Loss of an engine

[TomM]

I am sure the STC is somewhat costly in comparison to what it is - cutting a hole in the firewall. I think Aviation Enterprises is the only one that has the STC. I have not talked to them yet, but do you remember how much it was?

[mshac]

I wonder if you could buy one off a parts plane, like that yellow P-model that's being parted out on here? I attached a pic of the access hatch on a pressurized model, I have no idea if its different on a non-pressurized.

[Dan schultz]

STC?

As far as I can tell it would be a minor alteration. Many Skymasters have that access panel.

Dan

[YankeeClipper]

I asked Owen about this earlier this week, and he is currently offering (through December) the kit for $2k, down from 3k, and $2.5k for installation vs 3.5k normally.

[n86121]

I can see the benefit, but $4,500 installed buys a lot of AP time.

How complex to install?

Any installation manual available to get an idea of it?

[mshac]

There's a theory in the Bonanza world that if an option was offered on a later model, it can be added to an earlier model without an STC. There's reasonable limits to this line of thinking of course.

An example is installing a modern instrument panel in an older Bonanza. This is done frequently, and I don't think there is any STC for it. You just do it.

Same thing with switching out the early nose gear brace with a beefier one from a later model. Again, you just do it. Its a factory part approved for later models.

Or upgrading the controls to modern ramshorns - you just do it.

There are many other examples I could cite, but you get the idea.

This line of thinking could potentially be applied to the rear access hatch.

[YankeeClipper]

Originally Posted by n86121

I can see the benefit, but $4,500 installed buys a lot of AP time.

How complex to install?

Any installation manual available to get an idea of it?

There can be no arguing this point. The inner conflict comes in when you try to get a price check on the safety aspect of it. You unfortunately cannot pay an IA to not get frustrated and give up early when checking the two bolts on that mag.

I think Owen's estimate on labor was 40 hours.

[Learjetter]

AC 43.13b gives some good advice on making repairs to metal skins and structures. Imagine your rear non-pressurized firewall had corrosion or a crack and your remediation efforts resulted in a hole in the rear firewall. A forward-thinking A&P & IA team would be expected to fabricate an acceptable repair to that area, consulting the appropriate service manuals. The same enterprising A&P & IA team could agree to make the repair removable, thus creating an access hatch where one was not previously. Such a repair would probably be a minor repair logbook entry or at most a major repair needing a form 337 citing the appropriate repair manual as approved data.

[wslade2]

A couple years ago it was around $4000 for the rear access hatch STC when I talked to Aviation Enterprise without install. Was looking at a number of items they had or had STC for. As reported, price is down. However, get nervous thinking about cutting that rear firewall. Would hate to contemplate replacing it if something screwed up.

[YankeeClipper]

I also have to get some real world feedback on the impact to cabin noise. Sure enough, there is the argument to be made that all bets are off on noise issues, at least on early models. But noisier is worse no matter how I slice it, ANC be damned.