Propeller Overhaul Anywhere, Anytime

Chrisgoesflying

Chrisgoesflying

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Chrisgoesflying
I have a McCauley 3 blade constant speed propeller on my Piper Comanche 250. It has about 700 hours since new in 2004, and around 300 hours since the last overhaul back in 2014.

Here in Canada, we have to overhaul our constant speed propellers every 10 years so it's going to be due next year. Since I have time and flexibility, I am looking for POA's input in regards to good value propeller overhaul shops in the U.S.

In Canada, overhaul shops gauge their prices due to the overhaul mandate. COPA (which is our AOPA) lobbied the government to drop this mandate (because the U.S. doesn't have that mandate), but they lost their lobbying effort because prop shops lobbied harder so that they can continue to charge $3,000 per blade for an overhaul on a 300 hour prop.

My plan is to simply fly the plane to a prop shop somewhere in the U.S. anytime between November and March and get the overhaul done there, hopefully at a much better price than what it would cost up here. I usually spend some time in the southern states in the winter anyways to escape the Canadian cold for a little while so I could combine that trip with the prop work.

So, my question: Do you guys have any recommendations for prop shops in the U.S. that are good value for money? Ideally, I'd like to stay east of the rockies and far enough south to get temps in the 50s e.g. Dallas, Nashville, Charlotte and further south from that line.
 
The obvious first question is whether the overhaul facility needs to be a Canadian government certified repair station, in order to satisfy the maintenance requirements for a Canadian registered aircraft?

For an N-registered aircraft a propeller overhaul would need to be performed by an FAA repair station, hence the question.
 
Tusayan said:
The obvious first question is whether the overhaul facility needs to be a Canadian government certified repair station, in order to satisfy the maintenance requirements for a Canadian registered aircraft?

For an N-registered aircraft a propeller overhaul would need to be performed by an FAA repair station, hence the question.
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Nope. It’s doesn’t have to be a Canadian facility. FAA or TC authorized facility would satisfy the requirement.
 
Hmm!

Folks in New York send / go to Hope Propeller near Toronto.

Not one has ever said anything bad.
 
+1 (850) 482-5577

Don’t even know the name of the shop. But my contact there is a woman named Charity. Near Mobile? The repair shop I ran, in Gulf Shores, used them.

Have also used Southern Propeller in Birmingham.
 
Tools said:
+1 (850) 482-5577

Don’t even know the name of the shop. But my contact there is a woman named Charity. Near Mobile? The repair shop I ran, in Gulf Shores, used them.

Have also used Southern Propeller in Birmingham.
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That phone number goes to Air Prop Specialist in Marianna, Florida.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
My plan is to simply fly the plane to a prop shop somewhere in the U.S. anytime between November and March and get the overhaul done there,
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Is your plan to vacation in the same area as well?
 
Rocky Mtn Propeller, Erie in Colorado. I agree, leave the plane for a few days, rent a car, do some sightseeing. Rocky Mtn National Park is close by, lots of POA members in the state, Royal Gorge (and the railroad!), Boulder (Colorado's answer to Marin County in California), Leadville (after you get the prop - fly to Leadville & get your cert that you landed at the highest airport in continental US), Yellowstone is about an 8 hr drive, etc.

https://www.rockyprop.com/
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
If the area is nice enough yes. If it’s not nice, I’d leave the plane there, rent a car and drive somewhere nice from there.
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Not every prop shop is located on an airport or provides remove/install services. One option could be to pick a vacation spot and look for a local A&P or shop to pull the prop and send it in for OH? I'm sure someone here from FL or similar area could recommend a name close to a decent beach, etc.?
 
I was planning to use https://stallingsaircraftpropeller.com/ at the recommendation of a mechanic friend. He's near Memphis. I emailed him, and he called me back and we talked about propellers for half an hour. He just built a new shop on an airport so he can offer fly in service. He gets pretty busy in the winter doing ag props, but I bet he'd fit you in in his shoulder season.

Unfortunately when I had my unplanned engine iran in Georgia, I decided to have the prop overhauled while it was off and we selected a closer shop. Wound up going to Southcoast Propeller in Bessemer, AL (suburb of Birmingham). No complaints about them, other than they took a bit longer than promised.

As bell206 said, prop shops more often than not seem to be off airport. They usually offer a pick up service to shops in their region. Finding a decent mechanic who can fit you in might be the first step. That was one of the things I liked about stallings... you could fly in and he could do the whole job right there.
 
Does it have to be overhauled or will an IRAN suffice?

With an overhaul, they HAVE to grind and reprofile the blades. Which can be done only a few times before you have to replace the blades for being too small.

Mid Atlantic area there is Sensenich Prop at Lancaster, PA (KLNS).
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
I have a McCauley 3 blade constant speed propeller on my Piper Comanche 250. It has about 700 hours since new in 2004, and around 300 hours since the last overhaul back in 2014.

Here in Canada, we have to overhaul our constant speed propellers every 10 years so it's going to be due next year. Since I have time and flexibility, I am looking for POA's input in regards to good value propeller overhaul shops in the U.S.

In Canada, overhaul shops gauge their prices due to the overhaul mandate. COPA (which is our AOPA) lobbied the government to drop this mandate (because the U.S. doesn't have that mandate), but they lost their lobbying effort because prop shops lobbied harder so that they can continue to charge $3,000 per blade for an overhaul on a 300 hour prop.

My plan is to simply fly the plane to a prop shop somewhere in the U.S. anytime between November and March and get the overhaul done there, hopefully at a much better price than what it would cost up here. I usually spend some time in the southern states in the winter anyways to escape the Canadian cold for a little while so I could combine that trip with the prop work.

So, my question: Do you guys have any recommendations for prop shops in the U.S. that are good value for money? Ideally, I'd like to stay east of the rockies and far enough south to get temps in the 50s e.g. Dallas, Nashville, Charlotte and further south from that line.
Click to expand...

I wouldn’t disclose you had the overhaul to customs on return.
 
Air Prop Specialists. Marianna, Florida. KMAI. I've used them for eddy current inspections, prop overhaul, governor overhaul, prop hub overhaul/replacement. Happy with their work, fair prices, quick turn around.
 
So, we decided on the location for this winter. We are going to San Antonio. Any prop shops around the area you guys can recommend?
 
Byam at FTW is well regarded in my circles, but no direct experience/anecdata.
 
My shop swears by Tiffin Aire in Ohio. I just had mine resealed / repaired there. I can report back after I get some time on it. Their service was fast and on time. Better than I can say for the altimeter work I had done at a big avionics place.
 
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