Things I Have Learned As First Time Buyer/Owner (long)

Avionics doesn't last forever. It can be working fine one day and go
south the next day. It's not anyone's fault. When an A&P/IA signs
something off it just means it was functioning within specs at the
time they checked it. It's not a guarrantee.



"MRQB" wrote in message
...
Well I learned when doing a pre buy be sure you take it to the avionics
shop
and have all the avionics and instruments checked out before you buy my
mistake only thing that was not checked at the pre buy waqs the avionics.
I
was more concerned about the engine and airframe. I had the transponder
checked about 3 weeks ago all tested ok Well today while flying in class C
airspace (KPDX) the transponder went out the tower did not like that very
much and was told to depart their airspace ASAP. I landed at the nearest
airport and went to an avionics shop what do you know the transponder
stopped receiving and transmitting at it happens things fail.

The next airplane I buy ill have the avionics checked out in the pre buy
defiantly. Now all my avionics and instruments are now new and or checked
out and working 100% correctly. I have been told that I should contact my
local FSDO about the A&P-IA that signed things off as things were not done
correctly and could have caused major problems. Not sure I want to do that
and not sure what I should do.

The last avionics shop told me my ADF was bad I sent it out to a shop of
my
choice it checked out ok no repairs needed. It was my ADF antenna that was
the problem a little scotch bright took care of that. Just a little
corrosion on the wire antenna connection. They also told me my Glide Slope
Was Not fully deflecting and my VOR was off 8 degrees and needed to be
replaced. Retested by another shop and well it is well within factory
limits
humm. They set my altimeter settings wrong + 110' on the ground yeiks.
Said
my marker beacon receiver was bad and entire audio panel needed replaced
with a new one. Nope it was a $3.00 diode. Now I am wondering if they over
pressurized my pito system and blew my airspeed indicator diaphragm to try
and sell me a new one of them also who knows.

Well 5 hours at the avionics shop today and a rebuilt Transponder,
Repaired
3LMB and a new sticker in the log book showing how the problems that the
last shop goofed up on. Now all is fixed and what a joy to fly every
things
works very very very well.

I am glad that my transponder went out on me today and forced me to land
at
a larger airport to get it fixed. I was kinda questioning in the back of
my
mind the business ethics of the last avionics shop, after the ADF came
back
from the repair house ok with no problems. I think I will let it go as a
$600.00 lesson learned and steer business away from that avionics shop
that
goofed things up and refer to the shop I went to today at leased they have
proper equipment to do it right. They had equipment that looked like it
needed a manual larger than a Linux manual to operate.

I will not mention names until I confront the last avionics shop with my
paperwork showing them that items that they said were defective were not
ill
see what they will do about the diagnostic time they charged me.

Lessons learned:

Don't ignore the avionics on a pre buy even if there is not an avionics
shop
at the airport you buy it at take it to one get it checked worth the
$300.00
in labor you may save you a few thousand.

Don't trust shops that tell you it cannot be fixed and you must replace it
and try and sell you a entire new panel for $10,000 get a second opinion
it
may save you a headache and a bunch of money.

Only go to shops that have modern equipment to do the job right ask to see
their equipment and library you may see binders of schematics that's a
good
if they will show you bad if they don't have it, You may see a few newer
turbine aircraft in their hanger and higher rates (+$20.00 an hour more
than
others but modern $30,000+ test equipment has to be paid for some how)
You
may want to pay now or you will be paying pay later. I am an electronics
engineer by trade I am not comfortable paying $80.00 to have a $3.00 part
replaced but way better than paying $1,800 for a new audio panel.

Biggest lesson learned is who not to deal with well worth the $600 I had
to
spent today to learn that.

Otis Winslow wrote:

When an A&P/IA signs something off it just means it was functioning within
specs at the time they checked it.

For that matter, I can't recall any time that an A&P or IA signed off on my avionics.
It's not part of what they check for an annual inspection. The only time anyone has
signed off one of my units was when I took it to an avionics shop for repair or for
some required tests, and that person is not an A&P.

George Patterson
This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to
play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home
a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind".

I am an electronics
engineer by trade I am not comfortable paying $80.00 to have a $3.00 part
replaced but way better than paying $1,800 for a new audio panel.

You will save most in airplane ownership if you do initial
troubleshooting yourself. Avionics and A&P shops make most money by
quickly turning around customers, unfortunatelly this is best done by
shot-gun parts swapping as opposed to systematic troubleshooting. Most
people say they want the latter approach, but in the end are not
willing to pay for the time, so its easier to just order a new part,
mark it up a bit, charge for couple hours of labor and you are out the
door. I couldn't afford to own an airplane in such hands-off mode, so
I try to diagnose problems myself, then steer the shop in the general
direction. (Of course there are things I simply don't understand and
have to rely on someone else's expertise, like major engine work, for
example).
Electrical problems can be pesky and beware that most A&Ps don't have
the patience to diagnose them correctly. As an EE, you are probably
more qualified on those types of repairs. It is important to use the
correct mil-spec materials however (wire, terminals, breakers, etc),
if only for the sake of resale condition.

Finally, aviation maintenance on small GA airplanes is not rocket
science, so "Never assume nefarious intent when simple incompetence
suffices as an explanation". (saw this great sig somewhere, author
unknown). Couple bizjets parked in the hangar are not a guarantee of
perfect work either (they do however guarantee higher bill :-)

Good luck, sounds like you have the right overall attitude, you are
right its a learning process. Annuals are another topic I could say "I
learned about flying from that", but that's another discussion...