We just incurred severe hail damage (plane might be totaled). Does anyone know if Piper requires any sort of inspection by an A&P or IA prior to flying it?
Also, can anyone recommend a good shop to get the plane reskinned?

Thanks.

Peter,

So sorry to hear about the hail damage. I've read great things about the shop at Paola KS for sheet metal work.

The airport manager Wayne likely knows. Airnav says his number is 913-755-2345 Several Comanche owners have raved about their work and they have Comanche jigs.

On flying with hail damage. I don't know but I sure would check with FSDO (assuming they have experience) about a ferry permit vs invalidating your insurance by flying without asking for an evaluation.

BTW. Dealing with insurance companies whether airplane or home - can be a negotiation and may require a second opinion. The easiest option for the insurance company is scrapping but it may or may not be the correct answer. Read my blog for my experience on repairing the twin. It goes 5 pages. Your situation is different but several points will be common.
http://www.comancheflyer.com/forum2/vie ... efer+belly

It depends on just how "severe" the damage really is. If I had any doubts (and it sounds like you do, or you wouldn't be asking) then I would as an IA to inspect the airplane prior to flight.

Jay

Do a Google on Hail Damage repair. There is a technique where a electromagnetic pulse is used to remove the dent, one at a time.

Hi Peter:

I can relay contact information to you from one who had hail damage removed; if you're interested just email me.

Matt

Hi Peter, don't know if it is the same but had bad hail damage on both my cars and they were taken out one at a time by company for very reasonable costs without the need to get to the damage from inside. If your interested I can find out more about this procedure.
Let me know
Andreas Riedel

I have seen hail damage taken out of car roofs by leaving the car outside in the sun till it
is really hot then placing dry ice pellets in the dent. Amazingly the dents just popped out.
Now, the sheet metal on cars is different of course than the aluminum on our aircraft, but this might work
as well. My understanding of this process is the metal which is deformed by the dent is in a state of stress
and wants to go back to its original form. The hot metal doused by the super cold of the dry ice causes the rapid contraction of the metal
and it returns to the state of relaxation.

Not sure it will work on aluminum and certainly will not work if the metal has any creases.
FWIW.

Gary

Saw this on line at http://www.aviationpros.com/blog/104400 ... -revisited. Uses aluminum powder to "fill" the dents.

Might make it faster, like a golf ball!

WOW! Thanks for all the replies/suggestions.

Based upon many recommendations, we asked Beegles out of Greeley, Colorado to take a look at the damage. (Actually, they were in route to look at five other airplanes that got hit.) We were advised that the damage to the control surfaces was sufficient to raise airworthiness concerns. The dimples on the top of the wing, flaps, fuselage, verticle stab, and cowl were considered cosmetic. (They look like hell).

Our insurance company will pay for the airworthiness items; we'll only get up to 10% of the insured value of the airplane for the rest (minus the deductable). The airplane is insured for $75,000 so we'll get $7,250 to repair the rest of the dimples and repaint. Ouch!

It looks like we will be investigating many of the options you guys mentioned in your emails. Thanks again for all the replies.

Peter