Lost log books

I looked at an A36 and was thinking about buying it, but he lost the logs.
My question is how much does this usually decrease the value of the plane.

he's got zero logbooks for it?

start running.. away... very far away and as fast as you can..

BT

"Aluckyguess" wrote in message
...
I looked at an A36 and was thinking about buying it, but he lost the logs.
My question is how much does this usually decrease the value of the plane.

Without logs, how do you know the flight hours on the
airframe or engine? Without that, how do you comply with AD
notes?

But if the plane looks good and he can prove ownership, you
can re-create the logs from sources.

The FAA should have records on the airplane. Beech will
have records of manufacture and probably spare parts orders.

It is some detective work and some parts, such as engines
and props may need to be overhauled or replaced anyway.
Talk to a good A&P/AI who "knows the model" and do a little
research.

My guess is that the price should be adjusted $25,000 to
$100,000 lower than a "perfect" airplane to cover your
costs.

You will need a real annual inspection by YOUR mechanic, not
his. That will cost several thousand dollars, just for the
inspection and logbook research just to find out what MUST
be replaced or re-done.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"BT" wrote in message
...
| he's got zero logbooks for it?
|
| start running.. away... very far away and as fast as you
can..
|
| BT
|
| "Aluckyguess" wrote in message
| ...
| I looked at an A36 and was thinking about buying it, but
he lost the logs.
| My question is how much does this usually decrease the
value of the plane.
|
|
|

On Jan 24, 9:15 pm, "BT" wrote:
he's got zero logbooks for it?

start running.. away... very far away and as fast as you can..


It's perfectly reasonable that a well maintained plane could have it's
logbooks go missing.

The flight school I work at has all the logbooks for their planes
stored in one room by the maintenance hangar. If that thing goes up in
flames, the planes are no less flyable.

The flight school I work at has all the logbooks for their planes
stored in one room by the maintenance hangar. If that thing goes up in
flames, the planes are no less flyable.


I would hope someone was smart enough to buy a fire proof safe for that
room.
If they did go up in flames how would your student take their
checkride?
Lou

The flight school I work at has all the logbooks for their planes
stored in one room by the maintenance hangar. If that thing goes up in
flames, the planes are no less flyable.


I would hope someone was smart enough to buy a fire proof safe for that
room.

Great idea, but that would put them on a different "plane of reality" from
most places I recall working. Admittedly, none were aircraft
operators--but...

Peter

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message
...
Without logs, how do you know the flight hours on the
airframe or engine? Without that, how do you comply with AD
notes?

But if the plane looks good and he can prove ownership, you
He can and he has one annual done on it. The A/P had the hours in his
computer.

can re-create the logs from sources.

The FAA should have records on the airplane. Beech will
have records of manufacture and probably spare parts orders.
He has that disk and the number of the guy who owned the plane before him.

It is some detective work and some parts, such as engines
and props may need to be overhauled or replaced anyway.

He just did the prop it has 1 hour.

Talk to a good A&P/AI who "knows the model" and do a little
research.
I would do a complete annual using my mechanic as a pre buy.

My guess is that the price should be adjusted $25,000 to
That was my guess, that equates to about 20%
I dont think he will sell it at that price so it mute anyhow.

$100,000 lower than a "perfect" airplane to cover your
costs.

You will need a real annual inspection by YOUR mechanic, not
his. That will cost several thousand dollars, just for the
inspection and logbook research just to find out what MUST

I was thinking you could have a fun summer flying to all the places that
worked on the airplane re-creating the logs.
Would this be as good as original if done?
be replaced or re-done.




thanks
--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"BT" wrote in message
...
| he's got zero logbooks for it?
|
| start running.. away... very far away and as fast as you
can..
|
| BT
|
| "Aluckyguess" wrote in message
| ...
| I looked at an A36 and was thinking about buying it, but
he lost the logs.
| My question is how much does this usually decrease the
value of the plane.
|
|
|

"Aluckyguess" wrote:
I looked at an A36 and was thinking about buying it, but he lost the logs.
My question is how much does this usually decrease the value of the plane.

You mean you'd still consider buying it without logbooks? The Seller is
doing nothing to re-create the logs? So aside from a pre-buy, you'd just
take the Seller's word for what has/hasn't been done and when? ... and
pay to have everything redone that requires signed/certified
documentation? Wow.

On Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:57:14 -0800, Lou wrote
(in article .com):




The flight school I work at has all the logbooks for their planes
stored in one room by the maintenance hangar. If that thing goes up in
flames, the planes are no less flyable.


I would hope someone was smart enough to buy a fire proof safe for that
room.
If they did go up in flames how would your student take their
checkride?
Lou


I have never seen a flight school keeping aircraft logbooks in a fireproof
safe. Usually these logbooks occupy several shelves in the maintenance office
and are much too large to put in any reasonable sort of safe.

Logbooks get lost, destroyed, or whatever, all of the time.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:04:33 -0800, Aluckyguess wrote
(in article ):

I looked at an A36 and was thinking about buying it, but he lost the logs.
My question is how much does this usually decrease the value of the plane.



Unfortunately, there is no 'usual' amount. Either the logbooks are recreated
from maintenance and other records or you basically 'zero time' everything.

Logbooks do get lost or destroyed from time to time; there is no getting
around that. However, it does not render the aircraft valueless.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor