Want To Upgrade Your M20K? Rocket 305 STC, Prop Strike Engine & Used STC Parts Kit (Salvage Sale) - N57247 Landing "SNAFU", Durango

[1980Mooney]

Another landing incident sending a Mooney to the salvage scrap pile.  

N57247, a 1984 M20K with Rocket 305 Conversion on June 29 at Durango (KDRO).  This, like many Mooney landing "incidents" doesn't seem to show up anywhere except the salvage auction.   

It appears that he drifted off the centerline - there was a slight rear quartering wind at the time.  ADS-B shows that he decelerated from 84 kts to 58 kts in about the width of the runway (150 ft).  If I did the math right that is about 1.1 G's deceleration (similar to stopping force of a new Corvette).  Sporty.  Not sure what was going on but FlightAware showed him descending at about -1,000 to -900 fps on Final.  ADSBExchange shows he was descending about -1,344 fpm when he turned on Final and still descending at -768 fpm after crossing the airport perimeter fence.  His plane did have speed brakes.  (N57247 | 1984 MOONEY M20K 305 ROCKET on Aircraft.com)

Flight Track Log ✈ N57247 29-Jun-2024 (KFMN-KDRO) - FlightAware

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a758db&lat=37.159&lon=-107.746&zoom=14.9&showTrace=2024-06-29&leg=2&trackLabels&timestamp=1719686335

BAS has salvaged it and removed the Rocket 305 STC parts supposedly complete. (it appears that they got dual battery box but they should have also included the power cables extension, Charlie weights, tachometer),  $25,000.  All you need is your M20K, then to tear down the engine (probably overhaul - 1,431 hours and 26 years on it....), new prop, new hoses, then I bet spend about 300++ shop hours trying to determine what is missing and figure out how to reassemble. And then paint the cowl to match.  Maybe invest $140,000 plus donate your plane?

Mooney M20K Rocket 305 Conversion Kit, Continental TSIO-520-NB (Prop struck)

The odd thing is that although the wings do not look damaged, they cut them off cleanly right through the MLG wheel wells.  The description of the fuselage says belly damage, so it sounds like a gear up.  BAS usually salvages Mooney wings whole even if bent up.

Mooney M20K Fuselage with Bill of Sale, Data Tag, Airworthiness, and Log Books

 

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2024 by 1980Mooney
The pic of the Fuselage did not come out right

[KSMooniac]

I expect it is a non-trivial quagmire to transfer the STC from that airframe to another one... buyer beware!  But for a current Rocket owner with a forever plane, it would be very enticing to buy spares, and especially an entire engine that could be overhauled to your own specs and schedule, and just have it ready to swap when the time comes.

[1980Mooney]

20 minutes ago, KSMooniac said:

I expect it is a non-trivial quagmire to transfer the STC from that airframe to another one... buyer beware! 

But for a current Rocket owner with a forever plane, it would be very enticing to buy spares, and especially an entire engine that could be overhauled to your own specs and schedule, and just have it ready to swap when the time comes.

Good point.  Rocket attaches a second Data Plate on the plane reflecting the STC modification.  See the pic.  But BAS left the Rocket Data Plate on the fuselage which is for sale separately from the "STC Kit".  I have no idea how you resolve that.

Good second point too.  Among the other bits, just having a spare airworthy condition engine mount & frame (which is unique to the Rocket conversion) is worth quite a bit.  I know from personal experience that if you have to send it off to Rocket Engineering for minor corrosion repair, you can easily wind up spending $4k or more with shipping both ways.