On Oct 10, 2:08*pm, Anonymous Pilot wrote:
I'm, posting anonymous as I don't want identify the maintenance shop
involved.

I own a later model Cessna 150. *My last few annuals have been on the
high side and I got quite the whopper for this year. *I'm wondering if
my mechanic is fleecing me or if airplane is falling apart. *I bought
a 150 since it was supposed to be one of the less expensive aircraft
to own and fly, but at this rate I think I'm better just to finance a
brand new aircraft.

2002 - bought with 5000 AFTT, 5500 ETT, 0 SMOH (original engine
suffered failure back in the 80s)

This is just my annual bills and doesn't include IFR/avionics
repairs/testing.

2003 $500
2004 $600
2005 $3600 (current mechanic to present), don't have breakdown
2006 $3500 *don't have breakdown
2007 $5400 *$1300 parts, $4400 labor *
2008 $2300 *$300 parts, $2000 labor *
2009 $7600 *$2100 parts, $5700 labor, replaced rudder

There is no other authorized mechanic at my field, and most people
based on the field have the $500-in-your-own-hangar annual. *I wrote
the earlier years off as finding things missed by the previous annuals
and assumed the cost was going back down (as 2008 seemed almost
normal).

I also noticed that I was charged labor for opening the access panels,
I thought that would have been included in the flat rate that is also
charged.

Major repairs outside annual:

Late 2003 replaced both mags @ $1500
Late 2004 replaced a cylinder @ $1500
Late 2005 replaced attitude indicator @ $1500

For those curious, add $8000 in avionics repairs since 2002.

So find a new mechanic or find a new airplane?


It would be nice to see more detail on what was done and how many
hours were spent on each squawk. What is the shop's hourly rate? It
looks like we are talking just short of 80 to 90 hours in discrepancy
labor. That could be excessive if the discrepancies don't spell out
exactly what was done. Maybe they had to drill out seized screws
throughout the airframe or replace every cushion clamp in engine
compartment. I don't care what the aircraft is many years of $500
annuals usually means that a lot of small things are neglected. If
the current mechanic is more thorough than most then you are paying
for being cheap in years past. Take a look at the logs, if there is
the phrase "Annual inspection complied with." made year after year
with no detail of actual work being done then you are catching up on
years of pencil whipped annuals. Has your current mechanic done a
thorough check of Airworthiness Directive compliance? Believe me that
can take hours if previous compliance has not been recorded properly.
What about required placards? What about an accurate equipment list
and weight and balance record? Those two are easily the most ignored
aspects of an annual. Most mechanics assume the pilots take care of
it and most pilots of simpler aircraft never consider checking it. I
have annualed airplanes reported to me as being in "pristine"
condition only to find not less than 100 genuine mechanical or legal
discrepancies and I am not talking paint scratches or torn upholstery
either. It may be just a 150 but it still deserves careful and
thorough attention at annual.

John Dupre'