During the early 1970’s, Harold Kosola required certain parts used on a Piper PA-32 engine mount assembly (P/N 68710) for use in an engine conversion (Continental “Tiara” Model 6-285 engine) for the Piper PA-32 airplane; an STC project for Continental Motors, Mobile, AL. Even though the work was to benefit Piper Aircraft Corp., Piper could not supply these parts readily. Therefore, Harold Kosola purchased damaged PA-32 engine mounts from aircraft salvage dealers to use the parts for the new design engine conversion STC engine mount. Used, undamaged mounts were not available anywhere. These parts (nose gear housing) were cut out and used in the construction of the newly designed engine mount using the new powerplant to be installed on the Piper PA-32 airplane.

After the project was completed, the purchased damaged engine mounts were to be scrapped. But during the time Harold Kosola was looking for used undamaged engine mounts, he found how difficult it was to purchase a used airworthy engine mount at a price less than a new manufactured mount from Piper. Therefore, in the winter of 1975/1976 Harold Kosola decided to “test the market” by repairing one of the damaged PA-32 engine mounts. This was accomplished with the help of Floyd Turner (A&P mechanic) and James N. Chammoun (welder). The approval for the repair was made on FAA Form 337 signed by Floyd Turner and returned to service by Foy Justice (IA). A classified advertisement was placed in Trade-A-Plane and it brought immediate response. The first PA-32 engine mount was sold to a company in Hawaii. Since this engine mount sold so quickly, more were repaired. These too were sold quickly. During this time, all approvals were on FAA Form 337. All work was performed in rented space (10’ X 10’) located at S. Slappey Blvd., Albany, GA. This was also the location of Precision Fabricators, Inc. (Equipment used in repairing engine mounts was owned by Precision Fabricators, Inc.)

In the spring of 1976, Harold Kosola and Floyd Turner went to Atlanta, GA. to discuss with the FAA the possibilities of becoming an FAA approved repair station specializing in engine mounts. The outcome of the meeting was very bright. The FAA had no problem with repairing engine mounts as a specialized service in the small rented space at Precision Fabricators. On June 3, 1976, Harold Kosola submitted an application to the FAA for a repair station certificate. On June 8, 1976, the FAA issued the repair station certificate and assigned repair station No. 701-46 to Kosola and Associates. Therefore, all repaired engine mounts can be sold with the “yellow tag” which is the documentation required for an airworthy engine mount repaired by FAA approved repair station 701-46. Also, tooling was developed by Harold and Floyd to repair Piper PA-28 series engine mounts. At this time, the FAA mentioned that Kosola and Associates was the only FAA approved repair station repairing tubular steel engine mounts.

In February, 1977, the repairs station outgrew the rented 10’ X 10’ facility and moved to building 1042 at the old Turner Air Force Base, Albany, GA. This facility was one of the old all-metal hangars used by the Air Force when the base was occupied by the military.

In early 1978, the city of Albany was selling the property of the abandoned Turner Air Force Base and the repair station had to move. Harold Kosola started looking at other communities with an airport such as Marianna, FL.; Cross City, FL.; Sanford, FL.; and Moultrie, GA. Airport property was of prime interest due to the outlook of an expanding engine mount and aeronautical engineering business. It was decided by Harold Kosola to just stay in Albany, since the problem of selling and purchasing a house with a growing family would cause additional hardships of running a company, purchasing, selling, repairing engine mounts, and performing engineering services all at the same time.

On May 2, 1978, the repair station moved to a leased building located at 1302 W. Broad Ave., Albany, GA. The repair station expanded at this location until more room was required. On January 23, 1987, a property of 5 acres and 4 buildings was purchased at 5601 Newton Road, Albany, GA. This is the present location for FAA approved repair station HE4R229M, the FAA issued a new repair station number to Kosola and Associates, Inc. when the FAA computer systems were upgraded in March 1990.

		KOSOLA AND ASSOCIATES, INC. 5601 Newton Rd., P.O. Box 3529 Albany , Georgia 31701 USA
PHONE (229) 435-4119 • FAX (229) 888-5766 • 1-800-4 KOSOLA