Aeronca Champ pre-purchase question

I've been flying my 182 for the last 19 years and it's become just
"transportation" and not "fun" anymore. So I'm thinking of buying an
"airknocker" to fly for fun [and selling the 182].

Do any of you guys out there that have Aeronca experience have any
tips or suggestions on what to look for [other than the usual stuff]
in a pre-purchase for an Aeronca. Any significant AD's, etc. The
last Aeronca I had was in 1961, an L-3, that I paid $300 for!

Appreciate e-mail replies to

Thanking you in advance,

Trent Sanders
N2997Y
WHP

(Trent D. Sanders) wrote in message . com...
I've been flying my 182 for the last 19 years and it's become just
"transportation" and not "fun" anymore. So I'm thinking of buying an
"airknocker" to fly for fun [and selling the 182].

Do any of you guys out there that have Aeronca experience have any
tips or suggestions on what to look for [other than the usual stuff]
in a pre-purchase for an Aeronca. Any significant AD's, etc. The
last Aeronca I had was in 1961, an L-3, that I paid $300 for!

Appreciate e-mail replies to

Thanking you in advance,

Trent Sanders
N2997Y
WHP

Airworthiness Directive 98-05-04 mandates an extensive inspection
of the wooden spars in these airplanes. It involves cutting many
access holes in the wing, and even then you can't get a good look at
the wood. Many guys here in Canada have been removing the fabric,
removing the spar and strut fittings and rib nails and moving the ribs
over to get a really good look. Numerous cracks have been found hidden
in many places, and of such a nature as to make many of us mechanics
really nervous about these aircraft. Longitudinal cracks are found
under the fittings and ribs, as the wood shrinks across the grain as
it ages and the metal ribs and fittings won't let it move like that so
it splits. Compression failures are being found at the plywood
doublers as a result of local stiffening by the doubler.
I wouldn't buy an Aeronca/Bellanca/Champion unless the inspection
had been done properly or if I was getting it cheap and rebuilding it.
Even then, spar spruce has become rare and expensive.
American Champion went to metal spars around '90 or '92. No
problem with them.

Dan