How to scrap my 1973 C337G

[edasmus]

Hi all....

I am considering options on how to retire my Skymaster that I have been operating since 2002. I'm leaning towards simply retiring it from service. My question is, how do I do this responsibly? I do not want to park it in the weeds as I would prefer to deliver it to a salvage yard as there are many serviceable parts that could be used. Can anyone recommend a salvage yard that would accept my airplane? I operate from the Chicago area and the closer to Chicago, the better. I would simply fly the airplane to the salvage company, assuming they had a suitable runway for me to land on.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Ed

[MD83driver]

I am sorry to hear that you are considering the retirement of you plane. I would suggest you contact BAS Parts Sales in Greely, CO. I have gotten many parts from them to keep my P337H flying. They just purchased White Industries in Bates City, MO. There is a long gravel runway on their facility, about 4,500 feet. I have actually flown in there many moons ago. Best of luck.

[edasmus]

I appreciate your suggestion. I’ll check that one out.

My airplane is currently in for the annual inspection. I have lost my on field maintenance facility that I have been working with for nearly 30 years and they have done all 22 years of maintenance on my C337. I flew the airplane to an airport away from my home airport for the inspection where one of my technicians opened his own shop. The rest of the folks have dispersed including some leaving aviation all together. My primary IA who’s been with me since day one is to begin part time work (as I understand it) at another facility on my home field however that shop caters to the “big iron” and scheduling is more than a year in advance. Not a viable option as I see it. He’s nearing his retirement as well.

So, if/when my plane returns from the annual inspection (they’re quite backed up and short on staffing), I’ll have a year to figure out how to retire my airplane. Continued operation does not seem practical in the maintenance world we live in. 😞

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

[SteveG]

Hi Ed,

I seem to recall that some years ago Richard Collins scrapped his well used C210 because he could not in good conscience sell it on to someone else. If this is your case then by all means follow your moral compass. But if not, it's hard to imagine that a scrapyard is the financially ideal course. And it's disappointing to see the fleet diminished by yet one more aircraft if not absolutely necessary. And so if the airframe is not absurdly high time or afflicted with extensive corrosion why not just sell it to someone who can maintain it. The entire country does not mirror the Chicago market. I could imagine that if the aircraft needs extensive refurbishment with new engines and avionics, parting it out yourself might yield a better return but that takes time and effort that I don't suppose you would care to invest. However it would seem that selling it to a scrapyard would be the last resort, both financially and out of respect for the model. On the other hand, I suppose that for the few of us left to soldier on, having more salvage parts available could be a good thing.

Best wishes, Steve G.

[edasmus]

Hi Steve G....

Thanks for your response. Yes, Richard Collins did scrap his beloved P210 N40RC after 28 years and hung the control yoke on his wall in memory of his airplane, if my memory is recalling the story correctly. I think he flew the airplane to Griffin, GA (6A2) if the internet is telling the truth for it's final flight and scrapping. I'm uncertain at this time if there is still a scrap yard there or exactly how his process worked. That is on my "to do" list to attempt to figure that out. Richard has always been my pilot hero, as I'm sure he has been for many. I think/hope I've read everything he has written. I consider myself a fraction of 1% of the pilot he was. Richard's choice to do what he did with his airplane always sounded like a rather cool way to end airplane ownership. He is the inspiration for my thought to retire my airplane.

As I mentioned, losing access to my forever IA (he's now 70 and been here since he was 16) and access to maintenance at my home airport is causing my consideration to retire from airplane ownership. I've been incredibly fortunate over the past 30-ish years and 22 years of C337 ownership.

I admittedly am struggling a little with taking a very serviceable airplane and retiring it. I am trying to decide if that is slightly selfish or not. It is a consideration, however I am in the fortunate position of not needing to sell the airplane. If I were to turn the airplane over to a new caretaker, I would be "interviewing" this person as much as he/she should be interviewing me and inspecting the airplane prior to taking possession. I would not hand it over to anyone I did not feel was qualified and has a realistic expectation of what C337 ownership entails. Truthfully though, searching for this person is not on my priority list of things to do.

Anyway, I am still interested in hearing anyone's personal experience or knowledge in scrapping an airplane. Taking the airplane to Colorado or Georgia is likely possible (assuming it survives this in process annual inspection) though admittedly I'm hoping to find something a little closer to Chicago.

