M20C Cowling Mod?

[triple8s]

Was looking at Mooneys for sale on TAP and noticed this C model that has a different air inlet than any I have seen. Anyone know what it is?

 

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/Single+Engine+Piston/1968/Mooney/M20C/1642690.html

[BigTex]

Looks like a LoPresti cowling.

[N601RX]

The factory side cheeks are still on it, so its not a complete cowl replacement. It looks like the SWTA, but I've never saw one with the round air inlet like that.

[scottfromiowa]

Not a Lopresti. Front intakes are round. Looks like one that was not certified that a plane had a while back. Tons of mods, but no paperwork. It is very nice looking. The cowl top closure does look like SWTA.

[Sabremech]

Looks nice!

[Alan Fox]

I think its a SWTA and the intake probably screws over the air filter.... 

[N201MKTurbo]

It is an ARI cowl mod

 

http://www.aeroresourcesinc.com/store_/images/classifieds/237-1.pdf

[Sabremech]

I have the ARI on mine and this is way better looking than mine. At first I thought it wasn't an SWTA, but looking at all of the pictures on the TAP site, it has the raised shape from the spinner back to the windshield like the J and SWTA.

 David

[KSMooniac]

I too vote SWTA.  Regardless, that looks like a peach!  Absolutely loaded, and a great buy if everything is airworthy.

[N201MKTurbo]

Ok, I've looked all over and I can't find that induction inlet anywhere. It looks like LoPresti, but it is in the wrong place, and it is not a LoPresti cowl.

[jetdriven]

That looks to me exactly like a J cowling, with the air filter and carburetor fairing added on.

[triple8s]

Its not a J cowl, I have the J cowl mod and the air filter is on the engine baffling not on the outside of the lower cowl, the oil cooler is inside the cowl and fed air through scat hose, also you can see a row of fasteners going down the front side of the cowl and a J doesnt have them. I see the carb air inlet and think it improves the looks a lot. Its a shame that a small thing like that is out of reach for certified aircraft. A lower cowl closure and a cover over the landing light plus a carb air inlet mod makes so much difference in the appearance.

[BigTex]

After looking at it closer, it looks to me to be the Ari cowl mod with a 201 spinner. The air filter inlet looks custom. The pilot side air inlet was also removed.

[Sabremech]

I took another look too. Wrong cooling inlet opening shape for the ARI. It has the bump in the top of the cowling behind the spinner tapering back to the windshield, that's definitely not ARI. My vote is SWTA with another mod for the carburetor air inlet done to it.

David

[carusoam]

Some one posted a plane for sale a while ago that had been completely modded as if it were a home built...

Could this be it?

Best regards,

-a-

[triple8s]

Theoretically speaking, what if you bought an aircraft that had a mod or several for that matter and you didnt do your homework. Couldnt you end up on the ramp somewhere and get grounded if a "knowledgeable" FAA person were to see something that they happen to know isnt stock and they ask for paperwork (which you wouldnt have)? Wouldnt this ground the A/C till it was either returned to stock condition, had a field approval or paperwork was produced? Right? I can see where if you didnt really do your homework you could get into a real expensive mess.

[PTK]

Or, for that matter, how does it get signed off at annual?!

[triple8s]

It gets signed off by the mechanic you trust so much to do that pre-buy....lol

[N201MKTurbo]

You don't have to carry log books or STC paperwork with you when you fly. If you get ramp checked they need to make an appointment to review them.

 

As long as you have all your required documents with you, you will be fine. Just tell them you have all the STCs and 337s for the mods. They can't call you a lier, but then again you better have them when the day comes.

 

If it does turn out that you do have some un-approved mods, act very greatful that he/she helped you out in finding the discrepancies and have a plan to fix the problem.

[jetdriven]

Theoretically speaking, what if you bought an aircraft that had a mod or several for that matter and you didnt do your homework. Couldnt you end up on the ramp somewhere and get grounded if a "knowledgeable" FAA person were to see something that they happen to know isnt stock and they ask for paperwork (which you wouldnt have)? Wouldnt this ground the A/C till it was either returned to stock condition, had a field approval or paperwork was produced? Right? I can see where if you didnt really do your homework you could get into a real expensive mess.

I agree with N201MK. You are not required to carry your maintenance records (there is no legal reference to "logbooks") in the aircraft. Simply say the aircraft is airworthy and that you have all supporting documentation in aircraft records and be done with it. An FAA inspector can't ground your airplane unless it a direct safety of flight issue. Now, 337s are for major repairs and alterations. The definition of "major alteration" is, in brief, "

(1) That might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness"

It is up to the mechanic doing the alteration to make that determination.

[Alan Fox]

It is a SWTA cowl , look at mine... The difference is because mine is an E and the SWTA mod uses the lower cowl incorporated in the upgrade....