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Editor’s Briefing
by Rebecca Groom
Annual Assurance
TAhe following editorial is guest written by Jared Jacobs (jaredjacobs2@gmail.com).
s a follow-up to last month’s editor’s briefing linked to major issues in the past. If the alternator suffered (“Annual Anxiety”), I can now happily report a bearing failure, the resulting metal could end up in the 1RW is back to airworthy status. After a few engine oil, resulting in a required teardown, or worse, weeks of scrutiny under the keen eyes of me- engine failure. At the mechanics’ suggestion, we sent the
chanics and inspectors, our F33A Bonanza has been issued alternator for overhaul, plus opted to install an elastomer
a clean bill of health. And though some of my anxiety wasn’t entirely unwarranted, I am now clear of the rite of passage that is an aircraft’s first annual.
To start with the good news, 1RW continues to impress anyone that works on it. The baseline inspections all con- firmed that the 1970 Beechcraft Bonanza is in great shape. The one cylinder we’d been monitoring following some maintenance over the summer rebounded nicely and settled in. All cylinders are now running with compressions over 70 psi. A few AD’s required inspections but thankfully revealed no defects.
Then came the electrical issues. After some digging, it was determined that the alternator was 20 years old with nearly 1,400 hours in service. The mechanics explained this type of alternator had a gear-driven solid drive shaft
2 • TWIN & TURBINE / November 2021
drive coupling that would prevent an alternator failure causing a subsequent engine failure. Beyond the alternator, it seems that the weeks of extreme cold last winter (before we were able to secure an engine compartment heater and battery tender) did a number on our battery. It failed its required 80 percent capacity check – a new battery was needed. These two line items alone equated close to the cost of the standard annual inspection.
At first, when hearing the alternator needed service, combined with the news that previous mechanics poten- tially omitted an AD, I became frustrated these items hadn’t been identified in the pre-buy inspection. If you recall in the last article, I discussed concern whether I made a mistake by not conducting an annual at the time of the pre-buy. In hindsight, I’m not sure it would have mattered