded checks beneath them. I have another 10+ pages of the underlying checks.

 

Could you share your foreflight checklist? I'm looking to build something comprehensive so I don't miss anything.

[N201MKTurbo]

I usually do one last gear swing with everything buttoned up. Then drag it outside with the cowl off, run it up and check everything on the Mooney post maintenance checklist, then get out and give the engine a thorough visual inspection to make sure all the fluids are staying inside. Then I cowl it up and go fly it.

[Jackk]

 owner assisted for the win 

 

I’ll also fly around the airport dorks bit, land, inspect, etc

 

 If I used a big box maintenance shop with nameless APs I’d probably be more concerned 

[Immelman]

Take the cowl off and inspect all the things.

Go around and ensure all the access panels and fairings removed for normal annual servicing are installed correctly.

Other inspection commensurate to work done.

[Max Clark]

On 11/8/2025 at 9:58 AM, N201MKTurbo said:

I usually do one last gear swing with everything buttoned up. Then drag it outside with the cowl off, run it up and check everything on the Mooney post maintenance checklist, then get out and give the engine a thorough visual inspection to make sure all the fluids are staying inside. Then I cowl it up and go fly it.

Can you share a copy of the "Mooney Post Maintenance Checklist"?

[kortopates]

It’s in the 100 hr/annual check list on the factory website


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[varlajo]

On 9/13/2024 at 5:28 AM, Max Clark said:

Any tips or tricks that you've picked up over time?

A&P/IA signing off the annual goes on the first post-maintenance flight with me. Sure as hell makes him triple check things. 

Edited November 10, 2025 by varlajo

[MikeOH]

1 hour ago, varlajo said:

A&P/IA signing off the annual goes on the first post-maintenance flight with me. Sure as hell makes him triple check things. 

This always 'sounds good' but I've been curious how you implement it.  Do you tell your A&P BEFORE the annual that you demand he accompany you on the first post annual flight?  And, have you had anyone say, "no" and you moved on to another shop?

It would seem if you ask AFTER the fact and he says, "no"...you're going for a solo post annual flight

[varlajo]

42 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

This always 'sounds good' but I've been curious how you implement it.  Do you tell your A&P BEFORE the annual that you demand he accompany you on the first post annual flight?  And, have you had anyone say, "no" and you moved on to another shop?

It would seem if you ask AFTER the fact and he says, "no"...you're going for a solo post annual flight

He's a good friend. That helps!! 

[EricJ]

My previous IA refused to fly with anybody.   I could never blame him for that.  He may be willing to take full responsibility for his contribution to the safety of the aircraft due to his maintenance contributions, but the pilot is still a risky variable over which he has no control.    Similarly, he may not know who else has touched the airplane for maintenance or what they did.  I don't personally think it's reasonable to demand that a mechanic flies with you or to think that a refusal to do so has any bearing on their abilities.