Engine Mount Scratch aka $$$ pit

[AndyFromCB]

So I had my engine reinstalled a two months and about 50 hours ago. The engine runs like a dream. Took my airplane for an annual to another shop than my usual mechanic, to have a different set of eyes take a look at it. I like to do that every now and then.

The shop tells me there is a scratch in the lower, left mount from the heatshield and that the engine needs to come off and the mount will need to be repaired.

To say the least, I am irked. The engine reinstall shop either:

-didn't notice this if it was already present which pissed me off as I assume engine mount inspection would be something they should do before putting an engine back on

or

-mounted the heat shield incorrectly so it scratched the mount

Basically, I'm looking at another 60 hours of labor to R&R the engine.

Not happy, do I have any recourse here?

[carqwik]

A picture of the scratch would be useful....not that I could render an opinion but for my (our) own edification....

[AndyFromCB]

I'll post a picture when I get it tomorrow along with the annual discepancy list

[jetdriven]

AC 43.13 gives you 10% of the material thickness (tube wall thickness in this case) as an allowable value. However, Mooney Engineering can charge you a fee and get you a waiver for your specific instance if allowable. Contact them.

[AndyFromCB]

Thanks Byron, I emailed mooney.

[jlunseth]

I don't get it. Why R&R the engine for an issue with the mount. Replace the mount, right? Or is the scratch in the engine itself, where it attaches to the mount?

[AndyFromCB]

I don't get it. Why R&R the engine for an issue with the mount. Replace the mount, right? Or is the scratch in the engine itself, where it attaches to the mount?

Well, in order to remove the engine mount and ship to Acorn for welding, first the engine will have to be detached from the mount, then the mount will have to be detached from the aircraft, then the mount will have to be attached back to the aircraft, then the engine will have to be attached back to the mount. In the mean time, you're disconnecting a ton of wires, clamps, hoses, turbos, exhausts, etc, etc, etc, etc.

By the time you're done with all that, you're looking at 60 hours of labor on a Bravo, trust me, just went thru that and honestly feel I was under billed. I really wish we just took the mount off then and shipped to Acorn for an IRAN. I never try to short change the process but my mechanic never recommended it. These are expensive lessons, learnt 10 AMUs at a time ;-)

Bravo restoration process so far has involved writing checks for slighly over 68 AMUs and apparently another 68 to go ;-)

[thinwing]

Believe it or not those chrome moly engine mount tubes are so thin...a couple hundreths will condem an engine mount.In this case ,the stainless heat shield shield vibrated and cut a groove in the engine mount...this can be a costly repair...usually caused by plastic zipties arround engine mount tubes,,...ugh kpc

[jetdriven]

Thanks Byron, I emailed mooney.

I would call them, and quickly.

[thinwing]

on second thought..get a second opinion...is it really just a scratch or a measurable cut or groove,,,the service manual states the limites...goodluck''kpc

[AndyFromCB]

The tube is 2.1mm thick so the allowable depth is 0.20999999999 of a milimeter which is not much. The actual cost of the engine mount repair is not that bad, it's the R&R labor all over again which irks me beyond of possible belief.

According to the mechanic who installed the engine, he noticed it, but didn't think it was much, but didn't actually measure and just reinstalled the engine without consulting with me first. Like I said, pisses me off. As far as I am concered, the FBO owes me a 1000 gallons of fuel. At least that's the story as of 4:40PM.

[jetdriven]

Let the mechanic pay for it, or send the log to the FSDO with his signature showing it airworthy like that

[AndyFromCB]

Let the mechanic pay for it, or send the log to the FSDO with his signature showing it airworthy like that

I think you have a bit more faith in the FSDO doing anything than I do. Plus I don't want to piss of the guys at my home field, I'll see what I can do. Stacy from Mooney got back to me ultra quickly, we'll send them some photos tomorrow.

[thinwing]

ok so what was final verdict???

[AndyFromCB]

The final verdict is scratch is over 16% thickness of the tube so the engine mount is in MN getting some new tubes. The tube at that point is only 1.6mm thick. No Mooney until second week of December so I just decided to let them fix all 39 little issues they found, none airworthy so my first annual is $20K, $8K of it is the engine mount, the rest is just a bunch of little worn down parts one expects in a 3500 hour airframe, none needed to be fixed, but might as well get them done in this accounting year.

As to the guys who originally effed it up during the engine reinstall, I got a $3800 fuel credit at the FBO.

[carusoam]

Astel,

The fuel credit is an interesting twist to the negotiation!

Best regards,

-a-

[bxg007]

I'm in a similar situation complying with 569A crankshaft replacement. I don't notice any scratches on the tubular frame although I do see a few small scrapes and some heat exposure near the muffler. The last thing I need is more downtime and AMUs. Would you recommend Acorn Welding for IRAN of this? Any other options? How much did it cost and length of time to complete? Thanks, -Bill G KHFY '91 M20M

[AndyFromCB]

I'm in a similar situation complying with 569A crankshaft replacement. I don't notice any scratches on the tubular frame although I do see a few small scrapes and some heat exposure near the muffler. The last thing I need is more downtime and AMUs. Would you recommend Acorn Welding for IRAN of this? Any other options? How much did it cost and length of time to complete? Thanks, -Bill G KHFY '91 M20M

 

Actually, I didn't use acorn, we used AWI in MN (http://www.awi-ami.com/). Great guys, the mount come back looking good as new. It's 300 base charge if I recall correctly for inspection, sandblasting and repaint. Then it was 300 per tube for replacement. So total of $1200 and a few days turn around.

[DaV8or]

How does one measure the depth of a scratch?

[Cruiser]

sounds like experience.

[AndyFromCB]

sounds like experience.

Ultrasound