Raul you are 100% correct, I encourage owners to help out with there annual inspection, it allows them to get up close and personnel with the workings of their aircraft per say. It also allows them to see how things wear, and the effects of the type of flying they do on their aircraft (i.e. off field operations). This also lets them see the type of discrepancies we as mechanics find, and helps them learn how to interpret the wear limitations on assemblies and sub assemblies etc. per the the manuals, so they can see what can go to the next inspection/maintenance interval or what can't and has to be fixed. Keep the great content coming and God Bless!
Thanks for sharing Scott! I certainly seen and picked up a lot of tricks and you are right on point about being able to see how things wear and the effects of the type of flying. Perfectly briefed 😀
Thank you, I am alway learning from you. Raul you're always trying to teach by your experience. There is an old saying. Learn from other people's mistakes or experience, to make it easy on yourself. Thank you for inspiring me every time I look at your channel.
Another great video, Raul. When I first bought my Mooney, a friend of mine strongly suggested doing owner assisted annuals and I agree that the experience and learning is extremely valuable. This video is full of great advice. Well done, Raul.
@@FlyingDirty thanks im like you ive totaly remodeled mine iv learned so mmuch plus i fix things along the way we have a good shop at the airport they help out if you need them
Saludos...Can you post something about cost of operation during trips at the end of your videos. For airport fees, Landing fees, ramp fees, Overnight fees, how to get that logistic from the internet, phone calls, any problems with airports not providing fees or changing them after landing?? Thanks Keep it up your channel is very educational, we learn a lot from your experience.
Hi Aarons, there's really not much there to discuss. Generally, none of those apply at general aviation airports in the US. Some attended FBO's, though, might charge an overnight parking fee of $5-$10 per night but that is about it. I've mentioned these free services to pilots in some of the videos. This recent one was one of them; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K0IFlkSqqGE.html Thanks!
Raul, great video and advise. I wish I could do the owner assist annual but my mechanic is a couple hundred miles away and he usually takes 4-5 weeks to do my plane, very buy Mooney shop. I haven't quite got the nerve to do my own oil changes yet on my Mooney but that is on the list....mechanic helping me out first time then hopefully I can do them afterwards. I remember my first oil change was a shock on how much it was. I thought Harley Davidson's were expensive oil changes....they got nothing on planes. LOL Looks like your co-pilot was slacking on the job. hahahaha, Javier you get that good sleep....I wish I could sleep as good as when I was young. Y'all fly safe.
Hi Frank! I do remember that first time I took my airplane to do the oil change and the sticker shock 😲. I thought to myself, I got to pay this every 50 hours? Ouch…That was a quick motivational reason for me wanting to do it myself 😀. I agree with James, taking baby steps is the way to go! Yes, Javier was very sleepy and slacking on his job duties on this flight 😀. I think he got too bored for not having to work the radios since I went VFR 😀
Raul another great video. So are you moving from CO to KY? I thought I read that in one of the comments. Anyhow, you are so right...I participated in the pre-buy inspection and associated work and have now done 2 owner-assisted annuals with each getting less expensive as I do more work (an bleed a little bit more). LOL
I got a nice acreage property in KY and been going back and forth very often. We’re thinking to eventually end up there but probably not for a little while longer.
I've been doing most of the work on my own annuals for about the past 16 years.... Good gracious! Can it be that long? I was lucky enough to find a wonderful local A&P at a private airpark, with his own hanger... And his IA (inspector) from Deer Valley, near Phoenix. They are two of my favorite people in the whole world. In fact, I just got home from helping my A&P friend work on one of his airplanes. We hung a rebuild engine on his Cessna 150 yesterday. Then today, we put on the carburetor and vacuum pump and some hoses and cables. If I worked for free 12 hours a day for 10 years, I could never repay him for all the help he has giving me. Once, a few years back I told my IA that I would work for free just to help him out. After about a month of long days six days a week, I had to beg to be released from indenture! He gave me a free annual after that. But, without them, I wouldn't be able to afford to fly. I hope you find some people like this to help you... they are rare indeed!
