1982 Rocket just sold on EBay for 84,100.00

[johnbkeck]

Ant ideas why so cheap? Some damage but 360 hour engine, G430, spd brakes. Out of KMKC.

Pretty sure it sold. The min bid under the current offer disappeared and 31 or so bids. Plane looked nice to me...not a mechanic though.

John

[M016576]

That plane had been bid on EBay before, but didn't meet reserve. My guess is that the seller needs to move it quickly so no reserve, and probably difficult to find a buyer that

A) wants a rocket right this instant

And can send payment in full within 7 days of the end of the auction (that was in the item details).

Just my guesses, as I know nothing about that particular airframe other than what was posted in the item details....

[Seth]

I know there was a Rocket beat up in pieces that was being salvaged a while ago. This is pure speculation but do you think this was it and they put it back together and sold it cheap?

If not, then my sentiment is similar to the above - tough times or they didn't meet the reserve. They may have also outbid the current biddger themselves in order to not sell it too low.

-Seth

[N601RX]

I remember it selling a week or 2 ago. It seemed to meet the reserve, but was then relisted the next day.

[aviatoreb]

I remember it selling a week or 2 ago. It seemed to meet the reserve, but was then relisted the next day.

A friend in my little town here was watching that one closely last time around and made what seemed like a hail mary bid, but it turns out it came pretty close. But he missed out. So I have been watching that plane for like 2 months or so, on my friend's behalf. The price has been coming down down. If I remember rightly there used to be a buy it now of 99k back in late September. It could be simply as the guy says - he needs more seats, 6 seats, to carry his whole family and he is simply tired of selling his airplane - or maybe he already bought a second airplane and needs to sell quick? I remember two years ago when I got my rocket and I had simultaneously my first airplane, a DA40 which was moving slower than I would have liked at the fair price I was asking - after several months I was almost ready just to dump it as this guy seems to have. Happily I kept my patience and I got a fair price.

...or there is just something wrong with the plane and it cannot pass inspection. Ebay planes make me nervous. That's not a good way to buy an airplane with pressure like that.

...or as you said it was not fetching the price he wants and he had a friend bid on it to prevent it from going to cheap.

[KSMooniac]

It has sold at least 2-3 times on ebay, and yet is still for sale. A friend of mine is planning to go look at it tomorrow and fly it home if it checks out. On paper it looks like a great buy to me. The only thing this Aggie doesn't like is the OU tail number.

[aviatoreb]

I know there was a Rocket beat up in pieces that was being salvaged a while ago. This is pure speculation but do you think this was it and they put it back together and sold it cheap?

If not, then my sentiment is similar to the above - tough times or they didn't meet the reserve. They may have also outbid the current biddger themselves in order to not sell it too low.

-Seth

Was that the red-white and blue Rocket that landed gear up very hard like a year ago, on the flight home from purchase? I remember that plane - it was one I had looked at (before that crash) as it was for sale when I was shopping. A shame - but happily no one was hurt.

[aviatoreb]

It has sold at least 2-3 times on ebay, and yet is still for sale. A friend of mine is planning to go look at it tomorrow and fly it home if it checks out. On paper it looks like a great buy to me. The only thing this Aggie doesn't like is the OU tail number.

Was your friend the high bidder?

Please report the outcome - very curious the outcome since I have been watching that plane for some time as I said.

[rocketman]

I personally know this plane and flew it late last year. I also saw it being sold on eBay but did not bid on it. Why? It comes out of Morristown, TN and last year had a gear up landing which was not recorded in the logs, despite the fact the logs up until last year were very complete and detailed. The damage included prop strike and sudden engine stoppage. The prop was replaced with a McCauley from a 340 Cessna but, and here is the kicker, the engine was never torn down for IRAN inspection!. A TSIO-520 engine tear down alone without camshaft damage replacement is $30,000 - $40,000 alone, if done correctly. The left wing was also damaged and the only log book entry was a couple of skins replaced. Cosmetically the repair looked fine but I have no idea was was lurking behind the pretty paint. Once I find any problems or hidden information in the log books, I shop elsewhere.

I looked hard and long at this Rocket and reviewed every page in the logs. The only good thing about this Rocket is after I flew it once, I knew I just had to have one and inspired me to purchase another Rocket a short time later.

Let the buyer beware, especially on eBay

[fantom]

Proving yet once again...if the 'bargain' sounds to good to be true, it usually is, especially in aviation!

Thanks for the background report Rocketman.

[KSMooniac]

Thanks for that info, Rocketman! I'm gonna pass it on to my friend.

aviatioreb, I don't believe my friend was bidding on ebay. He reported to me the seller was using ebay as an advertising venue and whoever showed up first with money would get it. I don't know how or why ebay keeps letting it "sell" but apparently they do.

[rocketman]

No problem KSMooniac. Have him PM me if he wants. I know all about that plane!

[M016576]

I personally know this plane and flew it late last year. I also saw it being sold on eBay but did not bid on it. Why? It comes out of Morristown, TN and last year had a gear up landing which was not recorded in the logs, despite the fact the logs up until last year were very complete and detailed. The damage included prop strike and sudden engine stoppage. The prop was replaced with a McCauley from a 340 Cessna but, and here is the kicker, the engine was never torn down for IRAN inspection!. A TSIO-520 engine tear down alone without camshaft damage replacement is $30,000 - $40,000 alone, if done correctly. The left wing was also damaged and the only log book entry was a couple of skins replaced. Cosmetically the repair looked fine but I have no idea was was lurking behind the pretty paint. Once I find any problems or hidden information in the log books, I shop elsewhere.

