First Annual (Owner Assist) - Lots of Pics

netsurfr · May 7, 2015

Well my (new to us as of last October) Dakota went into annual and I'm doing an owner assisted annual. So far things are going well. Learning a ton about the plane but I already appreciate why annuals take/cost so much. So many darn screws to remove and I've only gotten the wings & tail cone ones out so far. Compressions were all in the mid to high 70's, timing was spot on, no metal in the oil filter and oil is going out for analysis so things are looking good. Sending parts of the exhaust shroud out for repair but overall all is good. Spent a lot of time really cleaning the engine & compartment and it looks great now. Today we lifted the plane & took the wheels out to clean/inspect/etc... Installing new break pads & doing the Oleo strut service tomorrow. A&P commented that the inside of the wings look like new. It's going to take another 2 weeks to wrap it up as I have some extra things that I want done and some goodies to have installed.

On the list of goodies are..

New stabilator tip, new rudder fin cap w/ Aveo Galactica Red Baron LED Beacon & Wheelen LED rudder position light (after these 2 all my lights will be LED along with the HID wingtip landing lights), Steve's Gascoloator, Rosen Visors, Door Steward, new pilot side seat rails, 406 ELT, new Tempest plugs, paint wing walk, caulk all windows, new placards and switch decals from Arrow Graphics, and new brake pads & nose wheel tire/tube.

I'm really enjoying and learning quite a bit assisting in the annual. It's a great way to learn & see the ins/out of your plane so highly recommended!

Here are some pictures... Last one is some plane porn from my neighbor's P51. Great day so he & buddy (T6 Texan) went for a flight. Beautiful birds!