Annual Inspections

Ramsey

Ramsey

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if we have any mechanics here or not, but I would like to know how long on average it takes to complete an annual on a 172 and a 152. This is not a matter of being overcharged, but I had a mechanic (actually a team of 2) do two 152s and one 172 in less than 24 hours. Seems a little fast to me and now I'm a little concerned.

Thanks!
 
Ramsey.......depends on the condition of the airplane. An annual inspection is the same inspection as a 100 hour inspection, except an IA must sign the annual off. Often times, you will find flight schools will do an annual in a day or two....puts them at an advantage with already knowing the airplanes history. If you own the airplane, one mechanic would be doing the paperwork research for AD compliance, STC's, 337's..etc and the other mechanic could be doing the inspection--oil change, mag timing, compression checks, tension of control cables...etc. If the plane is clean and there is no issues, the inspection could go quickly; all depends on the initiative of the mechanics. If I'm reading your original post correctly....and you are saying all three aircraft were done in 24 hours...I would call foul on that. Your observation would be correct....that would be way too short of a time for three aircraft. I would question the detail of the inspection.
Good question though RAMS.
 
If the airplanes had had 100hr inspections done by the same mechanis(s) then it might be OK. If the mechanic has been inspecting and fixing these planes for the past year, he knows them pretty well and knows where their problems are. 3 annuals in 24 hours is a little quick, but they are about the simplest airplanes out there.

All the required items on an annual can be done in less than a day easily by one person. However many small things can get overlooked, none that are flight safety related, but things that can cause problems down the road.

In annuals you get what you pay for. A good throught (therfore expensive) annual will find many things that are easily fixed now before they become bigger problems 6 months from now.
 
Thanks for the info!

The planes I’m referring to were built in the late 70s early 80s. They stay outside 24/7 and although the IA has worked on the planes before he has not seem them in over a year.

The 24 hours I’m referring to include breaks and a good 8 hours of sleep.

Today I discovered a 4 inch hole in the wheel (rim) of the 172 – something I think should have been caught on the annual, but then again the plane has flown 12.3 hours since the inspection and it could have just happened.

I’m just getting a weird feeling that these planes passed way too easy and am not sure what to do.

This is not a money issue and I’m ready to pay more for a good annual, but my options overseas are limited since the planes are still N registered.

Our new mechanic has discovered quite a few inconsistencies and has voiced his concerns. I’m getting the feeling that I need to have the work done again.

Oh, and we are getting a new engine for one of the 152s which has been signed off to fly about 3 hours to the repair station by the same IA I mention above. This is on an airplane that failed the compression test on one cylinder. I think it registered 20 (not sure if that’s PSI or what - I just fly those things).

Thanks again for your input! :)
 
That sounds a little fast. Is the washing and depaneling/paneling of the airplanes included in that?
 
Yes - it was the full deal.

..and today I was having a casual conversation with the wife of one of the mechanics and she said “I can’t believe XXXXX made it to your planes by 07:30 considering he and XXXXX stayed up until 4 a.m. finishing a bottle of Irish Whisky.

Needless to say, I having the palnes looked at again by a shop near Frankfurt. It’s going to be expensive, but it’s worth it.
 
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