Pre-Buy Evaluations
We are pleased to offer pre-buy services for prospective airplane buyers, ranging from purchase consultation, preliminary logbook reviews, to complete pre-buy evaluations.
Every pre-buy we conduct is done with a philosophy to protect the buyer's interest and investment. As a fellow aircraft owner, I understand the commitment purchasing and owning an airplane entails, and the desire to go about it the proper way. Each pre-buy we conduct follows a checklist we've developed, adjusted for your specific aircraft type.
The goal of a pre-buy is simple...we will help determine if the airplane is a strong purchase candidate. In addition to looking at the condition of the airplane that day, our report strongly factors in long-term ownership considerations (engine condition, recurring expensive ADs, history of airframe-specific maintenance issues, etc). We focus primarily on experimental and LSA aircraft. We generally travel to the airplane's location to conduct the pre-buy. Some of the items considered include:
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Logbook Inspection & Trend Report
Logbooks tell a story of the airplane's service and maintenance life. Frequency of use, missed annual inspections, detail of logbook entries, missing pages, and the type of work performed (or not!) should all be considered when making a purchase decision.
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Airworthiness Directive and Service Bulletin Check
We perform a complete AD search of the engine, airframe, and applicable accessories. We will also produce a compliance list of non-mandatory Service Bulletins recommended by the manufacturer.
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Borescope Cylinder Analysis
The engine is generally the most expensive item an airplane owner may replace, often outvaluing the cost of the aircraft itself. When determining the suitability of an airplane for purchase, great care and attention should go towards the engine. We borescope and analyze each cylinder for signs of corrosion, valve failure, improper wear, piston ring/wrist pin issues, etc. A borescope often finds issues a simple compression check will not.
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Propeller Tracking Check
This critical check can reveal costly issues such as hub/blade issues and even unreported prop strikes and crankshaft damage which may require an engine teardown.
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Oil Filter Inspection (Oil Lab Analysis also Available)
Engines talk, and will loudly give evidence of wear, often found in the engine oil filter. We will cut open, inspect, and replace the oil filter as an additional indicator of a costly engine problem.
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Compression Check
A compression check is also performed to validate observations and findings from the borescope and oil filter analysis.
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Complete Title Search & FAA File, and 337/STC Check
Airframe and engine condition are only part of a pre-buy. Legality of the sale and current aircraft state is just as critical to a smooth purchase and ownership experience. A clean title and properly documented and legal STCs and 337s are checked.
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Operational Check (Run-Up and/or Flight)
We will verify all engine parameters and other systems such as trim, flaps, braking, control continuity, magneto drops, magneto grounding, lighting, avionics function, etc.
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Airframe & Engine Evaluation
Corrosion, damage, cracking, and indication of unreported incidents. Control system continuity, worn items needing replacement, general cleanliness, and airframe-specific emphasis areas (e.g., longeron inspection and radius plate installation on spring-gear Pitts Specials) are all evaluated to help inform your purchase decision.
At the conclusion of the evaluation, we will share a report with you of our findings and overall impression. We will also schedule a phone call to go over the report with you in more detail, and answer any questions you may have.
Whether you choose us or another qualified, independent provider for your pre-buy, doing so is an absolute 'must' when purchasing an airplane. Let us help protect your investment, safety, and enjoyment - contact us to discuss more.
