Your opinion: Sell or repair?

[mhorowit]

Folks - I took pics of the a/c prior to leaving Altoona.
I showed my A&P the pics. His attention went to the tailcone pics and he based his opinion to sell it on what he saw.
If you have had any experience with this type of damage (apparently the right horizontal stabalizer hit something) I'd like to hear your opinion on why he was so glum. I'll talk to him next week, just getting educated.

Second - Someone suggested I might save a bit if I took the engine (prop strike) to the engine shop disassembled. How disassembled would the engine need to be in order to do a prop-strike inspection? For example, I'm trying to visualize the forces acting on the crank - I don't see the need to remove the jugs from the case or the pistons from their cylinders (unless it turns out you can't take the case apart without doing so!). I'm thinking the camshaft could also stay in place. What say? Final word rests with the shop, of course. – Mike

[Dano"T"]

Re: Your opinion: Sell or repair?

Mike,

It's pretty hard to tell from the pics...Maybe if you cut the fabric off of the tail cone things would be more clear as to repairability. Get another mechanic to look at...take him to the plane and let him look it over carefully. Also, why don't you sell the engine as is and buy a 75, 85hp or another 65HP engine...They aren't too bad on Barnstormers.com and you could offset the cost by selling yours as "needing teardown" there are a lot of mechanics out there who build and restore aircraft, and if the price is right...who knows?

Or check this out.

CONTINENTAL A-75 ENGINE • $3,900 • FOR SALE • Originally this engine was a Continental 0-170-3 (GPU), Serial #1400428-AC-133970. At major overhaul on October 21, 2002, it was converted to an A-75. The cylinders were overhauled, new 75 HP pistons were installed, specified lubrication holes were added in the connecting rods, and 100 octane values were installed. Total time is 0.5 hours since this major overhaul. We have the last page of the logs documenting the conversion and overhaul. We also have all receipts and yellow tags for installed parts such as crankshaft, connecting Rods, tappet bodies, etc. A dye penetrant inspection was also done on the engine case and accessory cover. Also included are two Bendix Scintilla mags that require overhaul, one Stromberg carburetor that also needs overhaul. The engine has a tapered shaft prop hub and is not equipped for generator or starter. The total cost of the engine to this point is $5201.92. We are asking $3,900. • Contact Norris A. Anderson - located Leeds, AL USA • Telephone: 205-821-9076 • Posted July 6, 2005

[CraigH]

Re: Your opinion: Sell or repair?

Do you want to spend your time working on your airplane or flying it?

If the answer is flying I'd look for another.

[mhorowit]

Re: Your opinion: Sell or repair?

Do you want to spend your time working on your airplane or flying it?

If the answer is flying I'd look for another.

Good question. I get a lot of enjoyment with just putzing around; perhaps repairs of this nature would be TOO much putzing! - Mike

[VictorBravo]

Re: Your opinion: Sell or repair?

Mike, put the airplane in the hands of someone who is looking for a project (there's more than one on this list alone I believe). Find another Taylorcraft and get back in the air now.

Some day when you have a flying T-craft and have the money and time to do so, find a project T-craft and restore it, to help put another airplane back in the air.

Like the lion said, "the great circle of life..."

[crispy critter]

Re: Your opinion: Sell or repair?

Mike,
As most know from my previous post I may be interested in your t-craft if you decide to sell but only because I like challenging projects but mostly because I don't want to see it sold by the insurance company to fall in the hands of Wentworth or someone like that who will have no desire to rebuild but only to part it out(and it is worth more to part out if all you sell is green).This would not be anything near the worst for me but it will be a job.I can tell you from the pics that the aft fuslage section will need to be completely replaced from at least the tail pull handles back.This can be done with a clip method if you are careful and know what you are doing without the use of a jig providing the rest of the fuslage is not bent.Also I will bet my left nut that the right rear wing spar is cracked at the butt attach fitting....I will be very surprised if it ain't.
As for the engine,I wouldn't worry much about the broken prop or the dial on the crank,I would be more concerned about the frontal impact on the crank and what it might have done to the main bearings,rod bearings,crankshaft,and case.If you want to,do some ground runs.run it about 5-10 minutes,drain oil,check screen then if nothing is found run the engine again for 30-60 minutes(no more than 15 min at a time)at varied rpms giving it time to cool between runs so not to overheat the cylinders.Then if all is clean and no strange noises,etc. it should be ok,but it will always make you wonder.
I fully agree with the above comments....Do you want to build or fly??You can always take the buy back option,keep your bird and put it in a pickled storage,use the remaining money toward another t-craft or whatever.It don't have to be a cream puff as long as it flies good and is safe,then you can work on this one in your spare time or as money and time allow.This would be my recommendation if you can afford the cash and time to do it.If you just decide to fix this one again plan on being down another 6-12 months again even if your mech does all the work.
Good Luck and let us all know what you decide.

[flathorn]

Re: Your opinion: Sell or repair?

I have a different engine, but a prop strike on my 0-200 required a teardown and crank magnaflux. We tore it down ourselves, and took the crank into the shop.
Crispy Critter is right: from the pictures, there's serious tweakage to the tail. That's significant wrinkling there, and I can't imagine it's going to be even as easy as he said.
My F-19 had less "apparent" damage (wrinkling), but the lower longerons were bent, which meant opening up the entire fuselage, and welding/replacing tubing, etc. My left wing had a busted front spar, which meant opening it up to do a spar splice.
You're talking a lot of work on yours - that is pretty much guaranteed. Just make all your future plans based on that knowledge. It's not a basket case, but does involve the fuselage, right wing, tail surfaces, and engine (at least).
But, knowing that lets you make a better decision. If you're willing to put in the time to rebuild it and have a place, then you might consider that. If you don't, I think the decision is made for you.
When mine went down the middle of May, I spent all my waking hours working on it, and got it up and going the end of July. I did nothing else in the interim, and we had it in a hangar to ourselves. That is the "best-case scenario" you're faced with - I don't think it could be done much faster, and I was really sick of looking at it by the end. It involved a fuselage rebuild, left wing spar splice, right aileron repair, engine teardown, and then the various mods we decided to do since it was tore down (seat mod, seat back tube, etc). Anything else adds time. I had no insurance, and no other option, as I needed to get it in the air as quickly as I could.
C.C. had another good suggestion - keep it, and with the leftover insurance money buy another (ratty) one, if you can swing it financially. That gives you time to work on the wrecked one, but still fly in the interim. About the time your ratty one is needing some work, you'll have your present one up and going, and you can sell the ratty one, as is, to some foolhardy person who wants to rebuild it.