Thanks again for the responses.

Ed

[Learjetter]

Ed,
Another option to responsibly dispose of the aircraft could be to donate it to a flying-related charity. Southwings, Lighthawk, Wings of Hope, Doctors Without Borders, and many others might be inclined to use your bird in their mission.

If you want to keep her awhile longer, you could fly her to my hangar for your routine maintenance. We’re a small team of A&Ps/IAs keeping my 337G in tip top shape, and we’d be happy to help out!

-LJ

[edasmus]

Thanks for those suggestions LJ…. Very interesting options worth considering. I will definitely look into those! 😊😊

From your public profile, it looks like you’re located in KOKC. Is that where your “small team” of A&P’s/IA’s are located? Wish you guys were up here in Chicagoland. I started my nearly 32 year career with the FAA at the ATC Academy there in KOKC back in March of 1991. After graduating in the late summer of the same year, I was sent to Chicago Center ZAU where I spent my entire career working the radar everyday on the northeast side of Chicago until my mandatory retirement last year. I bought my first airplane in the fall of 1991 as well, before I was anywhere near fully certified in the FAA. I was definitely one of those “damn kids” back in those days with absolutely no clue how my career would go and what it meant to own and properly care for an airplane. I definitely learned some hard lessons. 🤦*♂️😂

“Rapidly turning the kid's inheritance into propwash” ❤️😂

Love your quote in your profile! Good stuff and so true! 😂😂👍

Thanks again! 👍

[SteveG]

Well, if you must, Preferred Airparts in Kidron, Ohio would seem a likely possibility. They have their own private, corporate runway. KARR to OH22 is 308nm SE. But if you want to make sure that that data plate never again leaves the ground you would probably need a contractual commitment of same or they might very well just turn around and sell the aircraft as a flyable whole rather then dismantle it.

As to any perceived selfishness, I'm inclined to envision a distraught husband standing before a judge saying "Yes, Your Honor, I killed her. Even though I initiated the divorce I just couldn't stand the thought of her being with another man. So I had to do it."

I like the idea of a charitable donation. The aircraft gets to fly another day, you get a tax benefit and a worthwhile organization of your choice gets at least a financial benefit and possibly an aviation benefit as well.

I think most of us anthropomorphize our rides to some extent. I know mine gets a pat on the tail and a mumbled "thanks" following each successful return to terra firma making it hard to know what's the right thing to do. I'm confident that you'll choose wisely.

[edasmus]

Thanks Steve G for the Ohio recommendation. That distance is much more preferable. I have considered the issue of a salvage yard possibly selling the airplane whole. I'll cross that bridge if I get there.

As for your "distraught husband" analogy (LOL), that sounds rather extreme, however I think I get the point you are trying to make. ) This is not my case. I'm a rather pragmatic soul. I have enjoyed flying the airplane but I'm very aware, it's just a machine. I have occasionally patted the front spinner however after a flight so in that sense, you are correct that I "anthropomorphize" my airplane somewhat. I confess, I had to look that word up.

Anyway, thank you again for your help.

Ed

[YankeeClipper]

Two suggestions:

1. Sell it and give the proceeds to a good cause if you're not in need of the money. I'm sure any number of us would help broker the sale, or certainly Mr. Crews would. Seems a shame to take a serviceable skymaster out of rotation with precious few left. One fewer owner means one more taken out of the market. Makes it harder to compel the likes of Garmin et al to STC products for our market.

2. Don Nieser.

[edasmus]

Thank you for the suggestions. I have met Don Nieser many years ago at KOSH and have purchased parts from him over the years. Seemed to be a very kind soul.

The airplane is currently still in the shop.

[edasmus]

UPDATE:

I got my airplane out of annual last week from the new shop away from my home airport. I have flown the airplane about 4 hours in the last week and it seems to be doing well. The new shop has 3 mechanics (at the moment) and they seem like conscientious guys though relatively inexperienced on C337. The commute back and fourth through Chicago traffic was less than fun.

Anyway, my current thinking is to hang on until at least next spring and see how I feel then. There is a chance, I'll be moving away from Chicago all together and if that occurs, I will be retiring from airplane ownership. Anyway, much uncertainty in the coming year.

I appreciate all the suggestions, and I will consider them all when the time comes to retire from C337 ownership. Thanks, Ed