nuts & bolts
maintenance & restoration
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Smart shopping in a down market
JEFF SIMON, EAA 478233
As the saying goes, one man’s loss is another’s gain. That’s the story of today’s used aircraft market. High fuel prices during most of 2008 followed by economic woes have had a major impact on both the number
and condition of aircraft on the market.
Many of the aircraft on the market are there because the
owner simply wasn’t flying enough to justify the costs of
ownership. Overall, it’s good news for anyone looking to
purchase a plane. Use caution, however, because aircraft
deteriorate quickly when they’re not flown often. Before
you pull out your checkbook for that Mooney sitting on the
ramp with flat tires and a price that seems to be too good
to be true, remember the phrase “buyer beware.” It’s up to
you to put a process in place to allow for a thorough pre-purchase inspection and perhaps renegotiation, based on
the findings.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Basics
Predictability is the key to successful aircraft ownership.
When someone is evaluating what type of aircraft to buy,
the expected maintenance costs are usually a significant factor in the decision process. After all, there’s a big difference
in the maintenance costs of a Cessna 172 compared to a
Bonanza. However, buy the wrong 172 and you may spend
more for the first annual than if you’d bought a pristine
Bonanza.
There are never any guarantees when it comes to aircraft
maintenance, but there is a lot you can do upfront to minimize maintenance surprises. It all begins with the owners
group for the type of aircraft you want to buy.
Step 1: The Aircraft Owners Group
Without question, aircraft owners groups are the single best
resource for learning about what to watch out for during a
pre-purchase inspection. This includes typical wear items,
out of production parts issues, current and pending airworthiness directives (ADs), and the cost that you can expect to
pay for repairing the problems you find.
Before you even begin looking at potential aircraft,
join the owners group and get your hands on as much
research material as possible. Most groups offer some sort
of maintenance compendium, access to past newsletters,
maintenance manuals, and often a list of recommended
maintenance facilities. Use the opportunity to call some of
the maintenance-savvy members to get their thoughts on
your aircraft search. Almost every aircraft owner knows what
he or she would do differently if buying an airplane again.
In some cases, you may even get a good lead on an aircraft
for sale that is regarded as especially well maintained. More
than once, I’ve heard owners group members say things
such as, “You should talk to Bob. He’s got one of the nicest Saratogas I’ve seen, but he just lost his medical and he’s
looking to sell.” That’s a good starting place.
Step 2: Get the Facts
Before you examine a potential aircraft, it pays to get the
facts upfront. It can save you from wasting time and energy
running out to see a promising plane that turns out to be a
real disappointment.
When you first speak to the seller, gather the aircraft’s
exact model number, year of production, serial number, and
registration or N number. Note the aircraft’s total time as
well as the time on the engine and propeller. It’s also important to know where and when the last engine overhaul was
performed. Dates matter as much as hours, so find out the
date of the last annual inspection, transponder check, and
instrument flight rules certification, as well as what components have recently been repaired or replaced. You’ll get
the real picture when you examine the logbooks, but if you
know the basics upfront, it will save you time and give you
an early edge in price negotiation.
Finally, get a listing of all installed equipment, supplemental type certificates, and modifications to the
aircraft. All of these questions should be answered over
the phone before you spend any time or money on the
prospective aircraft.
