ComplaintsforA&E Aircraft Engines By Vondersaar

• Initial Complaint

  04/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 20 Dec 2021. I received a quote for a Lycoming O320-E2D engine 2000 hour overhaul from Mr. Robert V********* the owner of A&E Aircraft Engines, for $21000.00 paid in advance and would be completed in 5 weeks. I excepted his quote and provided my engine to him at his shop in Plano Tx on or about 23 Dec, 2021 and did a bank transfer on 22 Dec 2021 for the amount of $21000.00. I had multiple conversations with Mr. V********* about the status of my engine and was always told that the engine is being worked on. Multiple times he told me that parts had to be ordered or were on order. As the 5 weeks passed I would call for a weekly update and continued to be told the engine was being reassembled or that some parts were still on order. After 14 weeks I could no longer get Mr. V********* to answer my phone calls or emails. On 18 April 2022 I called Mr. V********* and left a message that I was on my way to his business to pick up my engine in what ever configuration it is in. When I arrived, I entered his business to find multiple open bottles of alcohol and an engine in partial reassembly. When I told him who I was and why I was there he said he needed to find some boxes and gather up my parts and engine. I returned to my truck and waited. He started coming out with pieces and parts, none of which had any signs of being worked on. I received approximately 90% of my engine, of which only 10% had any signs of work being done. I did not at the time have the ability to completely inventory the parts as they were basically just in boxes and the engine had been broken down into hundreds of parts. When asked about the $21000.00 dollar advance he got, I was told " I got upside down and spent it" he also said that he would have to figure out something and get it back to me.

  Business response

  07/25/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/05/25) */ Customer **** ********* brought his engine for overhaul paid $21,000. in advance. And advised us he wanted only Genuine Lycoming parts used when he dropped it off. we disassembled engine and inspected everything. sent all steel parts for NDT inspection crankshaft was found cracked and we cleaned it up and took it back 3 times before it passed inspection. We had bearings ordered we did finally receive last week after he picked up the engine. They had a cracked cylinder we replaced. we sent magnetos for overhaul they were not finished until a few weeks after they picked it up, I paid for those. Lycoming is functionally shut down done to covid new cylinders are on 18-month backorder. Many shops are quoting more than one year turn time due to covid unexpected delays we never implied a refund or offered one. our expenses are listed below. Additionally, I did not miss his phone calls except the one early in the morning he said he was coming to pick up his engine. the night before we had a pizza dinner for the mechanics, and we did not have time to clan the shop when he unexpectedly stopped by to pick up his engine. disassemble clean and inspect engine $6000. magneto overhaul $1939.90 ndt charge $600 cracked crank $1200 Bearings $2500. Cam $1500 Cylinder $500 Total expenses $14239. Balance $6760.1 We will credit KBFS $6760.1 in service from our company toward future work, but a refund is not offered or required. We regret the difficulties incurred but were caused by problems beyond our control. Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/05/26) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I have dozen of pictures and videos of the engine when I picked it up. It was not cleaned or inspected just disassembled $6000.00. I want an itemized invoice. I don't believe I should pay $2500.00 for new bearings I did not receive. The cylinder he gave me as a replacement was covered in rust and had to be replaced by me, $500.00. Cracked crank, doesn't make sense since I got back the same crank back, again I have pictures that shows it had no work done to it. $ 1200.00. $10200.00 is not a reasonable cost for what I got back in pieces. As for the length of time he states. He knew from the beginning which type of parts were needed. He quotes six weeks and the quote states genuine Lycoming parts, $21000.00 in advance. There is nothing on his website that states no refunds. The best thing I can say is I have videos and pictures and another employees statement who was with me of the entire time I was there picking up my engine. Including the condition his shop was in when I did arrive. Those pictures will now be turned over to the FAA as I have no choice but to file a complaint with them.

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