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General Aviation Maintenance Costs?
- Thread starter jeena1
- Start date
Pretty sure engine for a small single is going to be around $2,000. Prices for the parts and labor are going to be so variable depending on location, the A&P and where they order parts from. Seems like I remember seeing annual+100hrs over a 1,000, but i worked at a small airport and they usually had to replace parts during most 100hrs. pretty sure google would be much more sucessful for these questions
Way too low. Probably $12k plus minimum if you are really lucky.
Google is your friend. Just one example:
http://www.dongeorgeaircraft.com/lycoming.htm
I looked into this out of curiosity and supposedly some shops allow you to assist with the annual, making it cheaper.
As a certified pilot (even student pilot!) you are allowed to do any preventative and basic maintenance on the aircraft. Change the oil, tires, brake pads, flush/bleed brakes, lubricate hinges, change bulbs, etc.
What really hurts is when you break something, avionics/flight instruments shit the bed, you have to overhaul the engine ($$$), or have to replace the prop.
Seems that it's like owning a boat. But worse.
As a certified pilot (even student pilot!) you are allowed to do any preventative and basic maintenance on the aircraft. Change the oil, tires, brake pads, flush/bleed brakes, lubricate hinges, change bulbs, etc.
What really hurts is when you break something, avionics/flight instruments shit the bed, you have to overhaul the engine ($$$), or have to replace the prop.
Seems that it's like owning a boat. But worse.
I fly charter and flight instruct for an FBO, and have my A&P, too. The costs are really going to vary based on the condition of the aircraft. For small singles, (Piper 140, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, etc) the engine can run anywhere from 12,000 to 18,000 give or take. Annuals can run $1,500 and up, especially up. Any older a/c is going to need TLC and that costs money. Some shops allow the owner to help to some extent (opening up and closing inspection plates) but liability causes some shops to avoid that practice. The reality is, whatever you pay for the plane is just the entry fee for owing it. And if you decide to buy an a/c, have a pre-buy inspection done by someone that you hire to look it over, you'll be surprised at what they find. Good luck!
GroundPounder
Well-Known Member
About 50% more than you thought and or were told it would be.:icon_mi_1
Yak52, are you a member of the Red Star organization?
Yak52, are you a member of the Red Star organization?
Let me preface this by saying I've never rebuilt an airplane engine. My experience is limited to auto and motorcycle engines.
That being said, where in the hell does all of this expense come from??!? I just can't see parts for a mill based upon 1950's reciprocating engine technology being that expensive. I guess what I'm getting at is this...is there a legitimate reason that these overhauls are so expensive (is there something I'm overlooking?), or is it simply a case of stamping the word 'AVIATION' on the product/service and tripling the price?
And I assume you can not rebuild your own engine without an A&P cert, correct?
Let me preface this by saying I've never rebuilt an airplane engine. My experience is limited to auto and motorcycle engines.
That being said, where in the hell does all of this expense come from??!? I just can't see parts for a mill based upon 1950's reciprocating engine technology being that expensive. I guess what I'm getting at is this...is there a legitimate reason that these overhauls are so expensive (is there something I'm overlooking?), or is it simply a case of stamping the word 'AVIATION' on the product/service and tripling the price?
And I assume you can not rebuild your own engine without an A&P cert, correct?
Aircraft parts in general are very expensive because of the liability insurance costs the manufacturer has to pay in case they get dragged into court by some airplane driver that messed up and wants someone else to pay for their stupidity. That's why Cessna quite manufacturing single engine a/c until Congress enacted a limit on how long they are liable. But you're right, the technology for the most part is based on old designs.
That being said, where in the hell does all of this expense come from??!? I just can't see parts for a mill based upon 1950's reciprocating engine technology being that expensive. I guess what I'm getting at is this...is there a legitimate reason that these overhauls are so expensive (is there something I'm overlooking?), or is it simply a case of stamping the word 'AVIATION' on the product/service and tripling the price?
The overhauls I've seen people do seemed to be more aptly what we used to call a Redneck Oil Change: drain the fluids, pull the motor. Get New motor and drop it in. Refill the plane.
You ship the motor to Continental or Penn Yan Aero or similar, they give you a core credit, and you essentially buy a brand new motor. They replace EVERYTHING and sell your old motor to the next guy. Which adds up.
Even though one of my personal goals is to own a cool private aircraft, I'm reminded of the saying,"A boat is a hole in the water you fill with money, a plane is a hole in the sky, a seaplane is both."
I own a Yak 52, and if I didn't have my A&P, I wouldn't be able to. Just the labor on the annual I did would have cost almost 3K if I'd paid someone else to do it. The great thing is, being in the experimental catagory I can get parts for a lot less than I'd pay if it was a production a/c.
