Pre-purchase (how to)

2 friends & I are starting to look at Cherokee 180's to buy. We're in a
flying club, but want our own plane. My biggest question at this point is
how to arrange pre-purchase inspections. Especially when the plane is far
away from our home base (KSPI). Is there a resource somewhere where we can
look up shops/people in various areas who do pre-purchase inspections?

Sorry if this has been covered recently.

Thanks!




PP-ASEL

First, join the type club for the aircraft you are looking for. Learn
as much about them as possible so you know what questions to ask of a
potential seller. Okay? Then see if the seller has a digital camera
and can send you about 50 pictures. If not, buy him two rolls of film
and get them to him quickly with a fedex return label. You can then
have the film developed. Okay? If all is looking up, consult with
the type club for their recommendations on a prebuy person. Remember,
only a person very EXPERIENCED in the type of aircraft you're looking
to buy should perform the prebuy. Joe Boxadonuts who's been wrenching
for years may have all the good intentions, but may not know the
idiosyncracies of a particular plane. Good luck.

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 00:56:21 GMT, "Steven Barnes"
wrote:

2 friends & I are starting to look at Cherokee 180's to buy. We're in a
flying club, but want our own plane. My biggest question at this point is
how to arrange pre-purchase inspections. Especially when the plane is far
away from our home base (KSPI). Is there a resource somewhere where we can
look up shops/people in various areas who do pre-purchase inspections?

Sorry if this has been covered recently.

Thanks!




PP-ASEL

2 friends & I are starting to look at Cherokee 180's to buy. We're in a
flying club, but want our own plane. My biggest question at this point is
how to arrange pre-purchase inspections. Especially when the plane is far
away from our home base (KSPI). Is there a resource somewhere where we can
look up shops/people in various areas who do pre-purchase inspections?

Actually, if I were to do it over again, I'd use this newsgroup (and the
..piloting group) to ask for A&P mechanic recommendations in a given
geographic area before setting up a pre-buy. There is a wealth of knowledge
here, and it's spread pretty evenly nationwide -- and the price is certainly
right.

You've also touched on the reason many buyers try to stay local. The best
planes on your (and any) field will sell without advertisement. Try to plug
into the "good ol' boy" network on your field, so you can get the advance
poop about any good aircraft coming down the pike.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

This has always been a problem with buying an airplane. The best
protection from getting burned (and it is by no means a guaranty), is to
have the mechanic who will be working on it after you buy it do the
pre-buy. On a simple plane like a PA28-180, most wrenches with some
years of experience should suffice.

As others have suggested, try to talk to folks in a type club. They have
a mental "laundry list" of probable trouble spots to check specifically.
A couple of the "usual suspects" include cracked alternator brackets,
trash magnetos (Bendix or Slick), main landing gear torque link ear
cracks (this is a new one), rear spar attachment corrosion (this one
will sting ya in the pocketbook, wing walk aluminum
washboarding/cracking. Most Cherokees suffer to some extent from
cracking wingtips/stabilator tips, dorsal fairings disintegrating,
leaking fuel selector valves, disintegrating interior plastic (including
the panel overlays), seat belt retractors needing rewebbing, seat
upholstery falling apart, etc. Most of this stuff is due to age and/or,
if they have been replaced and still look poor, the OEM
materials/designs were/are crap. I would personally avoid air
conditioning, even if it works. The whole alternator belt headache and
the loss of 65 or so lbs. is definitely not worth it, especially if you
are not in the South.

If your own mechanic does the pre-buy, there is less chance of a
subsequent "heart attack" annual ($8000+). Distance can be the problem.
If it is within a couple of flying hours, you might try getting the bird
to the man. Sometimes less hassle to get the man to the bird. Longer
distance may be a "meet halfway" affair. Trouble is, most owners don't
want to consider any of this because there are enough local buyers.
Offer a few hundred up front for the trip.

Finding a decent 180 is difficult. Every 140 owner without the cash for
an Archer (including me) is looking for them. Even brokers (who usually
don't put their own skin in the game) will buy them outright because
they know they are a safe bet. I personally believe the '72 "G" model is
the best of the bunch. Modern panel, no overhead trim, good
load/performance numbers, new enough to not be a beater. Most of the
60's models I have seen are pretty beat up dogs.

If you hear of a 72 with upgraded avionics and recent P&I in the Chicago
area, please let me know. If they will take my 140 in trade, even better.

Good Luck,
Mike

Steven Barnes wrote:
2 friends & I are starting to look at Cherokee 180's to buy. We're in a
flying club, but want our own plane. My biggest question at this point is
how to arrange pre-purchase inspections. Especially when the plane is far
away from our home base (KSPI). Is there a resource somewhere where we can
look up shops/people in various areas who do pre-purchase inspections?

Sorry if this has been covered recently.

Thanks!




PP-ASEL




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In article , "Steven Barnes"
writes:

2 friends & I are starting to look at Cherokee 180's to buy. We're in a
flying club, but want our own plane. My biggest question at this point is
how to arrange pre-purchase inspections. Especially when the plane is far
away from our home base (KSPI). Is there a resource somewhere where we can
look up shops/people in various areas who do pre-purchase inspections?


My advise is to take your time and buy close (within the state). In many
states, there is a no tax for a casual sale. If you buy close, your own A&P
can usually do the inspection. Check around nearby airports. Often the best
ones don't get to the "For Sale" stage before they are sold. CFIs and airport
managers sometimes know of a plane that hasn't flown much in a the last few
years. Make an offer and the ball may start to roll.

Chuck