I have rescued this unloved 206. Its a shame that so much effort was put into this conversion but I cant see a way to keep it installed.
Its due an overhaul and the quotes were $75K with nothing wrong. Then shoehorning it back in and wrapping your head around the avgas fuel flows to keep it cool. They are as high as my PT6 206 Jet A fuel flows but without all the Maint required.
Im planning on restoring it. Putting on one of my Piston noses removed for turbine conversion, then an IO-550N should make some power. Ive got a project ahead of it so it will go into the shipping container until I have time.

75k overhaul and PT6 fuel burn? I would have loved you in my old car sales days

You sound like you're begging someone to talk you off the ledge. Leave the beast engine on there and feed it. Dream setup. How much will you save converting to another STCd engine?

You say due for an overhaul… but does it need an overhaul? Looks like an on-condition plane to me.

It needs an OH. At time, Run hard during that time, Oil leaks everywhere, Parked and left sitting in open hangar for over 7 years. Even when running it was a handful for the operator. The good thing was the prop would windmill on the trailer at 70mph until I stopped and secured it. Every inch of the airframe has to be gone through. Every pully removed and lubed, All the mud dobbers nest removed. Needs windows, Paint, Interior, Avionics. The rest looks tight except for the firewall attachment rivets. That Modified nose will come off and a tight original Nose will go back on. Its a Chromated airframe with no corrosion and no cracks in gear leg fittings or door post, most of the good SBs done. So, by the time Im done with all that, Im not leaving that mess on the front. An IO-550N, 6 pad mount, Good engine Monitor, Remote Oilcooler, Electronic Ignition should deliver enough power, economy, reliability. Not a cheap process but it should open up the number of buyers for the plane over that TIO540.

Skydive206 wrote:It needs an OH. At time, Run hard during that time, Oil leaks everywhere, Parked and left sitting in open hangar for over 7 years. Even when running it was a handful for the operator. The good thing was the prop would windmill on the trailer at 70mph until I stopped and secured it. Every inch of the airframe has to be gone through. Every pully removed and lubed, All the mud dobbers nest removed. Needs windows, Paint, Interior, Avionics. The rest looks tight except for the firewall attachment rivets. That Modified nose will come off and a tight original Nose will go back on. Its a Chromated airframe with no corrosion and no cracks in gear leg fittings or door post, most of the good SBs done. So, by the time Im done with all that, Im not leaving that mess on the front. An IO-550N, 6 pad mount, Good engine Monitor, Remote Oilcooler, Electronic Ignition should deliver enough power, economy, reliability. Not a cheap process but it should open up the number of buyers for the plane over that TIO540.

So as a guy that would love to own a 206 someday and may be at risk of picking up a rescue if one would happen to turn up, what kind of dollars does an endeavor such as this involve? Both the original purchase, and what you figure it’ll total by the time it’s ready to fly, if you don’t mind?

$$$$$

It should take a couple of years of part time work. The goal would be to make a $100K for my efforts. I was ready with capital and got it for salvage price, 206s are fairly recession proof so I shouldn't lose value over time on the airframe, inflation on the engine and avionics is an unknown so how much it will cost to complete is a guess. Ill shop and watch for deals on the engine, Just saw one for $35K with time remaining. In the end I hope to have a good performing plane offered a little cheaper than comparable at when its done. Ill do everything myself, so the question will be how much I get for my labor in the end.

As much as I love the idea of this setup, in practice, that engine never belonged on a single. the updraft cooling alone is a non-starter to me. The downdraft version on the Malibu isn't the most reliable in the world either. These work great on Chieftains and that's about it. Glad someone is saving the airframe. I'd love to get a chance at a decent 206 project, but they've just gotten too expensive.