Thinking of buying an aircraft? One of the most critical steps in the process is the pre-purchase inspection. Unfortunately, many buyers call us without knowing what that actually entails—or how thorough it should be.
In this post, we’ll explain why an annual inspection is the best approach for a pre-purchase aircraft inspection, share real examples of what we’ve found, and offer advice to help you avoid costly mistakes.
What Is a Pre-Purchase Aircraft Inspection?
A pre-purchase inspection is designed to uncover any issues that could affect the airworthiness, value, or safety of an aircraft before a sale is finalized. Over the years, we’ve seen that buyers often have different expectations. Some think a simple compression test or oil filter check is enough—others want something close to a full annual inspection.
Our experience has taught us this:
➡️ Anything less than an annual inspection is not enough.
Real Examples: What We’ve Found During Pre-Purchase Inspections
1. Cessna 210 – Cracked Landing Gear Actuator Box
In one inspection, we found a crack in a Cessna 210’s landing gear actuator box—a serious issue that made the aircraft unairworthy. The seller appeared unaware and surprised, but the fact remains: this should have been discovered in a previous inspection.
Even if it wouldn’t have caused an immediate failure, it still needed to be repaired to comply with FAA regulations.
2. Twin-Engine Cessna – Undocumented Fuselage Repairs
Another aircraft showed signs of a fuselage repair with non-factory rivets, and no logbook entry documenting the work. Most of the rivets didn’t meet FAA standards. The buyer was frustrated that we uncovered the issue—despite the fact that it likely saved them thousands in repairs, and possibly much more in safety risk.
3. Cessna 182 – Missed Corrosion by Seller’s Mechanic
One buyer hired a separate shop to perform a thorough pre-buy inspection on a Cessna 182, negotiated repairs with the seller, and closed the deal. Everything seemed great—until they brought the aircraft to us for its first annual.
We found serious corrosion under the floor. The belly rivets were loose, and the corrosion was likely from frequent beach landings by the previous owner—something that was not disclosed. The mechanic who did the pre-buy was the seller’s regular technician.
Had the buyer hired an independent A&P/IA, the issue might have been caught earlier.
Why We Recommend an Annual Inspection for Pre-Purchase
A full annual inspection is the most comprehensive, legally recognized, and standardized way to assess an aircraft. Here’s why:
✅ Thorough Mechanical Evaluation
- Covers all systems, structures, and airworthiness-critical components.
- Identifies corrosion, wear, undocumented repairs, and more.
✅ Full Paperwork Review
- Verifies Airworthiness Directives (ADs) compliance.
- Reviews Service Bulletins (SBs), Service Letters (SLs), FAA Form 337s, and logbook history.
- Helps uncover missing, incomplete, or inaccurate records.
Some say the value of the logbooks can be as much as 50% of the aircraft’s resale value—especially for high-end models. Maintaining clean and complete documentation is critical for resale and regulatory compliance.
Don’t Use the Seller’s Mechanic
Using the seller’s mechanic may seem convenient, but it can be a serious conflict of interest. Always hire a neutral, independent mechanic or shop to protect your investment.
Whether you’re spending $50,000 or $5 million, it’s a major investment—and should be treated like one.
Even if you are looking at an aircraft being offered by one of our customers that we have maintained, we will be the first to advise you to get someone other than us to do your pre-purchase inspection. If you do decide to continue with us, we will assign a different inspector than the one who did the last inspection, and offer a non-bias look at the aircraft.
Final Thoughts: Protect Your Investment with the Right Inspection
We’ve seen both sides: the buyers who’ve walked away from bad deals because of what we found, and the ones who’ve gone forward with confidence knowing the aircraft was solid.
We never tell customers to buy or not buy—we simply perform a detailed annual inspection and give you the facts.
Summary: Our Pre-Purchase Inspection Recommendations
- ✅ Always opt for an annual inspection for any aircraft purchase.
- ✅ Hire an independent mechanic or inspection facility.
- ✅ Review logbooks and maintenance history thoroughly.
- ✅ Get everything documented before closing the deal.
With the right inspection, you can avoid expensive surprises and fly with peace of mind.
Need help with a pre-purchase inspection or have questions about buying an aircraft?
Contact us today and let our experienced team help you make the most informed decision possible.
shinds@shindsprecisionaircraftservices-com
325-949-0643
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