ooking at buyin a MooneyM20B. First time aircraft buyer!

[dbirchfield]

Hello all!

  This is my first post. I am looking at buying a mooney. I have never bough an airplane before and have so many questions.

 

1961 M20B,

SN 1746, TT 4026, SMOH 1402, Prop 1394, Fresh Annual, Paint 5, Leather Interior 5, All Compressions in 70s,

KX-155, TKM MK-11, KA-134, STA 400,

New Brake Pads & Rotors & Wheel Bearings, Concord Battery, Fuel Flow Meter. No Fuel Tank Leaks.

 

What kinds of things should I be asking the person selling this aircraft? The last annual was done in April.

How many hours can a prop have? How many hours until I have to overhaul the engine. I've read around 1800, but can't find anything difinitive....

 

The plane is in Mexico. What should I do for a preinspection? I am hesitant to ask the owner to arrange one simply based on the fact that he may find a biased mechanic.

 

Basically, is this aircraft owrth buying?  What else should I know? Thanks!

[1964-M20E]

There is a lot that goes into buying an aircraft.  When you are looking at the B models the age and equipment usually means you can get them for a relatively low entry cost.  That is just the beginning.  The first plane I bought was a Mooney so you are looking in the right direction.

 

Do some looking around on the site there are plenty of threads that discuss ownership, mission, what to look for and some even look at costs.

 

When all said and done the Pre J models generally will cost you around $130 to $150 per hour to fly depending on how much you fly and not adding any equipment to the plane.   Myself, I just close my eyes, filler up and fly and worry about the rue costs later.

[Mooney20]

I owned an M20B for many years. Very much the same as a "C", but with important differences.

1) 2450 pound gross weight vs. 2575 pounds for '62 C and later

2) Five degrees less rudder travel which translates into less crosswind capability

3) Ten degrees less flap travel and completely manual flaps- no hydraulics

3) Different master switch

4) No hat rack in baggage compartment. Nice to have to store light weight bulky items such as pillows.

I modified my airplane to the updated master switch.

I would recommend a later model airplane.

[orionflt]

Is the aircraft us registered? if it is not you will have to import it back to the US, that it self can be a project. as for a prebuy, you pick the mechanic so that they are working for you not the seller. I reccomend a Mooney service center or a an experianced Mooney mechanic. since the aircraft is in Mexico it may be harder to find some one to do the inspection, I would ask the seller if he would be willing to relocate the aircraft to the states for the inspection process.

 

How about giving us some more detailed info on the plane, If you want to PM me I will send you a PPI check list I made for when I do a prepuchase inspection.

 

Brian

[HRM]

You will get a lot of information here, read it all.

 

Once you have flown a Mooney you will always want to fly one again.

 

Once you own a Mooney, only external forces out of your control will make you leave it.

 

Like abused animals, there are abused Mooneys out there. If you are seeking a potentially longterm and expensive project, then proceed to try to rescue one.

 

The only instance in which you should consider a Mooney without having a prepurchase inspection from a reputable MSC is if the Mooney flies perfectly and has impeccable service records from a reputable MSC along with the blessing of the chief mechanic.

 

Good luck, becoming a Mooniac can be daunting, but once you fly your very own Mooney even gravity will have trouble keeping you earthbound.

[bonal]

Welcome to Mooney Space, Perhaps the poster is based in Mexico as well he/she never indicated their location so US registration may not be an issue here.  lots of great posts on the subject one consistent comment is get a pre purchase inspection and good luck.

[orionflt]

did some quick research, Looks like the plane is registered with an address in Denver CO. in 1990 it had a gear collaspe from a worn bushing and miss rigged gear, other then that no other major damage listed.

 

Brian

[omega708]

Sent you a quick PM as I'm currently getting ready to list my "C" model for sale.

[BKlott]

If it were me, I would look for a different airplane as it appears that all of the "big bills" are likely to come due in the near future. Here is what I mean by the "big bills": engine / prop, avionics, paint and interior. A quality engine job is probably going to cost $25,000 to $28,000. A quality paint job will probably run from $10,000 to $15,000. A good interior job is probably $4,000 and up. As for avionics, at the very least you have ADS-B coming in the near future and that will probably run at least $3,000 installed to meet the minimum ADS-B out requirements.

If you don't care how your airplane looks, than paint and interior work may not be a concern for you...but it will be to a whole lot of guys who you may eventually want to sell your airplane to.

If you want your airplane to look sharp inside and out, add up the costs above and compare that to the price you are looking to pay for the airplane. I would guess that you will end up spending more fixing it up then you will spend in purchasing it. Am I right?

You may find yourself in the not uncommon position of having far more money in that airplane then it is worth. If it were me, I would shop some more.

[gsxrpilot]

There's a B for sale at the Smithville, TX (84R) airport right now. It's the only Mooney on the field other than mine. Let me know if you want the info. 

