So, I'm going for my first real look see.

[DaV8or]

This week end I'm flying to Texas to see two different planes. Both planes are Es. One is a '69 with a lot of modifications and great avionics and the other is a '67 and has great avionics but much more stock. I have purchased many, many used cars, trucks and motorcycles in the past, so I've gotten pretty good at it, but this is my first airplane. I've done some reading on them, but are there things I should look for in particular? Also, how far back should I look in the logs and what am I looking for specifically? I want to be throurogh, but I also don't want to waste a lot of thier time. There will still be a pre-buy annual coming.

Things I'll be looking for will be corrosion where I can see, tank leaks, loose bushings in the rudder and elevator, STCs for the mods, oil change intervals and oil annalysis, but what am I missing? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

P.S. I now have my MAPA membership in order and I was wondering if there is a great pre-buy article specific to the E like there seems to be for the A-B and the J-K? If so, where would I find it?

[Cruiser]

A good MSC that has the experience to do that. YOU should be looking at paint and interior, equipment, avionics, and how you feel the previous owners treated your potential new plane.

Just my 2¢

[docket]

You probably won't be able to look easily for the tough corrosion, but perhaps you could take off a wing inspection panel or two and look inside, battery compartment/tail cone, etc.  I doubt the owners will be excited to let you rip out the interior to look at the steel cage, so that should be deferred to the "real" inspection if it gets past your screening.

General condition and the collection/organization of the paper work should be your primary concern.  If you can get a test flight, then test out all of the installed avionics, rigging, etc.  You can look at the rod ends for the gear doors and control surfaces pretty easily...if they feel loose/worn that might be a good indicator of overall maintenance diligence. 

Depending where you will be in TX, it would be great if you're there on Saturday and could encourage one of the owners to go to our fly-in at Llano (KAQO) if you pay for the gas.  That would be a great demo of the plane and give you a good idea of what you're in for!  http://www.vintagemooneygroup.com/VMGSouthCentral/PRELlano2010.htm

[docket]

That is weird again...the 3:48 PM post is by KSMooniac but is showing up as Docket...

Cruiser's comment is also spot-on.  If you get to meet the owner definitely size him/her up and see if you get a good impression...you end up buying a piece of him/her and if he/she seems like a schiester then it is reasonable to expect the plane might have some hidden surprises.  Likewise, a good enthusiastic owner will likely go above-and-beyond to care for the plane.

[KSMooniac]

I logged-out and logged-in again as me and now it seems to be fixed.

[Qwalton]

That happened to me yesterday.  The forum somehow logged me in as magnum.

[140pilot]

This article will give you a good run down of what to look for.

http://www.lasar.com/sales/buyers-guide.asp

 

And you can use this pre buy check list to try and get what you can accomplished. Obviously you cant get it all done but it helps as a starting point.

http://www.lasar.com/sales/checklist.asp

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: 140pilot

This article will give you a good run down of what to look for.

http://www.lasar.com/sales/buyers-guide.asp

 

And you can use this pre buy check list to try and get what you can accomplished. Obviously you cant get it all done but it helps as a starting point.

http://www.lasar.com/sales/checklist.asp

 

[Ned Gravel]

DaV8or:

If you have talked to Paul at LASAR, he has already given you the best advice possible, and that advice has already been echoed by Cruiser.  Get a good MSC and let them "go to town" for you on your prospective buy.  The pre-purchase inspections I commissioned on five Mooneys through the fall and winter of 2004 each cost me about $500 and they each saved me about $50,000.

Good MSC folks will work for you.  They will make sure they (and you) know EXACTLY what needs doing and what works now for any Mooney you get into their shop.  Best possible information you could ever have on the decision to buy.

IMO.