After an annual?

When you pick up your plane after an annual, is there any special things
you do?
..stuff snipped


As the responses tell you, more than one person has had one or more
"errors" after their annual. It is likely that something may be missed
when the number of operations performed increases.

I noticed some say to "check the oil filter". I am from the school that
says that the annual inspection is just that. An inspection. I make sure
that all filters (oil, air, vacuum) are already changed and other owner
permissible maintenance is performed. This minimizes the chances that
something is amiss post annual because fewer things have been done. I
also look the beast over carefully at each oil change and note anything
amiss. If I cannot legally fix it, I take it to the IA with parts in
hand and we do the job together. He does not really like chasing after
parts. And, since he is retired, he is not depending on the retail parts
price spread as a source of income. I really LIKE chasing after parts
and don't mind spending hours to get the right one(s).

But, the end is near. My IA is of sufficient age that he is hanging it
up. He may do another year with me, but maybe not. It is a shame that
owner assisted annuals are the exception rather than the rule.

I realize that most owners have neither the time, tools, experience,
desire, or cooperation by the local shop to participate. But those of us
who do are finding it increasingly difficult to get into such an
arrangement.

So, to answer the original question in another way, I would suggest you
offer to participate. That way you will be there to observe the proper
way to do things and you will provide a free set of eyeballs to help out.

Good luck,
Mike

So tell me, grasshopper, how many years of working on your airplane do you
have? Enough to qualify for the 30 months of experience to sit for the A&P
exam? And will your IA sign the experience letter so that you can take the
exam?

Then after a few years of legal wrenching can you walk into the FSDO and ask
for the signoff letter for your own IA? And carry on the tradition of your
mentor doing owner-assisted annuals? And then someone behind you gets to
carry on...and behind him/her ... and so on.

This is all one big circle, bucko, and you are somewhere on it.

Jim



But, the end is near. My IA is of sufficient age that he is hanging it up.
He may do another year with me, but maybe not. It is a shame that owner
assisted annuals are the exception rather than the rule.

So tell me, grasshopper, how many years of working on your airplane do you
have? Enough to qualify for the 30 months of experience to sit for the A&P
exam? And will your IA sign the experience letter so that you can take the
exam?

Then after a few years of legal wrenching can you walk into the FSDO and ask
for the signoff letter for your own IA? And carry on the tradition of your
mentor doing owner-assisted annuals? And then someone behind you gets to
carry on...and behind him/her ... and so on.

This is all one big circle, bucko, and you are somewhere on it.

Jim



But, the end is near. My IA is of sufficient age that he is hanging it up.
He may do another year with me, but maybe not. It is a shame that owner
assisted annuals are the exception rather than the rule.




I do note an air of aggravation, Sir Jim. As I recall, you are one of
the brave souls who make a living working on airplanes. My hat is off to
you. One of the toughest businesses I have ever seen. My post was in no
way meant to demean the skills or dedication of those wrenches/IAs in
the field.

Since you asked: I have been working on my airplane for 13 years
(cylinder changes, landing gear rebuilds, metal patches, wiring repair,
A/C removal, Mag R&R and timing, upholstery, vac pump replacements, fuel
and oil line replacements, Installing new wingtips/dorsal fairings,
repairing fiberglass nose cowling, pulling fuel tanks, rebuilding fuel
selector, R&R fuel sending units, painting, rigging, and various other
repairs - all under the supervision of my IA - paying him by the hour
for the privilege).

Before that, I did auto engine mechanics and body work for 15 years.
During that time, I also had a 4 year electronics course and briefly
repaired electronic gizmos (back in the days when you could actually
repair them). I also have experience with upholstery, high current
electrical wiring, auto/boat/truck refinishing systems, and a few other
odds and ends. I worked as an assembler in a machine shop for 2 years
putting together high speed automation machines. That involved
fabricating various parts and assembling electrical, pneumatic,
hydraulic, high freq induction heater, and other systems). Hey, you
asked for the resume.

I am a pretty crappy chess player though, so please don't ask me about
that on the test.

Go for an official license of any sort? Why? I have no love of mechanics
beyond my airplane. I already make well in excess of the pay available
to the airplane mechanic. I don't want the liability burden even if I
did try for it. My IA (of over 50 years) asked me several times if I was
interested in going for it. We never discussed it beyond that point so I
don't know if he would sign me off for the exam.

My PPL and Instrument scores were 100% and I DID get a great night's
sleep, but I digress.

Like I said, I am amazed at a person's dedication to go into the
business. You guys are truly amazing.

But, I am not sure why you find my post so irritating. I merely lamented
at the scarcity of mechanics who are in a position to allow owner
assists on the annual. What's got you so riled (I ask cautiously fearing
a Wrath of God Internet reply)?

Warily,
Mike

I do note an air of aggravation, Sir Jim. As I recall, you are one of the
brave souls who make a living working on airplanes. My hat is off to you.
One of the toughest businesses I have ever seen. My post was in no way
meant to demean the skills or dedication of those wrenches/IAs in the
field.

No, I make my living teaching college, designing electronic devices for
sale, and writing magazine articles. I do the inspection stuff on the
weekends just because I love aviation. As a matter of fact, my last two
annuals were free, one because the fellow was a carpenter and he helped me
with a dryrot problem and the other because the fellow was a U2 pilot just
back from Iraq.



Go for an official license of any sort? Why? I have no love of mechanics
beyond my airplane. I already make well in excess of the pay available to
the airplane mechanic. I don't want the liability burden even if I did try
for it. My IA (of over 50 years) asked me several times if I was
interested in going for it. We never discussed it beyond that point so I
don't know if he would sign me off for the exam.

Because I turned 63 last month, crawling around in the belly of airplanes is
getting harder by the year, and because of all the people I've helped with
inspections I don't have ONE yet that is willing to put out the time and
effort to take my place. Until I do, I won't feel right about "retiring"
(something about the Peter, Paul, and Mary song about lighting one
candle...)


But, I am not sure why you find my post so irritating. I merely lamented
at the scarcity of mechanics who are in a position to allow owner assists
on the annual. What's got you so riled (I ask cautiously fearing a Wrath
of God Internet reply)?

I'm not irritated. I'm frustrated. Everybody from A to Z is bitching about
how hard it is to find good mechanics and IAs but they aren't willing to
take that monkey onto their back. I thought perhaps I might shame you into
trying it for a while. Just because you have the paper (or now plastic) is
no reason you HAVE to do anything with them. And yes, I too make a hell of
a lot more in the classroom than I do getting greasy; I do it because
somebody did it for me, and somebody did it for him, and ...

Jim

Jim

In article ,
"RST Engineering" wrote:

I'm not irritated. I'm frustrated. Everybody from A to Z is bitching about
how hard it is to find good mechanics and IAs but they aren't willing to
take that monkey onto their back.

Would it make you fell a little better if I say that I'm very happy with the
two mechanics that work on my airplane? Both are prior-military (USAF)
mechanics (crew chiefs). One has his IA and the other will get it soon.
And both do it part-time.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate