+1 Norcal for my 1st Annual

[wood_fly]

Lots of posts sharing the woes and "please help me" on the forums. This one is WAY different. I purchased M20J N1156P with 1810 hours here from another Moneyspace person in FL. Freshly overhauled engine, prop, new paint, original interior and "vintage" panel. Priced fairly. Good pre-purchase inspection and I flew it home to California. I have friends with A&P's and IA's who could sign it off, but for my first annual, I wanted a neutral third party. I also wanted to participate so I could learn more about my airplane. 

Top Gun in SCK is my nearest MSS, but they don't permit owner-assists. The old Laser guys in Lakeport were a possibility. But Savvy recommended NorCal in RHV. Small shop, lots of Mooney experience so I took a shot. The owner Jeff Soule answers his phone and email, gave me a good flat rate of $3500 (plus squawks) with credit for work I performed (under supervision of course) and we made a date. He was flexible with start time, but once we agreed, it went in the hangar at the time and date with an assigned mechanic (who was also briefed I was coming). In the hangar (all being worked on at the same time) was a K getting an overhauled engine, a Cherokee 250, a new Lancair IV having it's new engine/avionics installed (ooh, shiny), a Cessna 210 getting a ceramic top coat (my God that's some pretty shiny stuff - lots of elbow grease but the results were stunning) and some other airplanes.

Day 1:: 8 hours: Run engine to warm up, compressions all 77+, removing panels (OHHH that belly is fun to take in/out) and I was on a creeper for most of it. Put it on jacks to swing the gear- couple loose bolts, but no corrosion. Small hydraulic leak - but fixed with a new gasket (did have to bleed the breaks which is a bear). Found the timing off by a couple degrees, easy fix. Tightened the alternator belt, Lifting the back seat and removing the spar inspection panels was another "twister" level chore, but now I know what they look like (and the spar was very clean). Jeff came over several times to do the inspections and point things out- "this is a little worn, but well within limits. Keep an eye on this" (I took notes). Slept good that night.

Day 2: 7 hours, Borescope pics, panels back in place, emergency gear swing. and some other small stuff. 

Bill comes: Did everything on the Mooney checklist plus borescope pics. I had done my own oil/filter change and sent to Blackstone. Biggest thing on it is the landing light - which was cheap because I elected to just do another incandescent (Christmas is coming). Tax, tip, license and dock fee: $3850. 

People: For my first annual, I could NOT BE HAPPIER. I learned a ton from these VERY patient people. They took good care of my airplane, and I am confident that I will return. Jeff's communication was top notch the whole way (and keep in mind I am far from his only client- he's a busy man). So without reservation, 5 stars to NorCal.

Tim

N707LT (changed from N1156P)

[ta2too]

Jeff is the greatest. Extremly knowledgeable when it comes to Mooneys. He used to take care of a Bravo I had at KOWD.

[donkaye, MCFI]

I'm glad, Tim, you were happy with Norcal.  I've had several students go there for their Annuals.  However, I don't see how an Annual can be done in 2 days.  I'm not sure about the J Model, but for the M model the book says 31 hours for the inspection alone, not including fixing the called out items.

[varlajo]

How long did AD research and compliance take, since this is first annual performed at this shop? 

[EricJ]

Glad to hear!   And thanks for posting.

 

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, donkaye, MCFI said:

I'm glad, Tim, you were happy with Norcal.  I've had several students go there for their Annuals.  However, I don't see how an Annual can be done in 2 days.  I'm not sure about the J Model, but for the M model the book says 31 hours for the inspection alone, not including fixing the called out items.

Two days is not a problem on a J with owner-assisted, i.e., two people working for two days.   This assumes that there is no deferred maintenance and no big issues found.   Did this many times with my old IA before I started doing them myself.

[201Mooniac]

1 hour ago, donkaye, MCFI said:

I'm glad, Tim, you were happy with Norcal.  I've had several students go there for their Annuals.  However, I don't see how an Annual can be done in 2 days.  I'm not sure about the J Model, but for the M model the book says 31 hours for the inspection alone, not including fixing the called out items.

I’m pretty sure the J list is about 24 hours.

[wood_fly]

On 11/21/2025 at 12:02 PM, varlajo said:

How long did AD research and compliance take, since this is first annual performed at this shop? 

Before going down, I digitized and cataloged every record for this airplane (bookmarked PDF of each log). I had the AD research for the last annual and the pre-purchase that was done in April. There aren't that many issued against the J. I tried to make it as easy as possible to point to the records to reduce time spent in the research. 3 results:

1. This isn't applicable- NA. I didn't make that call, the last two shops did (and the prepurchase was done at a MSS)

2. This is applicable and due at this time/date. Some were deferred, others accomplished

3. Here is your fresh printout for your logs as to what is left to do

[wood_fly]

On 11/21/2025 at 11:56 AM, donkaye, MCFI said:

I'm glad, Tim, you were happy with Norcal.  I've had several students go there for their Annuals.  However, I don't see how an Annual can be done in 2 days.  I'm not sure about the J Model, but for the M model the book says 31 hours for the inspection alone, not including fixing the called out items.

Well, at times we had 3 people turning wrenches on the airplane: myself and another opening panels, someone else working on the engine. And to be completely fair, they did find a hydraulic leak. Easy to trace and fix. But then they had to bleed the brakes and this lasted several hours into day 3. I didn't pick it up until day 5 so it didn't affect me. I understand that process can be a real pain and because of the orientation of the master cylinder, you have to tilt the plane to get the air bubbles to come out. Fun!

[PT20J]

I've only bled brakes on my M20J once when I overhauled the master cylinders and replace all the flexible brake lines. I followed my A&P's suggestion and opened the bleeders and let them drip while occasionally exercising the brake pedals slowly and keeping the reservoir full. I let about a pint of fluid drip through and then we bled them bottom up and it didn't take long to get all remaining air out.

I do owner assisted annuals. I usually spend a day forward of the firewall: removing the plugs, borescoping cylinders, removing the fuel servo inlet screen and oil suction screen, removing and opening the oil filter for inspection, removing spinner, removing muffler shroud and tailpipe for inspection, cleaning the engine. The second day is spent opening the airframe, putting it on jacks and lubricating everything. The third day the IA does the inspection and usually I start putting it back together when he's done. On the forth day, I finish putting it all back together, double check everything, run it up and leak check it and adjust idle speed and mixture if necessary. So far, we have never found an airworthiness item that needs repair before return to service because I keep after everything. Any minor issues found are usually fixed at a later date when convenient. Next year will take longer because the mags will be due for 500 hour IRAN.