Recommendation on purchase

[LANCECASPER]

2 hours ago, hammdo said:

Edge Aviation in Commerce (2F7). I take my plane to them. Just a heads up, he'll want to do an annual as he's seen too many 'pre-buys' not catch things.

Gear ups are not a problem if repaired right.

-Don

No Seller in their right mind is going to subject their airplane to an annual inspection as a pre-buy, potentially grounding their airplane by an over-zealous IA. However some buyers if they have discussed this with the shop, after the transaction is complete, will turn their pre-buy into an annual inspection.

[A64Pilot]

My opinions

Aircraft with damage history in the books most often are fine, as they were correctly and professionally repaired most often, they are being honest as it’s in the book, a whole lot of damage history isn’t in books, that’s largely what you look for in an inspection, undocumented repairs or modifications. As has been brought up here it’s not illegal to require the damage entry be made on a sticky and keep the sticky with the book for one year and then trash it.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43-9C_CHG_2.pdf

So if it’s in the book, odds are you have an honest seller, find repairs that aren’t in the book, and maybe you don’t. Maybe cause they could have been before the current owner.

Recently overhauled engines by a reputable shop are an asset and should bring more money.

In my opinion you don’t buy an aircraft that you didn’t pay for and have an annual completed, at least twice on this forum I’ve seen posts where someone bought a airplane with a good pre-buy, and on the first annual found serious very expensive corrosion, one condemned the wings.

I’ve only been on the forum a few months

Legally a pre-buy unless you have a signed contract isn’t defined, there are no standards. I can do a pre-buy by looking at the books or watching an aircraft taxi by.

Unless your have a contract you have no recourse if a pre-buy misses something that condemns the aircraft.

An annual is legally defined and has min performance standards. 

‘I suspect that’s why on those couple of post that the corrosion issues were missed on the pre-buy, but picked up on annual.

 

As an IA it’s my understanding that I cannot “ground” an aircraft, that is to say that I cannot make an entry in the maintenance records that X is un-airworthy and the aircraft not fly until the discrepancy is dealt with.

What I am required to do is to give the owner a discrepancy list of items that render the aircraft un-airworthy, and it’s up to them to have the discrepancies dealt with.

An IA used to forward a copy of that list to the FSDO, but no longer, or I guess we could but we aren’t required to anymore. I’ve never had to make that list.

 

This is in the AC linked to above.

Edited January 30, 2022 by A64Pilot

[Jsno]

I like the extra room the F has.  Your child will grow fast and you will appreciate the extra ten inches.  Things to look for in the prebuy are: has the airplane been flown regularly,  Check the Nose gear assy and steering horn for play.  Check the pucks on the landing gears.  There are 11 of them total, 4 each main and three on the nose.  $100 each.  The fuel cells can leak, 3K each for a total strip and reseal.  You will see leaks when topped off or smell it in the cabin.   Check the prop for leaking grease indicating blown seals.  When you fly it hold down the PC switch and see if it flys straight.  A lot of folks in the past could have messed with the rigging.  Be sure to have it jacked and swing the gear.  Check the doors for fit and fair.  Pull the cabin side walls and have the tubing checked for corrosion.  Have enough panels pulled to check the spar throughout.  Check the spar in front of the back seat by pulling up the carpet.  Many have corrosion there.  Be sure to check the mags and shower of sparks.  If the shower of sparks do not work the kickback will bend a rod.  If the oil and fuel lines are not teflon, they should be changed every six years.  Check the compass, many are junk.  And it is very important to check for exhaust leaks,  it will kill you.  

A well maintained and flown aircraft is a lot of fun.  A "good deal"  may not be so good.

 

[Jsno]

Also for got a couple of more things to check.. Look up under the panel on the pilot side and check the brake reservoir and parking brake assy for leaks.  The can will leak at the seams and the brake actuator will leak around the seals.  Pull the left hand forward belly panel and check the brake actuators for leaks.  The seals go bad.  Move the engine, prop and ram air controls.  If they are stiff each cable runs around 500 for parts alone.

[TSC1020]

Thank you everyone! 

Does anyone know of a shop that will do a very good pre-buy in the KDFW area?

[MBDiagMan]

Tommy May at Mayaire in Mount Pleasant(KOSA) is highly experienced, trustworthy and thorough.  Because of this though he is constantly busy and covered up with work.  If you want more information about them PM me.