Figuring Out a Prebuy...

[Cardiff Kook]

Hi all. I am under contract on a 185 in Phoenix subject to inspection.

My dilemma is I can't find anyone down there who can do the prebuy/annual.

I do have a very knowledgeable guy up here who I can fly down for a day- but he said he can't do an annual on it, just a prebuy. yes, I know a prebuy is not defined. yes, i would prefer an annual, especially since the annual is due in April He said an annual takes three days, and prebuy would be 6-8 hours looking over the plane. 8 hrs of looking it over is going to be close to $2k- not including travel expenses. Basically the cost of an annual without the annual

I already spent 3 hours going through it with a knowledgably A&P- though we didn't do logs/paperwork other than quick scan and didn't do much inspection of the engine. Spent most time on airframe opening panels and checking the gear boxes. Plane is no damage history- and we couldn't find any sign of damage. Engine has 800 hrs over last 20 yrs- 40-50 hrs a year until 4 yrs ago when it dropped to 14 hrs/year. Hoping not an issue due to Arizona climate.

Anyways- wondering if I should fly down the guy I know is an expert for "prebuy" or find someone who can actually knock out an annual. Or maybe someone knows someone...

 

[stewartb]

Who do you trust with a large sum of your money? If it was me? I'd buy my mechanic a plane ticket and a hotel room.

 

[behindpropellers]

I would not let anybody inspect an airplane for me unless I either personally knew them or was recommended by somebody I know. If whoever you have inspecting the airplane does not take at least 4-6 hours to apply a timeline to the logs you are wasting your time.

 

[RedOwlAirfield]

Anyways- wondering if I should fly down the guy I know is an expert for "prebuy" or find someone who can actually knock out an annual. Or maybe someone knows someone...

If you have someone you trust - go with them - even if it's more expensive. The person you don't know could be outstanding; or they could be not so. Eight hours from someone you trust and believe in is worth many times more than many many more hours from someone you don't know. You're going to be flying over some rugged terrain to get it home. You'll hear every bump and blip - many of which are only in your head. Think of it as flying over water. Do you really want to have to trust someone you don't know? Just pay the money and fly down the guy you know.

Only my opinion of course, but it's not even a question in my mind.

 

[Cardiff Kook]

If whoever you have inspecting the airplane does not take at least 4-6 hours to apply a timeline to the logs you are wasting your time.

What does that mean- “apply a timeline to the logs?”

 

[DENNY]

Whoever is going to be the IA for the plane should be the one to do the Prebuy!! Well worth the extra money to fly someone down. Trying to find 2 IA's that agree on what is legal or proper on a plane is like trying to find two pilots on this forum that agree on the proper way to do a STOL landing.:lol::lol: So if your knowledgable guy is going to be the IA for the plane by all means send him. If he says it has issues you will know before you get a 20 grand surprise at annual. If he says its good buy the plane and get a CFI to fly it up with you. You will most likely need some dual for insurance and 20-30 hours to figure out how to fly it anyway. DENNY

 

[BC12D-4-85]

The two best friends to have in aircraft ownership are your CFI and IA. One thinks you're airworthy and the other knows you're not.

Gary

 

[TxAgfisher]

If it's the airplane I think it is, that looks like a nice bird. Agree though, when spending 185 money don't skip out on getting a good look at it from someone who knows what they are doing. Engine will end up needing to be topped most likely, that's just how Continentals do ya when they sit.