Looking for a top notch Service Center

[flyingtiger]

Need a good service center to do a pre buy on a S model that has been repaired after a gear up landing.

[MooneyMitch]

I recommend Don Maxwell Aviation for your inspection/pre-buy. 

[Parker_Woodruff]

Don Maxwell, especially if you're in Louisiana - he's a short flight away in far northeast TX.

[PTK]

Dugosh in Kerville would be my preference above all.

[MooneyMitch]

I second Dugosh as well.  I was thinking of Maxwell which is closer to your location.

[dooleyp]

Also looking for a good MSC in the northeast.......suggestions?

[PTK]

In the NE there are two top notch MSCs in my vicinity.  I'm sure there are others. One is Henry Weber at KLNS and the other is Air Mods at N87.

[FlyTester]

I second Henry Weber at KLNS.   I just did a pre-buy with them last week.  Right off the bat, they spotted a major longstanding airworthiness defect that the seller, seller's shop and seller's logs failed to mention. We halted the inspection immediately. I had just traveled 2300 mi to purchase this airplane and seeing that I'd just been royally screwed by the seller, Henry Weber did not bill me a dime for their time.   In addition the management walked me through a slew of things to look out for when visiting other ramps and checking out Mooneys for sale.    I can't say enough good things about Henry Weber.  

 

[John Pleisse]

Weber....I have a long history with them. Ecxellent people. Put oil and gas in the plane, turn the key and go fly for a year. Both Dorn Claire and Steve Gerz are incredibly knowlegable, top-notch guys. The best mechanic on the floor is Larry Snyder. The kind of guy working on your bird, who says...get away from M-Y plane.

If I were south or west of the Miss......it would be D-Max...all the way.

[DrBill]

Weber, at KLNS ?  I noticed that most of the work done on my plane by the previous owner was done by them.  No wonder it flys so nice. I wondered why he took it there from Norothern VA.   I continue to feel good about my purchase.

BILL

 

[flight2000]

[PTK]

Quote: DrBill

Weber, at KLNS ?  I noticed that most of the work done on my plane by the previous owner was done by them.  No wonder it flys so nice. I wondered why he took it there from Norothern VA.   I continue to feel good about my purchase.

BILL

 

[FlyTester]

[PTK]

That really sucks! Why do people do this bs is beyond me! What did he think no one will notice at the pp inspection?! To waste everyone's time and $$ like that is really ignorant!

[carusoam]

I would expect that the OH shop would be interested in documenting the proper replacement of the data plate.

Otherwise...

Thank the top notch shop that just saved you a ton of AMUs, heartache and pain.  This challenge still belongs to the other guy.

What does it take to properly replace that data plate?

Since they didn't do it already, is this possible?

I feel that you have been lied to.  Which is it,  the plate just accidentally fell off? or the plate was missing since OH and the owner can't replace it?

Either way, The value of the plane has been misrepresented, at least how you recount the details of the seller's follow-up with you.  Don't walk away, run.....

The seller was trying to get full price for something he knew was missing, then tried a lame cover story that this critical detail happened to just fall off.

Did I miss something?

Best regards,

-a-

[flight2000]

Thanks for "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.  Wow, I change my answer to yes, he tried to screw you over and waste your time.  Glad you caught it first.  Seems it is getting harder to find competant people these days.  Luckily, I've found some very good mechanics that have a wealth of Mooney experience. 

My last three annuals have been done by three different guys that I rotate maintenance through.  I don't pay for an MSC name tied to the logbooks.  The previous owner did that and I saw the $$$ tied to that.  I do a lot of maintenance myself with A&P supervision and approval.  Saves in the long run and things get fixed quicker.  I really don't have a long list of squawks either.  More like one or two annoyances that need tweaked.  Finding an experienced mechanic that you TRUST is what you need.  I have little faith in big shops because they are looking to cover costs and feel I'm just another number in line.  Just my opinion...

Your plane is out there and you'll find the match soon enough.  It is frustrating weeding out all of the background noise first though.

Brian

[Mooney_Allegro]

We've used Henry Weber in Lancaster, PA during the 1st 7 years of operation. They've been great with no issues after picking up the plane.  They are very knowledgable and I trust them.  Last year I used Don Maxwell in Longview,TX and he's great too! 

[jetdriven]

Quote: FlyTester

Brian, I'll PM you all the gory details.

For everyone else:

The engine had no data plate (looked like it hadn't had one at least since the previous overhaul in 2007).  Seller used same shop for overhaul and subsequent maintenance until May 2012.  In May 2012, a chance encounter with a different repair shop led to a write up regarding the missing data plate.  This was withheld from me when I received copies of the logs prior to making purchase decision.  Discovered write up and data plate missing during pre-buy inspection.  Notified Seller of intent to reject purchase agreement due to data plate issue.  Initially seller claims that data plate recently fell off (physical evidence suggest otherwise.)  Seller calls back later in day trying to cut a deal. Over phone seller claims that neither I nor Henry Weber know what we're talking about and that airplane is perfectly flyable without data plate.  Flyable, Yes; Legal, NO!   (unfortunately for seller, I happen to be a flight test engineer who deals with FAA certification, airworthiness and conformity issues as part of my day job, so I think we DO know what we're talking about.)  Seller eventually admits that he and his regular mechanic have known about the missing data plate for some time and that he didn't think it was worth mentioning earlier.  [Well thank you for waiting until I burned $1000 and 4 valuable vacation days to tell me this!]  

 

[contrails]

 

 

Could you please PM me the details as well? 

 

Thanks