Time surely flies faster than our airplanes 😀 that’s pretty much similar to my story. I would volunteer to help out just so that I could pick up some knowledge. They are rare but they are around and I always stumble across several options. I can’t imagine not being able to do work on my airplanes. Thanks for sharing 😀
43.13-1b, 1 &2 is the FAA resource. Of course the manufacturers maintenance manuals, and letters are where you need to go too when you own an airplane. Next is the list of AD’s that come out on your airplane and the sub-components on the engine and prop. I really like your videos. Thank you for posting and sharing. Take care and God’s blessings be with you and your family.
I could have gone on for a long time going into details but that’s where great comments fill in the gaps. Absolutely, the AD list is one that is very critical. In my opinion, it really does help to know the resources and components of the airplane. Thanks for sharing your valuable insight 😀
I agree 100% with you. I'm new to airplane ownership and have done two owner assisted annuals. Both my partner and o took turns and learned so much. Last annual in February required a new cylinder and carburetor repair and I was there to watch most of it.
I have had my Arrow for 3 years now. I currently do change my own oil. Have redone the interior. I think I have found a new A &P IA that will let me do an owner assist. My annual will be in July. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I just had the same convo with my instructor today. So with any luck, I will do my first owner assist this next annual.
I think, at the very minimum, a pilot should be able to do their own oil change. It’s easy and feels rewarding 😀. Thanks and for sharing your thoughts and it is my pleasure 😀
@@baxterharwell5353 Thanks a lot 😀Myrtle Beach is beautiful and would not be out of the realm of possibility. Could end up being a great get-away once we get completely settled in KY and start venturing. 😀
Thanks Raul, very informative presentation. When my Decathlon went in for Annual this last January, my mechanic and I were new acquaintances. He called with the news that the fastener holes in the lower (fiberglass) cowl had worn oblong. Repair would take many hours, and would probably bump-up against the cost of a replacement lower. And, a replacement would need painting. He asked if I had any experience working with fiberglass and if so, would I like to give repair a try myself. I have some marine fiberglass repair experience, so I gave it a go. He was impressed with my work and signed off on the repair. He also shared that since he was now familiar with my airplane, he "invited" me to handle the next Annual as an Owner-assist Annual. (BTW, I saved about $1800-$2000 repairing the lower cowl myself.) I can fully understand mechanics being very discriminating with who they bring into an Owner-assist relationship. When they sign-off on logbook entries, they're putting their tickets and liability on the line - think litigious society - NOT something to be taken lightly. And since going "hands-on" with my airplane, I feel more connected with it!
Hi EJ! Your experience is a perfect example of being hands on my friend. That’s similar to how I started my relationship with my mechanic. I’d get involved with the repairs and, when he could not figure something out, I would simply say, let me give it a try. He’d be impressed on how methodical I was and quickly realized that I had mechanical skills. It is certainly nothing to be taken lightly by either party. Thanks for sharing your incredible experience 😀
Hi John! It’s been an interesting experience so far my friend! 😀 Once we get settled I’m looking forward to flying around the eastern part of the country.
Chris, what I have realized by learning and doing owner assisted annuals is that many shops skip steps and many don't do annuals to the specs. So not knowing what a shop is supposed to do may actually already render the airplane un-airworthy. I've seen too many sloppy jobs that are frightening. It's entirely up to the owner to learn but when I am putting my life on the line I must be confident about the quality of workmanship being done to my airplanes. I will not bend for the safety of my airplanes and, by learning, I always inspect all work being done to my airplanes. Regardless of what the mechanic does, the pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft. To that end my friend, I personally could not comfortably fly my airplanes without understanding the mechanical fundamentals and ensuring the maintenance is being done correctly. 😀
