Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

[Jeffrey Boccaccio]

Re: Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

Bill:

I have been through this with the Cedar Key incident. AIG will total the aircraft if the fire wall is bent up. That will be the first thing they look at. This is also how they determine if it was an accident or an indecent. Big difference. I also used AIG with fantastic results. These guys were great to work with. 08J was down for a year but at the end of the day she is now better than when I bought her.

I will tell you that all this would not have been possible without the COG. Super support and of course the master himself Frank S. Between him, Robin and the rest of the group brought her back. Also Welch Machine was a major contributor to the rebuild. They will put a top on the value. Since I did not have a prop strike engine tear down did not have to take place. You may want to see what the top value will be. You may be able to strike a deal for a cash outlay and purchase the plane, then rebuild.

I just can't tell you how fortunate I have been with 08J today. Not a hint of damage due to fire wall forward was basically replaced. It is like I have an entire new front end.

If you need any more hints please get to me. Would be nice to keep the fleet in tacked.

Also, the firm that will likely be the salvage company is at my airport. They buy these things and make a bundle on them.

Work through it if you can. If you settle and are happy with the numbers then you always have the best broker in the world on your side. Just give Judi a call.

Good Luck

 

[carllee]

Re: Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

Hi Bill,

Good to hear you're ok! Wow! girlfriend picking up pieces of the airplane that's cool. My wife did the same thing when she got hit in her mini van - went around and collected all of the pieces!

 

[ksandrew]

Re: Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

Jeff,

I have been into Cedar Keys many times. In a 182. but since your incident I have not been back.

Can not think of a worse place to have to recover a plane form.

I like long runways.

 

[Jeffrey Boccaccio]

Re: Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

Ken:

We all should have no trouble landing on 2500 feet. Hell, I have landed many a times before the 1000 foot markers.

The thing about Cedar Key is the wind. The FAA showed me why all these planes end up in the drink there. The north side trees create some crazy wind anomalies when the wind is coming in from the north west. You just have to be on the mark if you want to land there under those conditions.

That day 5 aircraft went off the edge.

Not un common

 

[Bill ONeil]

Re: Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

Hi All,

The insurance adjuster called me Monday and said, right off the bat, " Looks like we'll have to total your aircraft". He must have xray, long range vision as he lives in Atlanta and hasn't seen the plane yet. He's the same guy that took care of Jeff in Ceder Key. I met with the FAA guys yesterday. They went down and looked at the plane and told me the prop was bent, there was a tear in the skin of the right wing and all the fuel leaked out. They also said the cowling was broken, but couldn't tell anymore as the undercarriage was inacessable. They have already released the plane to the insurance company. I then met with the insurance man, a very nice young man, who explained the problem of getting parts and that was the reason for totalling the plane out. Then got a call from the salvage people who will take the plane to a hanger in Ft. Pierce. Looking at the plane from the position it wound up in you see no damage. The top of the wings and the rear fuselage showed no damage. I'll try to get a picture on here to show you. The last thing I have to do is file a report with the NTSB, which I'll do today. Looks like there might be some good parts available soon.

I also have a hanger full of Commander stuff that I've collected over the years. Interior parts, spinner, etc. I'll take inventory and post the list if anyone is interested. Still debating whether or not I'll get another plane.

Thanks again for all your support,

Bill O'Neil

 

[rrolland]

Re: Stone Crab for Lunch Anyone?

Just spoke with Bill a few minutes ago. He is in good spirits. Bill asked me to post some of the pictures of the airplane.

Note the last one. Bill did a masterful job landing just on the edge of the mangrove and before he had to get wet. Very nicely done.

Richard