Caution with these organisation (EU UK)

[lushka]

Hi everyone , 

I purchased a mooney m20J registered as FHVAL in EU, Ireland , 2 years ago 

broker : William Flood ; seller : Robert O Connor ; out of annual from Troughton engeneeiring maintenance PART145 (TEM: Keith Troughton) ; the ARC was signed by Nigel James (part66) and he also assisted me during pre buy 

A year after aircraft was grounded due to sévère corrosion , everywhere , on the tubular structure. After a year trying everything , wing was pulled down and spars are also badly damaged . 
acft goes as spare 

i encourage everyone to take great care with these propos and organisation , mainly for your safety but also for your money 

you can have a look on Instagram and Facebook of what its look like : @what_is_general_aviation

https://www.facebook.com/valentin.bfr

be aware that neither the broker, the part145 workshop nor mr James do not feel concerned and do not offer any help

[LANCECASPER]

The airplane looks like it has been under water at some point. Ironically the broker’s name is Flood.

That corrosion looks like it has been there for years.

The Facebook ad wants you to believe it’s a turn-key airplane :https://www.facebook.com/planesforsale/photos/a.163536847181956/2014054178796871/?type=3

You mention that one of them assisted you during the pre-buy evaluation. Did neither of you look for corrosion on a 45 year old airplane? Did the seller suggest the person to help you with the pre-buy evaluation?

I am always suspicious of recent paint on an airplane for sale. People usually paint an airplane they are going to keep. When they paint it to sell I always try to imagine worst case scenario what it looked like before.

Thank you for posting this. It’s a good reminder that when we are looking for an airplane and are emotionally involved we tend to pay too much attention to the shiny new paint or the beautiful instrument panel or interior and we don’t pay enough attention to the airworthy items. 

It’s also a good reminder that since the buyer is paying for a certain amount of the person’s time to during a pre-buy evaluation, you should direct what you want their time spent on. In the receipt you show on facebook, 500 euros does not buy you much of a mechanic’s time. All of that being said though, the corrosion is so obvious on this airframe that no one should have missed it. This was not just corrosion hidden on the spar cap.

[Shadrach]

Agree that this looks like it was either submerged or was stored in a highly corrosive environment.  I have seen two 201s stored over wet grass for more than 10 years. Both developed corrosion but nothing like this. I feel strongly that salt played a roll in the destruction of this airframe. 

As surprised as I am that the professionals involved were willing to sign this off, I am equally surprised that the buyer did not catch any of it. That baggage compartment looks almost like it was exposed to acid.  Were the carpets not pulled during the prebuy? 

[GeeBee]

The turd in the punchbowl here is Nigel. Who does a pre-buy and says, "don't wait too long" to purchase? Nigel was not an independent or dis-interested party. Don't know your laws on civil litigation, but a little discovery work would reveal that Nigel had an adverse relationship either with the broker or seller.

 

[EricJ]

A pre-buy based on the pics alone would recommend against purchase.

 

[lushka]

Thank you all for your many messages
This was my first Time buying an acft , and despite spending a lot of time reading and learning, I didn't have the knowledge I have today...
I had never seen corrosion , for réal I mean, flying in a flying club mostly on composite aircraft... 
The original price of the pre buy was 1000 €, a reduction was given to me by mr James as he had already signed his ARC. 

Since he intervened as an inspector, I thought he was independent, wrongly so.

This aircraft had supposedly always been in a hangar on the small athboy airfield with the previous owner. Here in France, in my workshop, no one has ever seen such pronounced and diffuse corrosion... 

pics are available : 

https://www.facebook.com/valentin.bfr

Instagram @what_is_general_aviation

tiktok: @bfr8816

[Shadrach]

On 5/27/2024 at 8:23 AM, GeeBee said:

The turd in the punchbowl here is Nigel. Who does a pre-buy and says, "don't wait too long" to purchase? Nigel was not an independent or dis-interested party. Don't know your laws on civil litigation, but a little discovery work would reveal that Nigel had an adverse relationship either with the broker or seller.

 

I’m thinking this was a pencil whip. I doubt seriously that Nigel saw the corrosion that’s in those pictures. Seems more likely he’s had a run of trading his signature for money and was was bitten by negligence and complacency.

[GeeBee]

Either that or he knew the selling party. He expresses extreme familiarity with the airplane which is why he lowered his fee according to him.

Either way, bad business. The broker responded with this post. 

 

[lushka]

yep, i dont know and i ll never know , that is sure ...
it is a crazy story, it took a year to assess the total damage, no one had ever seen anything like it. 

I certainly don't want to use this forum to settle any scores whatsoever, a discussion is underway, and the matter will be brought before the competent courts if no agreement is reached.
I especially want to warn the community, especially the first-time buyers, I was confident, I believed in it, we are in a moment of great vulnerability during this first time. I thought I had taken all the necessary steps: from my experience: they are never enough, never, never , this is the one and only message I wish to convey to future buyers.