I looked hard and long at this Rocket and reviewed every page in the logs. The only good thing about this Rocket is after I flew it once, I knew I just had to have one and inspired me to purchase another Rocket a short time later.

Let the buyer beware, especially on eBay

Wow, 30-40k just to tear it down and inspect?! I was quoted 7k to tear down and inspect an IO-360 just 6 months ago... If you're spending 35k, wouldn't that be close to the price of a full overhaul? How could the TSIO-520 cost 33k more to tear down than an IO-360??

[aviatoreb]

I personally know this plane and flew it late last year. I also saw it being sold on eBay but did not bid on it. Why? It comes out of Morristown, TN and last year had a gear up landing which was not recorded in the logs, despite the fact the logs up until last year were very complete and detailed. The damage included prop strike and sudden engine stoppage. The prop was replaced with a McCauley from a 340 Cessna but, and here is the kicker, the engine was never torn down for IRAN inspection!. A TSIO-520 engine tear down alone without camshaft damage replacement is $30,000 - $40,000 alone, if done correctly. The left wing was also damaged and the only log book entry was a couple of skins replaced. Cosmetically the repair looked fine but I have no idea was was lurking behind the pretty paint. Once I find any problems or hidden information in the log books, I shop elsewhere.

I looked hard and long at this Rocket and reviewed every page in the logs. The only good thing about this Rocket is after I flew it once, I knew I just had to have one and inspired me to purchase another Rocket a short time later.

Let the buyer beware, especially on eBay

Wow - that is just criminal. Literally criminal - they are not only misrepresenting something and trying to profit from it - but that could put someone's life at risk since if they do not find out it is damaged they would have no way to know they should repair it so this is way beyond just sticking someone with a high cost repair as how will they know they need to repair it. Some people just really stink. Sends shivers down my spine.

aviatioreb, I don't believe my friend was bidding on ebay. He reported to me the seller was using ebay as an advertising venue and whoever showed up first with money would get it. I don't know how or why ebay keeps letting it "sell" but apparently they do.

What do you mean you don't believe - that is what I bet they did.

I personally know this plane and flew it late last year. I also saw it being sold on eBay but did not bid on it. Why? It comes out of Morristown, TN and last year had a gear up landing which was not recorded in the logs, despite the fact the logs up until last year were very complete and detailed. The damage included prop strike and sudden engine stoppage. The prop was replaced with a McCauley from a 340 Cessna but, and here is the kicker, the engine was never torn down for IRAN inspection!. A TSIO-520 engine tear down alone without camshaft damage replacement is $30,000 - $40,000 alone, if done correctly. The left wing was also damaged and the only log book entry was a couple of skins replaced.

That seems steep to me also for a tear down inspection. Last I checked several of the top shops will do a full major overhaul for just over 40k and I think it was Zephyr will do a major for ~35k.

Let the buyer beware, especially on eBay

Amen that brother.

[N601RX]

Remember the "Ultimately Mooney" that went for a swim a while back? Same bunch from Tn. Anytime I see a mooney from that area of TN I would be very cautious. His son from OK also list some of them for him.

[KSMooniac]

To be fair to his son, I believe he is a bit estranged from his father and is doing his own thing in OK.

[TonyPynes]

Wow, 30-40k just to tear it down and inspect?! I was quoted 7k to tear down and inspect an IO-360 just 6 months ago... If you're spending 35k, wouldn't that be close to the price of a full overhaul? How could the TSIO-520 cost 33k more to tear down than an IO-360??

As someone who just shopped for tear down and inspections...... 7k??... not in my world. try for a 360 closer to 20-25k. What shop quoted that price? I am sure a lot of people would like to know. A teardown is pretty close to an overhaul in costs...that is why so many people spend the difference to get it overhauled.

[M016576]

As someone who just shopped for tear down and inspections...... 7k??... not in my world. try for a 360 closer to 20-25k. What shop quoted that price? I am sure a lot of people would like to know. A teardown is pretty close to an overhaul in costs...that is why so many people spend the difference to get it overhauled.

The overhaul I just had done on the IO-360A3B6D was 17.5AMU's. That was with the prop governor going out for overhaul and the mag overhauled, and a new oil cooler. The jugs were overhauled (not new), but they only had ~300 hrs since new. I was quoted $7500 to tear down and IRAN (plus cost of parts if need be) but enough metal had run through the motor/jugs that overhaul was the only option. If youre just inspecting a prop strike and dont find a problem, though, it shouldnt be much more than the teardown price, right?

In my case my motor was making metal. The shop was upfront about the possibility of needing the major overhaul prior to me handing over the motor, so I wasn't blindsided with the move from IRAN to OH. Anyway- Premier Aircraft Engines in Troutdale OR. I found out about the shop through my A&P here in K-Falls who has had good experience with their overhauls over the past 15 or so years. I'm happy so far, motor is running 7 kts faster than before the overhaul and has broken in nicely....

I think Byron paid about 28k for a factory A3B6.

Either way, 30-40k for a prop strike tear down inspection seems like highway robbery to me. I know, I know, the liability, etc, etc, but seriously? 30-40k and it is just a tear down? That sounds off... Either that, or that turbo charger needs some extra TLC I'm not accounting for...

[320KPH]

That teardown sounds to me like an inducement ploy.

I'll wager that the inspection results in a rebuild at the usual cost...

A wise man once told me "there's ALWAYS a reason why a car is cheap."

I would think that applies equally to an aircraft, however if the aircraft HAS to go, it will always sell at the right price.