Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray
- UncleSpud
- 2 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:17 am
- First Name: Chip
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N622GG
- Airports: KFHB
- Has thanked: 4 times
Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
I've flown my DA42 for three years now following owning a DA40 for 5 years before that and love them both.
Last month I was charged 6 hours labor for my 100 hour inspection for each engine (12 hours). When I challenged the time, I was told to have future service work done elsewhere since "no one else questions my invoices." This was the same repair shop I have been going to for 6 years.
So, I took his advise and I've started looking for another shop for my next DA42 annual. And I am very frustrated by what I have found. There are very few shops throughout the US that have experience on the DA42 and the one that gave me a flat rate labor-only inspection rate was at $3,020.00.
I'm just getting tired of being taken advantage of and want to know if someone will recommend a shop that will charge honestly for the work they do.
Last month I was charged 6 hours labor for my 100 hour inspection for each engine (12 hours). When I challenged the time, I was told to have future service work done elsewhere since "no one else questions my invoices." This was the same repair shop I have been going to for 6 years.
So, I took his advise and I've started looking for another shop for my next DA42 annual. And I am very frustrated by what I have found. There are very few shops throughout the US that have experience on the DA42 and the one that gave me a flat rate labor-only inspection rate was at $3,020.00.
I'm just getting tired of being taken advantage of and want to know if someone will recommend a shop that will charge honestly for the work they do.
- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 2006
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N972RD
- Airports: KFHR
- Has thanked: 319 times
- Been thanked: 527 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
We need a wiki of shops and various experiences with them. I assume that you don't want to travel too far.
I just have a relatively good experience with SouthTec Aviation, KRUQ, but they are quite far north of you. Do you mean that you have already dealt with Premiere, since they are the place near to you and are clearly the local Diamond experts?
I just have a relatively good experience with SouthTec Aviation, KRUQ, but they are quite far north of you. Do you mean that you have already dealt with Premiere, since they are the place near to you and are clearly the local Diamond experts?
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- cptndavid
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:59 pm
- First Name: David
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N16FA
- Airports: N87
- Has thanked: 157 times
- Been thanked: 56 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
I took my airplane to Take Flight in Orange County NY this year ( Feb.). I will with hold comment until after I get my plane back.
I have used Glenn for the prior 3 years including the 345 R install. Very pleased with South Tec service, friendly attitude and pricing.
I have used Glenn for the prior 3 years including the 345 R install. Very pleased with South Tec service, friendly attitude and pricing.
- ZAV
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 1:40 am
- First Name: Bryan
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N387DS
- Airports: KLEX
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
This was one of the top reasons I didn’t buy a new DA40NG.
- Don
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 377
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:15 pm
- First Name: Don
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N623DS
- Airports: KTOA
- Has thanked: 123 times
- Been thanked: 162 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
Good Idea Colin. I have been generally been paying $1700 to $2400 for annuals on my Lycoming DA40 depending if it is a year when I have to replace back up battery and instrument biannual check. My A&P is based at KTOA, Torrance CA. Curious to know what others are paying.
Diamond Star XLS, N623DS, SN40.1076
- pietromarx
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2016 2:52 am
- First Name: Peter
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: NZZZ
- Airports: KWHP
- Has thanked: 29 times
- Been thanked: 157 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
That's the same as what I pay for a Lycoming DA40 with batteries and IFR at KWHP with Vista. Very straightforward and extremely predictable.Don wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2019 2:42 amGood Idea Colin. I have been generally been paying $1700 to $2400 for annuals on my Lycoming DA40 depending if it is a year when I have to replace back up battery and instrument biannual check. My A&P is based at KTOA, Torrance CA. Curious to know what others are paying.
- CFIDave
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 2682
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:40 pm
- First Name: Dave
- Aircraft Type: OTHER
- Aircraft Registration: N333GX
- Airports: KJYO Leesburg VA
- Has thanked: 234 times
- Been thanked: 1480 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
As one of the few owners who has experience doing his own 100 hour servicing on Austro engines (DA42 and now DA62), I can say it probably takes me 6 hours total to do *both* engines, each requiring:
1. Drain engine oil and replace with new oil (I take samples and send to Blackstone for analysis)
2. Replace genuine Mercedes oil filter, check old paper insert for debris
3. Drain gearbox oil while running through a "coffee filter" to check for debris
4. Examine gearbox oil magnetic drain plug to check for metal
5. Pull out tiny gearbox oil filter and examine for debris, clean filter and put back in (replace with new only every 300 hours)
6. Refill gearbox by pouring original gearbox oil back in (replace with new oil every 300 hours)
7. Remove and replace MAN fuel filter (located behind the firewall inside engine nacelle)
A lot of these steps also require replacement of safety wire.
But if you check the Austro and Diamond aircraft maintenance manuals, there are many additional inspections and checks also recommended every 100 hours, such as using the Austro Wizard software to download engine logs and examining for/clearing faults. (This isn't much different for TDI Thielert/Continental engines and gearboxes)
I'm wondering if the shop charging you 12 hours also did these other recommended 100 hour checks? If so, 12 hours may be reasonable.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 2006
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N972RD
- Airports: KFHR
- Has thanked: 319 times
- Been thanked: 527 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
I will be very interested to hear about Take Flight, since they are a lot closer to me (at least when I am based at OWD) than any of the other shops I've been using regularly.
What shop are people using in the Seattle area?
What shop are people using in the Seattle area?
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- Boatguy
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 1866
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
- First Name: Russ
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N962M
- Airports: KSTS
- Has thanked: 1366 times
- Been thanked: 1196 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
FWIW, Diamond quotes 13 hours for the 100hr inspection on a DA40 NG. Obviously that’s a single engine, but more or less same airframe.
- UncleSpud
- 2 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:17 am
- First Name: Chip
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N622GG
- Airports: KFHB
- Has thanked: 4 times
Re: Diamond Owners Being Taken Advantage Of - Maintenance
Dave, they charged me 3 hrs each side on my last 100hr. My comment to him was “so are you going to charge me 12 hours each side next time?!?”
I just came across Fixed Wing Maintenance out of Lalkeland, FL that work on DA42’s. Does anyone have experience with them they would like to share?
I just came across Fixed Wing Maintenance out of Lalkeland, FL that work on DA42’s. Does anyone have experience with them they would like to share?