Brian: Perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from your "Annual From Hell" is that that as a consumer, it pays to understand what you are buying and to get recommendations from others. I have used the same I/A for twenty years because of his constant honesty and thoroughness which translated into moderate billing. I don't pay as little as some who get "paper" annual inspections, but I believe I have a safer aircraft. I asked a number of other airmen who they used before selecting my I/A.
See other comments below ==>>
> Brian Grindlay wrote:
>
> Had a pre buy inspection which revealed very little to be
> wrong with her
> some 337 forms missing. the AD's are listed as
> completed in the back of one of my logs but that he can
> find no signature for them.
This is very common with a first annual under a new owner.
There are many people out there who try to save every last
penny and hide mods they have done or who use mechanics or
I/A's who are less than thorough.
> Well he started
> taking my aircraft apart... The craft
> appeared to be completely apart on the floor of the
> hanger, Everything had been removed I mean everything...
I think you got a mentally ill mechanic. There's no need to
disassemble, but in the case of a coupe, an annual does
require removing floorboards, baggage compartment, fairings,
tailcone, cowling, and inspection covers.
> rudders, all windows, engine mounts everything that could
> be unbolted was, even the MAGS had been taken apart and
> small pieces put into little baggies.
While it might be necessary to open mags to inspect for an
AD or to pull a control surface if it looked like control
action was sloppy, a more prudent (and neater way} is to
perform an inspection first, then disassemble one system at
a time and repair it. Can't imagine why the windows came
out for an inspection - if they were unairworthy, you can
just state so on an inspection report.
> have an annual type inspection done
> by a reputable IA with a proven and researched by you
> track record For ERCOUPE ANNUALS(this is important)
I don't feel it's important to have an I/A who has done
coupes before. Except for a few really minor idiosyncrasies
(which are covered in the manuals), the coupe is
"stone-simple" and easy to inspect and repair. I wouldn't
go to a shop which specializes in twins and jets, but most
quality shops can do an excellent job on a coupe.
> At the end of the annual inspection make
> sure your craft is reassembled and ready to be moved/flown
> to another location for repair
If, at the end of the inspection, the I/A declares the
aircraft not airworthy, you can not fly it anywhere for
repair without a ferry permit (from the FAA) in which
either he (or another mechanic} must state that the aircraft
is airworthy enough to fly under special limited conditions.
> Get at least 5 or so bids on the items to
> be repaired before deciding who will do the work, get it
> in writing!
Do you do this with your appliances at home or your car? If
so, you are a rare person.
================
The $5000 to reassemble, which would indicate more than two
weeks solid work, sounds exorbitant. Your other costs are
high, but not unreasonable for a first annual under new
ownership. Airplanes aren't cheap!
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David Smoler | __ |
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Alon A-2 | \____/ | N6359V
s/n A35 () () () based at RHV
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