2012 horn AD

[Phillip Graybar]

I have a 1960 PA24-180 just got the bill for the yearly inspection. The horn AD added 1,250.00 and the two bearings were going bad and they were replaced at a cost of 180.00. The horn AD took 16 hrs to complete. This was my first inspection on this plane as the last one was crashed and burned to bits on 07/01/2012. Bought the replacement one month later and the inspection was due in OCT. I had a list of things I wanted done/checked. Total bill came to 7,200.00 Lucky I had money left from insurance. Hope next year it will go back to the usual 1,900.00. Time to fly!

[David Pyle]

Good information about the cost of the AD. Did you have a prebuy for the second 180 that might have prepared you for a $7200 annual. Seems a bit high.

[Clarence Beintema]

David,

With Phillip posting no details as to what was done with his "Annual" inspection how did you come to the conclusion that it "seems a bit high"?

Clarence

[David Pyle]

That was a value judgement, not to be critical. However no matter the circumstances had I recently bought a 180 and this was my first annual it might have been a surprise. Wouldn't want a Comanche prospect reading this to be frightened off.

[N3322G]

Clarence - you have a very good point.
At annual time I have repairs done and improvements. The actual inspection is pretty cheap.

I choose to patronize a shop with extensive Comanche experience so learning curve is minimized. My twin is not included in this AD but if it were, I'd have a tendency to go to shop that had done them before or have a national reputation for Comanche knowledge. It is unknown whether this AD expense data point was from a shop doing their first horn AD or their 10th. I know the IA owner and one of his mechanics of the shop I use flew to last year's convention solely to learn from Denny Haskins - the best techniques to handle the horn inspection and as required, replacement.

[Phillip Graybar]

Sorry for the confusion, the basic annual cost $1480.50 plus parts needed. I added many items I alone felt needed to be done like the battery was three plus years old and I added a charge system to maintain the battery. I had both fuel sending units sent to lock haven to be calibrated so you can see I added things that were not needed.
But this is the first annual I had with the plane and I now have a baseline to work with. I did have a pre buy and several things were found and paid for by the last owner. My bill was nine pages long. I just wanted the masses to know the added cost for the new AD. Be glad to answer any questions about N6769P

[Clarence Beintema]

As a shop owner I often hear "My annual inspection cost me $ xx,xxx.00 you are too expensive". My answer is that the annual by it self was cheap, repairing all of the neglect from previous "Budget" annuals, overhauling you prop, your engine, installing your new gee wiz gismo and the 13% tax are the causes of your higher invoice, not the cost of the annual.

Clarence

[N3322G]

Phillip - thanks for the clarification. It is very helpful to understand the details.

On the AD, what experience, prior to your 180, did the shop have on doing the AD?

[David Pyle]

We now have the complete picture with opinions expressed by the 180 owner, Clarence B., who has a repair facility in Canada, our reliable helpmate, Pat K., and me representing those who might aspire to a Comanche. Had we been in the same room there would have been no disagreement.

[Phillip Graybar]

The repair shop that did the annual has extensive knowledge with Comanche line and has worked on my last one many a time and I always was satisfied with the outcome. I wish I could post the nine page bill, you would see it was fair and complete. I stopped several times during the annual and the mechanics always had time to explain what was going on and where they were in the process. I also have assisted in an annual on my old Comanche with a AP that worked for an Airline. The repair station went much further and did a lot more that I did.

[N3322G]

Phillip,

Thanks for sharing your shop's background. Since this impacts so many folks in the fleet and owners will use your experience as a forecast of what they can expect, it would be really helpful to know if this was the first time they'd done the AD or if they had a lot of experience - specifically on the AD. It will obviously make a difference in what other folks can expect in terms of their own budget so if you are aware of this particular aspect, it would help the fleet. If not, thanks for already sharing the details of your AD compliance.