I bought N4875D in fall 2012. It’s the first and only airplane I’ve owned, a Mooney M20F. As with any vintage vehicle, it’s been an adventure tracking down the various nits, bugs and deferred maintenance items. We’d been through the hydraulics, engine, prop and fuel system. When I took it in for an annual this past October, we’d mostly come to the end of the list of things to fix, so I went ahead and had the generator swapped out for a new Plane-Power alternator kit.
Post-Maintenance Test Pilot
Key Takeaways:
- During the first flight after an alternator upgrade, the pilot experienced a sudden and severe engine oil leak that obscured the windshield shortly after takeoff, forcing an immediate emergency return and landing with limited visibility.
- The oil leak was eventually traced to a high-pressure line for the prop governor that had been left completely loose by the mechanic after being moved during the alternator installation.
- The author emphasizes the critical importance of extensive ground testing, including warm-ups, run-ups, and even aborted high-speed takeoffs, after any engine compartment maintenance to detect potential issues before committing to flight, as the pilot effectively becomes a "test pilot" post-maintenance.
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