I'm sure you will get responses saying not to worry. Those will be from
others who have similar numbers and have not (yet) had a problem. Yes.
Engines can be run well past TBO IF they are "overflown". For example,
an engine run for 100 hours per MONTH (a.k.a. "trainer") can get 3000+
hours before going downhill. The one in question got 40 hours a YEAR.

I suspect the reason some consider a plane like this is because it is
close by, or because they don't have the cash to get one with better
numbers.

If the former, I would keep looking. If the latter, they are likely to
buy a plane and then be stuck when the engine craps out (soon) because
they are out of cash to make it right. I have seen many of them on the
local airports lately. Some buyers are so eager to get it over with and
get an airplane they take a risk like this. In normal life, they would
not even consider a similar risk on say, a house or a car.

Engine "sounds" good, compressions "good", and has "good" oil pressure
are all static observations. All these things are true right up until
the second they begin to deteriorate. Over the course of a few operating
hours, compressions can rapidly decline and oil consumption can also go
up quickly, and an engine can start grinding itself to pieces and making
metal at any time.

It all depends on what risk you are willing to take and how much cash
you have. I personally don't like any engine past about 500 hours and 4
or 5 years SMOH. That's just me. I'll pay the price. A ready to go bird
is almost always less expensive than getting it done on your dime after
the purchase.

Trouble is, if you try to deduct the price of a major overhaul, chances
are the seller will balk. And, someone with the cash who does not know
enough or care enough about the engine times will buy it up from under you.

Good Luck,
Mike


Paul Folbrecht wrote:
The 150 I had pre-buy'ed today has an O-200 with 940 SMOA but this
overhaul happened 24 years ago. Mechanic has pointed out that
Continental also specifies a time limit of 12 years on overhaul and thus
this engine is technically runout.

Do I have much cause for concern?? I know engines are quite regularly
run well beyond that time interval. After all, to make that 1800 hours
in 12 years you have to fly 150 hours/year.

Compression is good (all in the 70s) but there is no oil analysis
available. Engine sounds just fine and also has good oil pressure.

I basically need to make a decision on this quickly and am stuck on this
issue. I am leaning heavily towards buying it. My mechanic has said it
is pretty unlikely that this time factor will result in serious problems
now, but that there's really just no way to tell without an oil analysis
or by watching oil consumption.


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