Attention aviation mechs ... what would you do? If you got an offer for a free twin engine aircraft that was abandoned?

https://youtu.be/aVvHYTtHDrc

Would what you do?

Walk away. The guy said the engines are "locked up". I heard "frozen by corrosion".

Truth is, I wouldn't worry too much about the airframe and interior, that's straight forward restoration work. That would be a good project.

But, the engines? Those are probably good for boat anchors. But, who knows, until you start taking them apart?

I am just a viewer ... is there any Salvage value to the parts?

I didn't watch the whole video, just kinda jump in in places, so I may not have the whole story, plus I don't work in general aviation, so I don't know all those FAR's.

boacvc10 wrote:

I am just a viewer ... is there any Salvage value to the parts?

Probably not for use on another aircraft. The interior has been expose to the elements for years, so it's likely junk. I guess the instruments can be sold on ebay to folks that like that kinda stuff.

Like I said, the engines are probably the biggest deal, even if you could turn them through, they'd likely have to be torn down and overhauled since their condition is unknown. What can be used in there, who knows?

Again, the airframe and the interior would be straight restoration work. In addition to birds, I suspect rodents have probably made the aircraft their home, so wiring is probably junk, and the lower fuselage would probably have corrosion through out. But, an A&P should be able do all that work.

But, the engines...a quick look in the Google machine tells us that the cost of a rebuilt TSIO-520-E engine is around $45,000, so $90K in engines, assuming the shop would take the installed engines as cores.

boacvc10 wrote:

Attention aviation mechs ... what would you do? If you got an offer for a free twin engine aircraft that was abandoned?

https://youtu.be/aVvHYTtHDrc

Would what you do?

I don’t think it would interest an A&P, just too much work.

Logbooks are missing.

zeke wrote:

I don’t think it would interest an A&P, just too much work.

Really? I know quite a few A&P's that have taken on restoration projects. It's a hobby. Not for me, but to each his own.

zeke wrote:

Logbooks are missing.

I'm sure that can be overcome. This wouldn't be the first aircraft ever salvaged. And, do you know the owner doesn't have the books? The guy said he was able to get in touch with him.

fr8mech wrote:

Really? I know quite a few A&P's that have taken on restoration projects. It's a hobby. Not for me, but to each his own.

The 400 series had a very expensive AD that came in around the time this aircraft stopped flying, it related to the spar, replacement spars were going for around 100k. Putting 1+1 together I figure that’s why it stopped flying.

fr8mech wrote:

And, do you know the owner doesn't have the books? The guy said he was able to get in touch with him.

It’s in the video that the logbooks were missing.

I've seen plenty of those poor things are local airports. How much money do you want to spend? A set of engines and props will start around 100k. How about log books? Don't have any? run away. Even if they gave this thing for $1, I don't think you can make it worth fair market value without putting that much money into it. Buy an airworthy plane. BTW, with your low experience, stay away from Cessna and Beech twins. Get a multiengine rating in an Aztec or something that's a good trainer and will not bite you.

113312 ... I am not related to the original YouTuber who posted that video. Unsure of who you called out for low experience.. just thought it would make for interesting conversation on airliners.net Technical Forum.

Pretty smart move by the owner - if you get it to start its yours - aka - your problem to dispose of.....
Interesting to see if he can get it to run. Even if he gets both engines started it's a long (and unlikely) way from being able to actually fly anywhere.

Anything is possible with a deep enough check book but based on the condition and missing log books, the only way this gets rebuilt is an insane amount of YT clicks. I guess you could cut the thing up and manufacturer some cool aviation furniture from it, that was my initial thought but I’m sure that doesn’t come cheap as you’d probably need to meet a number of environmental requirements to dismantle the aircraft.

The real question is whether you'd want a 401 in the first place, knowing that you likely need 2 engines, when you can get an earlier model 414 (non A model) for less than $100,000 with life left on the engines.

zeke wrote:

fr8mech wrote:

Really? I know quite a few A&P's that have taken on restoration projects. It's a hobby. Not for me, but to each his own.

The 400 series had a very expensive AD that came in around the time this aircraft stopped flying, it related to the spar, replacement spars were going for around 100k. Putting 1+1 together I figure that’s why it stopped flying.

The aircraft would need to have a ton to hours to need the spar replaced. As in 15000 hours. Very few aircraft in the 400 series fleet have that. They're about $75000 though.

N1120A wrote:

The aircraft would need to have a ton to hours to need the spar replaced. As in 15000 hours. Very few aircraft in the 400 series fleet have that. They're about $75000 though.

It was 6500 hrs for the aircraft with tip tanks https://www.aopa.org/-/media/Files/AOPA ... ce05ad.pdf

Back then you couldn’t get the kits and only a few shops were authorised to install them.

zeke wrote:

N1120A wrote:

The aircraft would need to have a ton to hours to need the spar replaced. As in 15000 hours. Very few aircraft in the 400 series fleet have that. They're about $75000 though.

It was 6500 hrs for the aircraft with tip tanks https://www.aopa.org/-/media/Files/AOPA ... ce05ad.pdf

Back then you couldn’t get the kits and only a few shops were authorised to install them.

That AD ended after a year or less. I doubt this airplane sat because of it.

“Jimmy’s world” is a very entertaining YouTube-channel that does this kinda thing a lot better;-) Extremely feel good, with a self-depreciation twist, but you can sense the hard work and expertise that goes into it!

N1120A wrote:

That AD ended after a year or less. I doubt this airplane sat because of it.

Part 2 of the video is now out, I was correct it was parked because of that AD

Source https://youtu.be/FfA93Q8ofb4

N1120A wrote:

The real question is whether you'd want a 401 in the first place, knowing that you likely need 2 engines, when you can get an earlier model 414 (non A model) for less than $100,000 with life left on the engines.

That seals the deal right there, end of story. Screw the hulk

zeke wrote:

N1120A wrote:

That AD ended after a year or less. I doubt this airplane sat because of it.

After watching that second video, I'm certain this thing will never fly. They'll get the engines started and clean it up to make it look nice, but that's about it.

Still worth watching, IMO.

They got the LH engine started https://youtu.be/tEg-cahPKKs

The lack of log books is NOT a deal breaker, just requires a lot of hoops to jump through. Getting the airplane in an airworthy condition to operate in the US is a fool's errand. Back in the day it may have made a square grouper freighter.

extender wrote:

Back in the day it may have made a square grouper freighter.

Hahahahah! That's a term I haven't heard in a long time!

Nowadays, those guys are rolling in Hawker 700s and GIIIs.

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi.

On ep6 he did a lot of work engine #2 but could not succeed in getting it started. I wonder if his insistence in reusing ancient parts is hurting him. At least, he could take the working spark plugs from #1 to make sure the cylinders get enough spark. I know he tested visually but if the spark plugs were already in bad shape .... and filters, and pumps, it's got to be something simple as both engines worked when the aircraft was shutdown.

This reminds me of the guy who bought an RB211 and started it up in his back yard.

https://youtu.be/z8bIXeM0RJ8?t=95