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A new owner and new to site - very excited

Lenholli

Lenholli

New member
Victoria, BC
Aircraft Year
1973
Aircraft Type
112/A
Reg Number
C-GBGB
Serial Number
30
Wow, what a great site and great community you have here - definantly signing up! My wife (who is also a pilot) and I are the proud new owners of a 112. This is our first aircraft and the only one that calls Victoria home. The aircraft needs a little work and if anyone can advise where the best place to obtain wing root/horizontal stabilzer seals, and a flap gap seal kit, that would help. Also any recommendation for maintenance shops familiar with these planes would be awesome - Prop needs overhauled and Seattle is a mere 45 min flight. Overall the plane is in good condition (2100 TTA) but over time the interior definately needs updating and several other various items that have deteriorated with age. We are just getting her ready for flight, trying to create a more modern checklist and should be in the air within a couple weeks. Look forward to the forum chat and hopefully picking a few brains as the need arises.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Welcome Len.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Lenholli said:
The aircraft needs a little work and if anyone can advise where the best place to obtain wing root/horizontal stabilzer seals, and a flap gap seal kit, that would help.
Click to expand...

Hi Len,

The Flap Gap Seals are here:
http://www.rcmnormalizing.com/Products_7PJG.html

My Sister lives in Victoria, so I will probably be up to see you at some point in the future.

Welcome aboard,
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Dear Lens,

Congratulations on your Commander capture! Great city you live in - I lived there for a few years many years ago. You should find this forum extremely helpful. And like any deck of cards, there are about two jokers in every 52, and they make us all laugh.

All the best,

Pete
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Great to have you in the user's forum. You'll find that there's a wealth of knowledge within the group. If you're in Toronto, let me know. Enjoy your new bird and welcome.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Welcome Len. Is your prop the original? If so, you might want to carefully check the blade lengths to see how much you've got left to work with. Also note there's a recurring AD on the prop hub unless it's been replaced. I mention these as many of us have switched to the new Hartzell 3-blade which restores much of your 112's original performance and eliminates dealing with the AD.

Do a search here in the forums and you'll find lots of discussion on the topic.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Also blade width, measured at two stations. If measured officially at a prop shop it could come back "condemned.". Ask me how I know... Then you are buying a new or OH'd prop.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

It looks like Len already has the 3 blade prop from the picture! Wing root seals and stab seals can be found at Aircraft Spruce, same sytyle as the Piper. White or Black colors....I would stay away from the white from past posts on the web site. Mine has the 2 blade prop...but have the newer style hub, which equals no AD! Had prop overhauled less then 100hr's ago.
 
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Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Thanks for all the info. Ya, I have the 3 blade Hartzell, it's only got about 300 hours on it, but as per Canadian Regs it has to be overhauled every 10 years or 2000 hours - its 10 year birthday is coming up. I am probably going to take it to AC Propeller Service in Seattle unless I hear different - they want my first born child to do it locally (Vanouver, BC).
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Lenholli said:
Thanks for all the info. Ya, I have the 3 blade Hartzell, it's only got about 300 hours on it, but as per Canadian Regs it has to be overhauled every 10 years or 2000 hours - its 10 year birthday is coming up. I am probably going to take it to AC Propeller Service in Seattle unless I hear different - they want my first born child to do it locally (Vanouver, BC).
Click to expand...

Welcome Len,

It would be interesting to hear what you have been quoted for a prop overhaul on the three blade. Over here I have just paid £2900 (Can$4695) including tax, how does that shape up with your side of the pond? Incidentally we have to have them done every 6 years or 2000 hours.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Lawrence,
I was quoted a ball park figure of $5,000-$6,000 CDN by the shop in Vancouver, BC (they said they couldn't be more specific) and in Seattle, WA they quoted me an exact figure of $2714 US. Our exchange rate is close to par and flight time is negligible to Seattle. That does not include the labour for an AME to remove and replace the prop - strictly the overhaul. Oh ya - I'll be on the hook for some taxes when I return as well.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Len how long will they take to do the overhaul - I assume you will fly it there and fly it back when done. If they have teh equipment I think its worthwhile getting a ground vibration survey done as follows:
1 Accelerometer on engine and in cabin with Old Prop
2 Same accelerometer locations with ovhld prop
Oh and of course after the prob is ovhrd get it dynamically balanced - this is essential in my opinion while 1 & 2 are nice to have.
The above would add possibly $300 - $500

I recently had a 3 blade done in New Mexico based ona reccomendation from a friend - very nice family run shop and they did my 3 blade McCauley in 1 week and almost 1 more week went in shipping each way.

New Mexico Aircraft Propeller, LLC/Alexander Aero, Belen, NM
Owner's name is Dave Husband - cost was $2600. Then it was + $500 or so don't remember exact number (CAN LOOK IT UP) in shipping.

Hope this helps.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Len,

I have heard that $1,000 per blade is a good estimate. That assumes that there's no issues with the hub.
 
Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Re: A new owner and new to site - very excited.

Got Dynamic Balance done here at Willow Run for $250, Sid.
Great City, Victoria. First time there was on my honeymoon!
 
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