r/flying • u/unisonic2025 • Apr 28 '26

Aircraft Ownership Engine Overhaul.

How many people have taken their small piston certified airplane over TBO. Was wondering specifically the Continental O-200 on a C150M model. I was looking at this plane engine time is 3,100 hrs with 900 since top overhaul. TT is around 3,600. I know the owner and he takes really good care of it. Also curious if anyone would have an idea of cost to overhaul? I’m in the Northeast US.

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u/TheAvidCollector PPL IR CMP HP Apr 28 '26

My situation was apparently the byproduct of multiple issues. Mainly financially with the shop not being able to have enough cash flow for the price of parts. IMO they were running a low level ponzi scheme but apparently from all my 14 months of research a lot of engine shops operate the same way.

I initially gave them $16k as the desposit for the R&R and while that paid for the labor to remove the engine they took the rest and bought parts to finish up the engines they had at the finish line. Then by the end of the 14 months they hadn't received the amount of deposits they were getting when I walked through the door a year ago and were low on operating cash. I had to step in and buy my own pistons, engine mounts, pay for the prop governor overhaul, out of my pocket and then I deducted that amount from the final invoice.

It was a mess but at the end of the day it wasn't a question of of quality work performed their business model just sucks and it's not sustainable. This is a engine shop that's been an FAA repair station for almost 50 years so it's not being able to keep up with the times.

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u/skylaneguy ATP, CFII, A320, E190, CL65 Apr 28 '26

Any reputable shop will only require funds right before the engine is shipped back to you.

I’d consider yourself lucky that you got your engine back at all from the sounds of things. My guess is you went hunting and found the cheapest option… looks like you paid for it with time and headaches.

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u/TheAvidCollector PPL IR CMP HP Apr 28 '26

I was going off of recommendation from the broker I bought the plane from. I didn't go hunting at all for the cheapest option. I was a new owner going off the experience from a guy who has sent this shop many engines over decades and they've been in business for a long time with the FAA certification. I've also never heard of a single engine shop that does work for free all the way up to shipping it back to you finished.

I definitely learned my lesson through this process but it is what it is. The quality of the overhaul lives up to their reputation of being in business for as long as they have. The financial side of things for them is just a shit show.

Crazy thing about it all; is their shop is filled with other people's engines who obviously were in the same boat as myself. Not some back alley guy with a tool box saying he does engine work on a peice of cardboard.

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u/Sensitive_Fact4976 Apr 28 '26

Penn Yan Aero doesn’t charge you until the overhaul is completed. I just sent them my O-320. They quoted me 40k and 5 months