buying aircraft with damage history, good idea, bad idea?

[triple8s]

Same as automobiles but higher stakes.

[S. Blackburn]

Owners Response to above comments regarding 444HK: 1. August 2008 Piloted by experienced 2500 + hours jet fighter pilot (Vietnam) with 144 combat missions had a gear up in Halletsville Texas. A pilot from Dugosh put another propeller on the plane and flew it from Halletville, Texas to Dugosh the Factory Service Center in Kerrville, Texas. This is about 100 miles. REMEDY- A NEW LOG BOOK 0 TIME ENGINE WAS INSTALLED S/N 685078 AND PROPELLER S/N 29-0312. ALL REPAIRS PERFORMED & COMPLETED BY FACTORY SERVICE CENTER DUGOSH IN KERRVILLE, TX 2. March 2009 Same Pilot had a minor propeller strike. REMEDY PROPELLER HUB WAS OVERHAULED AND "PREFORMED MINOR BLADE STRAIGHTING". IN FALL 2013 THE ENGINE WAS TAKEN OUT OF 444HK BY DUGOSH. SHIPPED TO CUSTOM AIRE MOTIVE. THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN INSPECTED AND SENT BACK TO DUGOSH. THEY INSTALLED THE ENGINE AND GAVE THE PLANE AN OCTOBER 2013 ANNUAL. Since then the plane has been flown approximately every other week to keep it from deteriorating.

[chrisk]

I would have a few questions.  Why was the engine taken out in Fall of 2013?  Was it for the prop strike in 2009, or something else?  Was the "0" time engine a factory re-manufactured engine, or a new engine?  I'd want more details on the "minor" prop strike, and which shop fixed the prop. Assuming the answers are reasonable, I would then call Dugosh, ask them about the plane, the owners service history, and double check the story.

 

Having said all that, I suspect this plane is fine.  Dugosh has a good reputation for quality work.  And if the engine has been out and to a quality shop recently, its probably still in great shape.  --I however think the number of folks who would overlook recent damage and owner neglect on the prop strike is small.  --You are probably in a strong bargaining position.  (PM me if you decide not to buy it.)

[S. Blackburn]

Regarding 444HK: The Ovaition was bought new from the factory by two owners. One of the owners had a minor prop strike in 2009. Subsequently the propeller hub was overhauled and returned to service. The owners decided to sell 444HK in 2013. In order to do this the engine was taken out by Dugosh the factory service center at the  Mooney factory in Kerrville, Texas and sent to Custom Airmotive for a complete engine inspection. Dugosh then re installed the engine and gave 444HK a thorough annual. All of this cost in excess of $20,000.  The engine is a 0 ZERO time new log book engine.  The propeller over haul was done by  Jourdan Propeller Service, Inc. 103 E. Rhapsody San Antonio, Texas 78216, a Certificated Repair Station EK2R797K. You boys having fun in Tire Kicker Clicker Kingdom? You don't bother me at all just keep on kicking and clicking and kicking and clicking and missing a tremendous buying opportunity to buy a soon to be hairless as near perfect 2004 Ovation as there is any where.  With a low time engine and propeller and a price that is way below appraised value. 

[N33GG]

I am not in the market but just finished buying a year or so ago.

Maybe you could just give the information UP FRONT and not get chippy about it?

And so what's the point in sharing a guy's fighter times and experience ... other than to show he still forgot the gear just like the rest of us "average pilots" who didn't fly F-4s? Whooppteedooo ...

My vote for the best post on Mooneyspace, ever!