Originally Posted by
MD11
AN ABSOLUTE MUST...
you must get a thorough pre-buy inspection. I don't mean a quick walk around, look at the paint type.
You must pull panels and above all, have an IA check the status of A.D.'s. Also, you must get a complete title search and FAA download of all previously filed FAA Form 337's. I can't tell you how many owners bring me modified aircraft with no documentation. They all look pretty sad when I tell them that its going to be X amount of hours ($$) to research, document and submit a 337 for something they were previously flying around with.
For example: a simple annual on a 172 revealed 7 major repairs and alterations that were not documented,, plus I discovered it had the wrong prop on it.
So, please, do yourself a favor, get a thorough pre-buy inspection... there are too many good airplanes for sale out there to waste time and money on a piece of crap.
Oooohhh that reminded me - we purchased our plane locally (50 nm radius) and had the prebuy done by the same guy who did the annuals. All was well.
We decided to take the plane to another A+P for our first annual (closer, less "mom+pop") and there were items he was not happy with. 10K for that annual on a 66 Mooney M20E. Subsequent annuals went back to the first guy. Both shops are very well respected, and have a long local history - just a matter of A+P judgement (or profit).