Annual/Maintenance Costs

[flattie45]

Reading through some recent topics there has been discussion on maintenance costs, certified vs. experimental, ownership, etc.

I owned a 1946 Cessna 140 for almost eight years. The average annual was right around $1000. I think the cheapest was $700. Just from reading through some posts it seems that most people are paying less, even on more complex aircraft. I am very happy with the job my mechanic did, and figure that the price was all part of keeping a 60+ year old aircraft in airworthy shape. I never did an owner assisted annual, so there would be room to gain some knowledge and maybe get a break on price.

So I am curious; what is everybody paying for their annuals? If you respond, please include any factors, such as aircraft complexity, age, condition, etc.

-Nate

[lesuther]

Mine for my 182 vary- my mechanic knows I'm very active on maintenance, and only does the minimums. Mine have been way under $1k for a vanilla inspection, crank n pulley greasing, strut, engine work over, miscellaneous minor replacements, etc. In exchange, I spend around 40 hours a year doing the owner maintenance items most folks prefer to have done by a genuine professional; whichever way gives you the most peace of mind is the way to go. But I feel lucky to have the mechanic I do- he tries to keep costs low, understands my budget, and really does a professional job.

[rjb]

800 hr 2006 Maule MX-180C with Donaldson air filter and quick change oil valve

I am billed labor at $90/hour.

For me, what is best is to do an owner-assisted 100 hr/annual by providing oil, filter, and doing all the screw/panel removal and re-installation. I think this saved me about $850 this last time which was used up on repairing my mufflers.

My 100 hr/annual has always come in somewhat more than $2000. So far, the most was $2400 when I did not assist and replaced the 8.50 mains.

-Dick

[whee]

The owner assisted annuals on my 1947 Luscombe run slightly under $500. When I used to take it to a mechanic that did most of the work (I removed and reinstalled all the interior and panels) it was about $1000. The plane is in pretty good shape but it is old and there is usually a short squawk list at annual time.

[flattie45]

I guess I forgot to include factors affecting my costs. The 140 had an O-290. My first annual was way over $1000, as I had to replace all four cylinders. Once the cylinders were replaced the engine was great. Afterwards I had to have the prop re-pitched. When I bought the plane there was about 10,600 hours on the airframe and around 750 hours SMOH on the engine. It's hard to beat those little Cessnas for simplicity.

After the first annual there really wasn't anything major. Some patches on the fabric, replacing various bolts (rudder attach bolts, gear extender bolts, etc) and normal annual activities. Like I said, all part of keeping an old airframe airworthy.

I like the idea of the owner-assisted annual. I am gone from home a couple weeks at a time, so it was convenient to drop the plane off before hand and it would be ready when I returned.

-Nate

[Glidergeek]

My O/A annuals never run over $300-$400 C-180

[c170pete]

54 170 with cont io360. Owner assisted annuals have always been ~$400 plus whatever parts, usually not too much though. I do most of the work, it's already in pretty good shape and the squawk list is always kept pretty short.

[robw56]

I do owner assisted annuals on my 53' 170B, it costs me $150... makes the 900nm round trip to Washington worth it!

[akflyer2001]

I have seen annuals in the Fairbanks area go has high as $7,500 and even higher. It was a time when people dint know and thought they had to go to the East Ramp to a place we will leave nameless. A friend of mine got had for $10,000 on his 206 back in 1994 for his annual. He asked what I payed and I told him about $500 bucks.Now days I do my annuals my self and a friend of mine checks my work when I am done. He is an I/A , A/P. From what I have seen in the past we where getting riped off for some time. Now we have a great group of people doing annuals in the area at a reasonable coast. There are still a few robbers out there so please beware and let people know about them.

[OregonMaule]

2000 Maule M7 Flat rate $1200 and they do everything and I mean everything on the Maule factory annual check list. As much as I fly I always have a list of squawks. That adds a few more $$

G'Day

[Brian - Steve's Aircraft]

We charge a flat rate of $330.00 plus parts, oil, filter etc if needed for assisted annual inspections. If non assist, it is shop rate at $45.00 hour. Usually takes 8 to 12 hours for non assist depending on the aircraft model.

I get a lot of questions on how we can keep our rates low and I answer simply that we have no overhead. We own the land, buildings and all the tools in the shop. Not having to pay for a lease at a big municipal airport helps out a lot. Makes it so that we can keep guys flying that otherwise would not be able to afford it.

Right now is our busiest time of year when it comes to doing annual inspections..... Have at least 4 a week for the next couple of months... Could not be able to do that if it was just one guy in the shop but since it is me and my dad we have been able to keep up with the demand.

Brian.

[flynengr]

I pay $400 flat rate for O/A annual; labor for any repairs/squawks $50/hr extra. 1953 Cessna 180.

Last year got a little spendy with a replacement #1 jug, attitude indicator that went T/U that I deferred to the annual, new oil cooler, magnetos IRAN, replacement of all vacuum hoses to prevent second AI failure, rotating tires on wheels to extend service, etc. I was over $2,500 at the endpoint, but did a lot of stuff.

The 172 with the same IA on the other hand, non-owner assist, $700. No squawks, no deficiencies. With partners it is just cleaner to leave all of the wrenching to the pro.

Flynengr

[260Driver]

I think I was at $1300 this last year, owner assisted + squawks...it was my first, hopefully the next will go smoother and cheaper

[Cary]

My IA charges $800 for the annual on my P172D, parts and repairs extra, plus whatever else I've decided I can't live without. I don't enjoy mechanical work at all any more, so he does it all. He plays it honestly, and if he tells me that something will take 3 hours to install, he charges me 3 hours labor--even if it takes him 3 days to do it. I trust him--I have to! He's been taking care of my airplane for more than 8 years; he's done a good job.

Cary

[hotrod150]

The last 2 independent IA's I've worked with on O/A annuals charged me about $50/hour, usually a half-day or less for the inspection & paperwork with me doing all the grunt work plus all the maintenance beforehand. O/A annual at the local shop in years past was a bit more, the owner told me he charged a minimum of $400 even if it should be less than that based on shop time-- otherwise it wasn't worth it for him to assume the liability of signing it off.
That's his perogative, it's his shop, but that attitude was why I went elsewhere. And I'm glad I did, I get a better inspection with the guy I work with now.
I kinda shake my head when guys gripe about what their mechanic charges for annuals, when it tunrs out that they never even bother to investigate other options. That keeps a lot of shops in business I think.

[akflyer2001]

The price of annuals around the Country is pretty compatable now days. I think most of the rip offs are out of bisness now days.

[182 STOL driver]

Annual is by HP and other factors - first annual on this particular aircraft is $4.00 per HP / 2 motors $5.00 per HP /wheels go up and down add $1.00 to base . This is for owner assist annual If we do the whole enchaladaI it's $75.00 a hour - this is all Inspection ONLY - maintance or extras $75.00 a hour .