I agree that there is no better way to learn about your airplane than
watching the annual inspection take place. That said, one of the more
important things I learned from last years (first annual) on 43H was
that I expected the owner-assisted part of the annual to save me some
money. It didn't. I took a week off work to "help" out the A & P at our
home field do the annual.

I removed all of the inspection covers, and on a Mooney I believe I
counted almost 150,000 screws (exaggerated for the effect). I cleaned
them up and got them ready for re-installation. I also removed and
cleaned up the interior. I cleaned and repacked all the wheel bearings.
I then replaced all of the parts that I removed. I also did whatever
grunt work that the A & P asked. I tell you what after every day I was
tired!! I am definitely not used to manual labor anymore, after working
in a office environment for the last 15 years.

When we got the bill of a little over 9 AMU's I asked the shop manager
how much we saved by me doing the grunt work and he said "You saved the
maximum amount that you could have, $200) I was at a loss for words!! I
know that I am not an A & P but I do have a schooling in and a
mechanical background (in car and diesel truck repair) and I brought my
own tools. Yea I probably got in the way a few times and asked too may
questions but for 35-40 hours work on my part to save $200 bucks was not
worth it.

I realize that I should have asked up front how much I could save by
helping out and this would have managed my expectations better but to
work as many hours as I did to save what amounts to 3 hours of labor off
my bill was ridiculous.

This year we are doing things differently and going with a different
shop. I'm not taking a week off work but I will stop by daily to see how
things are going. After it is over I'll then be able to judge which
annual routine (assisted or non-assisted) works better for us.

Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
4443J @ TYQ


Jim Burns wrote:
Our first annual on the Aztec was last June, this year's is coming up and I
can guarantee you that there will be plenty of things done before we get it
in the shop. Right now I'm about 20 hours into replacing the brake linings
and repacking the wheel bearings. Some of the extra things that we do will
also have to be done at annual, but many of them become simple inspections
rather than tear down and replacements.

Last year the shop labor for the annual we paid for amounted to 39 hours,
most of this was to install a new windshield, not really a repair or part of
the annual, just a handy time to do it. My partners and I each put almost
twice as many hours into the annual. We worked from dawn to dusk for 6 days
straight. Granted, it took the "amateurs" a lot longer to do many of the
tasks, but it was well worth the effort.

Total cost of our annual last year was $2400. This year I hope it's even
less. Without our time, effort, and on going maintenance it would have
easily have been over $8000.

Once you loose the apprehension about wrenching on your own airplane,
you'll quickly learn volumes about it. I'd highly recommend buying copies
of the parts and maintenance manuals. Mine have their own dedicated table
in my house and lay open 24/7. Talk to your A&P about preventative
maintenance and working under his supervision. You'll save a ton of $$ and
get a very rewarding education along the way.

Jim

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...

After 6 years of Mooney ownership I'm doing my first owner assisted
annual. Most of my previous annuals have been done by factory service
centers. I'm quite a good wrench around cars so this experience is
mostly about me learning the standards & practices of aircraft work.
I'm amazed by a couple things...
1) The number of things I found that were not done that I'd paid to
have done at previous annuals.
2) The number of things done wrong (like no cotter key in the wheel).
3) The amount of work an annual really requires. It took me 6 hours
just to remove all the inspection panels (including drilling out
several dozen screws). Lubing the 150 lube points wont go too quick
either.

Its also interesting to me how many things are safety wired while other
things (that seem more important) are not. Brake calapers are safety
wired but fuel lines are not, etc. Its quite depressing to see my plane
in so many pieces. I've also discovered that its extreamly irritating
that the aircraft parts places are closed on weekends.

I would highly recommend this experience to any aircraft owner who is
comfortable with a wrench.

-Robert