jimbob Posted Thursday at 08:17 PM Report Posted Thursday at 08:17 PM HiYa! I have 1964 Mooney M20E that suffered a gear-up landing. I'm certain that I'm not the only one having this problem... there are a lot of Mooneys that suffered gear-up landing damage. I was lucky, the only thing damaged (other than the $55k worth of prop and engine!) were the skins under the cockpit. The problem is that there are NOT a lot (any that I can find) of salvaged Mooneys that didn't suffer a gear-up landing. Lasar offers a fiberglass skin that replaces all the panels but... they are not currently making them and I've been on the waiting list for 2 years now. Looks like I need to buy another Mooney M20E with an engine and prop that are close to used-up and start flying that plane. The problem here is I can't find anyone who wants to buy the airframe and I don't have room in my hangar for 2 planes. Ideas, suggestions, recommendations are welcomed! Thanks! ps Why is the image upside down? HMMMMMmmmmm...
KSMooniac Posted Thursday at 08:22 PM Report Posted Thursday at 08:22 PM If belly skins are the only thing holding you up from returning your E to the air, then you should just fabricate new ones. They are quite possibly the easiest owner-produced parts on the airframe! OPP are completely legal, and the regulation/provision was created for situations just like this. Those skins are non-structural and cut from simple sheet aluminum. The spec and thicknesses are given in the maintenance manual. Use your old ones as patterns for the boundary and fastener holes. The holes are oversized compared to the screws, so getting them located within a few thousands is not required. 6
Hank Posted Thursday at 08:44 PM Report Posted Thursday at 08:44 PM Check with SWTA, and your local MSC. Someone else makes one-piece bellies, I just don't remember who. My C already had one when I bought it, two years after a gear up. Someone even makes (made?) one from carbon fiber.
KSMooniac Posted Thursday at 08:51 PM Report Posted Thursday at 08:51 PM I believe Maxwell has picked up the orphaned carbon fiber STC that Bill Wheat developed many years ago. I don't know if it is in production or buyable right now, but it is certainly worth a phone call. I suspect they could sell some metal skin panels too.
Fritz1 Posted Thursday at 09:17 PM Report Posted Thursday at 09:17 PM as stated before, simplest thing to do is use the old panels as templates to cut new sheet metal panels
1980Mooney Posted Thursday at 09:24 PM Report Posted Thursday at 09:24 PM 5 minutes ago, Fritz1 said: as stated before, simplest thing to do is use the old panels as templates to cut new sheet metal panels @jimbob Right - this was discussed before. The old ones are the perfect template.
TaildraggerPilot Posted Thursday at 10:28 PM Report Posted Thursday at 10:28 PM I’m curious if the airplane of issue has manual or electric gear….
47U Posted Thursday at 11:53 PM Report Posted Thursday at 11:53 PM 3 hours ago, jimbob said: Why is the image upside down? HMMMMMmmmmm...
Slick Nick Posted yesterday at 05:38 AM Report Posted yesterday at 05:38 AM There was another company that made the belly panel with the “strakes” on the bottom. Try and find out who that was and if you could get one.
Hank Posted yesterday at 12:53 PM Report Posted yesterday at 12:53 PM 7 hours ago, Slick Nick said: There was another company that made the belly panel with the “strakes” on the bottom. Try and find out who that was and if you could get one. That may have been SWTA.
Slick Nick Posted yesterday at 03:20 PM Report Posted yesterday at 03:20 PM 2 hours ago, Hank said: That may have been SWTA. Found a photo in a thread I posted many moons ago:
1980Mooney Posted yesterday at 04:37 PM Report Posted yesterday at 04:37 PM 7 hours ago, Slick Nick said: There was another company that made the belly panel with the “strakes” on the bottom. Try and find out who that was and if you could get one. Air Mods Inc. in Colorado. Not Air-Mods in New Jersey.
DCarlton Posted yesterday at 04:38 PM Report Posted yesterday at 04:38 PM 3 hours ago, Hank said: That may have been SWTA. That was Aero Mods; a CO company. That's what's on my airplane; the one with the skids or strakes. There's another Mooneyspace thread discussing it. If anyone wants or needs details, I'll drag down my file box with the drawings and STC info. It's a great belly pan. I'll make a few pics one day if anyone wants good pics. From my previous post on this topic: 1990 vintage Aero Mods M20-100 "One Piece Fiberglass Belly Pan with Skid Runners Fairing". "The Belly Pan is intended to protect the primary aircraft structure in the event of a gear-up landing". Aero Mods was out of Wheat Ridge, CO. It was a great design; weighs about 10 lbs.
DRH4249 Posted yesterday at 05:59 PM Report Posted yesterday at 05:59 PM That looks like a nice product but Aero Mods in Co dissolved back in 1996; hopefully some on has one laying around in a hanger for you. David
Aerodon Posted yesterday at 06:26 PM Report Posted yesterday at 06:26 PM BASparts have a 1 piece belly for M20K. I can take pictures of what the mountings look like. probably longer than you need? Approval??? Aerodon
McMooney Posted 20 hours ago Report Posted 20 hours ago a&p can probably make them in no time. watched a sheet metal guy replace a piper door from a sheet of aluminum in like 45 minutes, out of the back of his truck.
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