First annual, how to schedule?

[Hank]

My annuals come in around 20 hours. I'll have tincheck the papers where I just picked it up, but had to do some extra work, too.

[Fly Boomer]

On 3/26/2025 at 2:49 PM, Thedude said:

What should I bring? I have my logs digitized from the sale, I assume that should be sufficient?

As others have said above, don't hand your logs to anyone.  I wouldn't even give them to someone to scan.  When I bought my airplane, I immediately scanned every piece of paper that came with it.  I was fortunate to receive all the logs clear back to the factory.  It used to be fashionable to staple supporting documents into the log pages.  I removed each staple, scanned every page and every supporting document, and put it back together just as I received it.  The only person who will ever lay their hands on those logs is the next owner.

[Fix]

20 hours ago, varlajo said:

Wouldn't hurt to find a place that lets you help with the annual. You get to learn a lot about your plane and save a bit of money on trivial tasks, e.g. removing and reinstalling the cowling, wheels, inspection panels, and seats, oil and filter change, gascolator and finger screen service, brake fluid top off, etc. Easily 3-4 hours of work. 

I'm doing my first annual now, and I've been at the workshop helping out best as I can.
Also I have an independent mechanic, he is very friendly and we are building a "friendship & trust" together.
With a helpful mechanic owning an aircraft is much more easy!

Last tip, open your wallet because you don't know what you will find :-)

- Propeller sent for overhaul = New Hub, 3x Bearings and repair of 2 blades (MT PROP) = $15000
- Alternator also sent for 500h inspection (Direct driven) = Need of new Drive coupling and new brushes = $2500

Hopefully no more surprises, but we are almost done.

This annual we fixed all small stuff I found or didn't like.

Repaired Fuel Sender, so I now can see how much fuel I have in left wing :-)
New - Air intake tube to engine (Old was scuffed quite badly)
Repaired JPI 701 EDM Display.
Replace one of the magnetos with a new SureFly Ignition.
New Airfilter after 500h
Repaired side wall interior from some small cracks.

 

[1980Mooney]

2 hours ago, Fix said:

I'm doing my first annual now, ........Last tip, open your wallet because you don't know what you will find :-)

- Propeller sent for overhaul = New Hub, 3x Bearings and repair of 2 blades (MT PROP) = $15000
- Alternator also sent for 500h inspection (Direct driven) = Need of new Drive coupling and new brushes = $2500

Hopefully no more surprises, but we are almost done.

This annual we fixed all small stuff I found or didn't like.

Repaired Fuel Sender, so I now can see how much fuel I have in left wing :-)
New - Air intake tube to engine (Old was scuffed quite badly)
Repaired JPI 701 EDM Display.
Replace one of the magnetos with a new SureFly Ignition.
New Airfilter after 500h
Repaired side wall interior from some small cracks.

Is that a typo or are you saying that a 3 blade MT prop costs $15,000 to overhaul???

Edited Saturday at 02:03 PM by 1980Mooney

[Hank]

5 minutes ago, 1980Mooney said:

Is that a typo or are you saying that a 3 blade MT prop costs $15,000 to overhaul???

I thought that was about the price of a NEW prop!

[varlajo]

13 minutes ago, Hank said:

I thought that was about the price of a NEW prop!

Things may be different in Sweden 

[Richie the C]

The main thing to take to your annual is MONEY. I am on my 3rd Mooney and the price of every annual becomes more shockingly expensive than the last. Parts, when available, are insane. Someday you will need a little tiny part called a no-back spring. They cost more than my first new car. Oh, and bring your log books.

 

R

[Fix]

17 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

Is that a typo or are you saying that a 3 blade MT prop costs $15,000 to overhaul???

Sadly not.

it was sent for overhaul, $6200.

Then it needed to be repaired for $8000

Almost same as for a new.

Problem is that MT has 36weeks delivery for a new.

 

[Thedude]

> Someday you will need a little tiny part called a no-back spring.

Oh I've read about that and am properly scared of that thing breaking.

 

> As others have said above, don't hand your logs to anyone.  I wouldn't even give them to someone to scan. 

Fortunately my logs were fully scanned before I purchased it, so it sounds like I should just keep the scans up to date and share that with the shop.

 

> Call now since it is your first and you're a new customer.  They'll probably tell you to call back, which is fine.  But get on their radar now.  And are they the shop you are currently using for oil changes and any other minor things that come up?  You want to build a reputation with the shop you're going to be using, and it works both ways.

Called on Friday and left a message, I'll try again tomorrow. I'm doing my oil change atm and I've been looking for a local shop -- I'm at KSBP if there are any recommendations, it seems the field has been making it harder and harder for shops to exist, so I'm having trouble finding someone to work with.

 

> But I'm guessing @Thedude would love a list a KNOWN good Mooney shops in the area since it looks like he may be a neighbor of your if he was thinking about Top Gun

100%

 

> If that’s the shop you want (and it’s good, but will be $$ as @MikeOH says), then you should already be on their schedule.  Good shops are busy because they’re good.  I’d seriously call tomorrow to get on their schedule if you’re sure.

Good to know.

 

> Using the Seller's recommended mechanic when you purchase can be expensive the next year. There's a reason the Seller recommends them. Have you thought about getting your annual done at the same shop that did it last year to ease the pain a little? It can take a few years to catch up on deferred maintenance and you can spread the cost out

I was hesitant to use the brokers mechanic for this reason, but at this point I was also worn out in searching and willing to trust the reputation GMAX has, so rolling the dice a bit here. To be clear though, this was not the previous owner's mechanic, it was the brokers, so they don't have much more history on the plane than anyone else I would guess -- but I think 3 annuals ago (before the one before the prebuy/annual) was at Maxwell, so they went to a couple of different shops over the years but that one was pretty thorough at least (and the logs show it).

 

> A little farther out from Stockton, but Hangtown Aviation in Placerville has done my friend’s G model the last couple years.  They did a fuselage tube repair on a J model that involved de-skinning on the pilot’s side.  It was perfect.  I wouldn’t hesitate to use them.

I know placerville, drive through there every year going to Tahoe, I'll look them up, thank you for the recommendation.

 

> FYI, @jetdriven says it takes about 34 hours to do the Mooney Annual/100hr inspection list, start to finish.   I would expect that on a first annual at a new shop and as a new owner.

Good to know.

 

> Wouldn't hurt to find a place that lets you help with the annual. You get to learn a lot about your plane and save a bit of money on trivial tasks, e.g. removing and reinstalling the cowling, wheels, inspection panels, and seats, oil and filter change, gascolator and finger screen service, brake fluid top off, etc. Easily 3-4 hours of work. 

I'd be happy with that, I'm good mechanically. I just want to find somewhere I can trust, and TopGun had a good reputation, but I don't need to go there.

 

Edit: hm, seems my way of quoting people doesn't work that well...

Edited Sunday at 03:42 PM by Thedude

[Fly Boomer]

3 hours ago, Thedude said:

Edit: hm, seems my way of quoting people doesn't work that well...

Select the text in the original post that you want to quote, and you get a pop-up button that says "Quote selection".  The quoted text is formatted as you see here, and the forum will try to notify the person you are quoting.