This is the story of owning and operating a 1993 Beech Bonanza A36 in the UK and some of its adventures.
Well next week I was hoping to buzz off in the Bonanza to the Malta Air Rally with some friends for a long weekend but unfortunately today I have had some news I wasnt expecting. My plane was in the process of being swapped onto the G reg when the engineer doing the annual inspection discovered that the compressions were low on 5 out of 6 cylinders. One cylinder would not be good enough to pass the certification I believe and the other 4 low ones were just and so good enough to pass but worringly low.
Now the plane has only done about 80 hours since its last annual and certification onto the N reg so either somebody has been not checking correctly before or the engine has gone downhill rapidly in a fairly short time.
Whatever the reason I am faced with a decision. There were three options but option one (an re-seating of the valves only and then see if it imrpoved) was dismissed immediately so we were down to two.
Option two was a top end overhaul at £2100 plus parts if required
Option three was a brand new set of Beech Bonanza Cylinders and Pistons at £6000.
I chose the overhaul option as the cylinders have only done 600 hours in their 11 years of life.
This was an expense I was not expecting and has also come on top of the re-certifcation costs which are not cheap.
I will keep you all informed of the costs as I go along. It helps to have someones shoulder to cry on.