 

But if it were me, I'd get a C. Actually I did get a C.

[Hank]

C's are great! But then again, I think all Mooneys are pretty nice.

 

Your financial future is riding upon the Pre-Purchase Inspection. Find someone who knows Mooneys well, and who has not been involved in the maintenance or repair of this one in the last several years to do it. They work for you, not for the seller.

 

A lot of things should be in the contract to purchase, as a minimum that all airworthiness items identified during the PPI will be paid for by the seller. This is the time to discuss other things found during the inspection, and see which ones you will pay for, which he will pay for, and which to worry about later.

 

Engine and prop overhaul should both be 2000 hours. Some fail before then; some people fly past this if everything continues to function well.

 

good luck with your quest, and check here [use the Search box at top right] to see other things to look for.

[DXB]

If one really really wanted a B model for some reason, this one sure is pretty:

 

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/aircraft/Single+Engine+Piston/1961/Mooney/M20B/2078392.html

 

No connection to seller...

[gsxrpilot]

If one really really wanted a B model for some reason, this one sure is pretty:

 

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/aircraft/Single+Engine+Piston/1961/Mooney/M20B/2078392.html

 

No connection to seller...

I'd have to agree with the seller... it's got to be the nicest B in the country.  Of course I'm sure someone will be along soon to remind us all that that's actually J money. :-)

[mike28w]

With the market so favorable to the buyer right now, I'd be looking at a C model that was in the US.  You can buy a pretty nice C model for not a lot of bucks ....   JMO

 

Personally, I'd avoid messing with a plane that was out of country or getting a plane that had more than 1000 hours since a major overhaul  ( 500 hours smoh would be even better).

 

Good luck !   mike

[Mooney20]

If one really really wanted a B model for some reason, this one sure is pretty:

 

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/aircraft/Single+Engine+Piston/1961/Mooney/M20B/2078392.html

 

No connection to seller...

Pretty, but still has the old style landing gear donuts. Those dudes must be hard as granite. Also has only one comm and no glide slope.

[stevesm20b]

I think the Mooney you are looking at is a scam. Everyone that talked to that guy got different answers about the plane.

[Alan Fox]

The nicest B was the one I built , I sold it to Kurt Snyder he flew it 400 hours and now is a professional pilot.....The only real drawback to the B was the fact that a lot of STCs were C and up , The rudder travel can be changed with a 50 dollar bellcrank in the tail , the 125 lbs of Gross is rarely an issue , and as far as resale value , you pay less for a B so you sell a B for less.....Most Lycoming 360s are good for 2500 hours or better , cams can fail , but it is extremely rare....maybe 1 in 50 engines get the spalled cam....Props run on condition , unless it is a hartzell with the AD , that plane came with a MaCauley so if it is the original prop , no AD ....Logs and prebuy are important , Mooney specific prebuy recommended for corrosion issues....

[carusoam]

A B is worth buying...

Is that particular B worth buying..?

The buyer is responsible for the purchase.

Typically, it is always good to go see it first hand.

The second step is a PPI, a pre-purchase inspection.

The plane is in Mexico?

The buyer is where?

If it takes too much money to go see the plane, that is a hint that the plane is better for somebody else...

Ask more questions post some details...

Find George's thread about buying an old Mooney...

Welcome aboard,

-a-

[cliffy]

As with others here, use a lot of caution on this airplane.

A US registered airplane in Mexico?

Why is it in Mexico?

Is it impounded by the government there? 

When was it in the USA the last time?

How long has it been sitting

A fresh annual doesn't mean its been flown regularly.

Where was the annual done? Mexico? 

You might check with Customs as if you bring it back to the USA ,

YOU wouldn't be the pilot that flew it out of the USA. That might be a problem to overcome. 

Could you be bringing back "something" you don't even know is on board? Something a Customs dog might find?

Really, for a first time buyer, there are better options than an "out of country" airplane, no matter what the price.

Would you buy a US registered car in Mexico and bring it back? 

This is all assuming that you are a USA pilot. Are you?

[mpg]

You would be money ahead to buy the one in the Trade-A-Plane ad. Seriously.

Welcome to MooneySpace. It is good having you aboard.

Jim

it is in trade a plane too,,,

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/2078401.html

[Hank]

Hey! It's listed as "$1.00, make offer." A perfect CB deal, except for the Mexico thing . . . which isn't mentioned in the ad.

[DXB]

Looks like it has a US registration.  Probably still too daunting and risky for the typical 1st time buyer, but it might be a steal for an experienced person who could pick up from a strange location and maybe pay the value of a parts plane.

[MyNameIsNobody]

I'm ooking over a four leaved clover...kinda catchey.

[DXB]

Also seller is a Family MD in New Jersey and not the registered owner. I'd love to know the back story on this one. What exactly went down in Mexico??

[HRM]

What exactly went down in Mexico??

 

What happens in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico.