Potential PA-30-new owner - Prebuy/overhaul recommendations

[Jack Steinhauer]

Hello all,

First off I want to thank all of you for the invaluable information provided on the ICS website and forum. It has been a great guide for me thus far.

If I make the purchase I plan to keep the twinkie at SNA in Orange County, CA for half of the year and HIO in Portland, OR for the other half. I am looking for Twin Comanche mechanic recommendations in both areas. The engines are at 2,300 hours so I also need overhaul recommendations as well.

In past post I see Dan Stark comes highly recommended for an AMT out of Twin Oaks in Oregon. As for overhauls, has anyone used Corona Engines in Corona, CA?

As for the prebuy I want to find the Twin Comanche "expert." From what I have read the prebuy inspection is the critical piece in avoiding a money pit.

The current twinkie I am looking to acquire is currently undergoing an annual review in Mountain City, TN (6A4), great time for a prebuy inspection.

Thanks again.. I hope to be a part of the fraternity soon!

Jack

[Kristin Winter]

Jack,

In Tennessee, Paul New, at Tennessee Aircraft in Jackson, TN is a Twinkie owner and knows how to do a pre-purchase inspection. Many mechanics don't know how to do one.

Sadly, a Twin Comanche owner based in Chino died today. Jeff Aryan succumbed to cancer. I would imagine that his plane will come on the market. He has put a lot of avionics upgrades into it as well as speed mods, etc. It is a very nice bird, in case the TN airplane doesn't pan out. Jeff's has also been well maintained.

I don't have a SoCal recommendation for mechanics. Danny Stark gets pretty good reviews, though I don't have any personal experience.

[Tom Corell]

Jack
I have a summer home @ 6a4 mtn cty tn & Boca Raton fl, you might seriously consider taking the advice of Kristin!! also I own a pa30c you can contact me @ 561-376-8960.
Tommyc.

[Jack Steinhauer]

Thank you, I really appreciate the feedback.

Does anyone have mechanic recommendations for the Orange County area?

As for the engine overhaul, do I need a Comanche specialist or can I simply have any shop with good IO-320 experience complete them?

[N3322G]

Jack - FYI - wrote about our experience on overhaul http://www.comancheflyer.com/NS/tech_ar ... erhaul.pdf

What I elected not to do was slam the remove/install shop that is no longer in business. Spend as much time selecting them as you do the overhauler. Spent 2-3 years correctly their ineptitude. Ask for before and after photos of wire routing etc. don't let anyone attach anything to the engine mounts without using proper clamping - no tie wraps, naked clamps etc.

Hope this helps.

[Andrew Foster]

Jack,

I sent you a pm

Andrew