Owner assisted annual

[Tina Gonsalves]

I participated in my first owner-assisted annual. And the A&P only charged me $100 more than if I didn't help. Great deal if you can get it.

The biggest thing that I learned? Airplane manufacturers must be in collusion with mechanics so that they can make more money. Does everything on an airplane have to be hard to get to? Does every screw/panel have to be just a little bit different from the one next to it? Now I see why it takes 30 minutes just to remove and replace a fire extinguisher bracket. Nothing fits easily.

All joking aside, it was a great experience. I learned how to change the oil and spark plugs. Watched how to get compression readings on the cylinders. Replaced the ELT battery and tested it. Mostly I just unscrewed and screwed things back together. Lots and lots of things.

One last thing? I don't think my plane was manufactured by Cessna. Instead, I think it's an Ikea plane. When I was done putting the screws back, I had extras. <shrug>

[Stephanie Belser]

"Cheaper to manufacture" and "easy to maintain" are often antagonistic design goals. You can guess who tends to win that fight.

Best evidence: One-piece nosebowls.

[Coyle Schwab]

Good for you, Tina! I can't think of a better way to commune with your machine. You'll feel much more confident when "something just doesn't look right ... or does it?" moments arise during preflights. Keep it up!

[Tom Charlton]

I participated in my first owner-assisted annual.

All joking aside, it was a great experience. I learned how to change the oil and spark plugs. Watched how to get compression readings on the cylinders. Replaced the ELT battery and tested it. Mostly I just unscrewed and screwed things back together. Lots and lots of things.

Hi Tina,
Yup! Nothing like getting to know: when I wiggle this thing-a-ma-jig here in the cockpit … what’s it do’n out there at the other end under the cowling.

Like many flying for a living I’ve always rolled up my sleeves when a company aircraft is in the shop. As the new caretaker of my 1946 Piper Cub I did get my hands dirty during its annual inspection last summer.

Regards,
Tom Charlton

[Tina Gonsalves]

Kid asks me if the electric flaps have ever jammed on my plane. I told him that they hadn't. He said, "Not yet they haven't." (I guess in his vast experience the flaps on my airplane *always* jam at some point.)

He did tell me what I have to do when that happens. Reach under the dash behind the lever and jiggle stuff.

I'm on my way to being an A&P!

[Tom Charlton]

Kid . . . did tell me what I have to do when that happens. Reach under the dash behind the lever and jiggle stuff.

Hi Tina,
Ha, ha . . . kid done broke da code<g>!

Regards,
Tom Charlton

[Randy Sohn]

kid done broke da code<g>!

Think about that Tom, mine doesn't have any flaps.

best, randy

[Tom Charlton]

Think about that Tom, mine doesn't have any flaps.
best, randy

Hi Randy,

Yup . . . I tried to jiggle stuff under the panel of my J-3 and still can’t get the flaps to work. Howsomever . . . Side-Slips are effective, fun’n easy<g>!

Regards,
Tom Charlton

[Randy Sohn]

Howsomever . . . Side-Slips are effective,

Yup, works "mo-bettah".

best, randy