Ask Pete
A Prepurchase Inspection Can Be An Annual Inspection, But It’s Usually Not That Thorough Therefore, Buyers Need To Be Realistic If Their Mechanic Misses Something. by Pete Schoeninger
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved!
Q: What’s the latest on the used airplane market? A: From what I see and hear, the market continues strong as we come out of the Covid mess. I think the reasons for a strong market have some parallels Pete Schoeninger to the strong market for used cars. It is my opinion that a good used Cessna (or Piper, or Beech, or Cirrus) will probably continue to be a good investment unless our whole economy goes south. More specifically, older Cessna 172s (1956 to mid-1970s) have jumped in value roughly $10 grand in the last several months. I suspect what happened is that the buyer who was looking for a $50K late 1970s C 172 found those prices had jumped, so those buyers began grabbing older ones, driving up their price as well. Other changes, according to the Summer 2021 edition of the Aircraft Bluebook (www. aircraftbluebook.com), include late model V 35B Bonanzas jumping in value $10 grand or so, the same with older Cessna 206s, and older Cirrus aircraft.
the tires. You should find the measurement about the same, or possibly showing a little toe in. But if your tires are worn, or lumpy, here is the half-hour test: Clamp a 4 ft straight edge to the brake disc on each side. Then measure the distance just ahead of the wheels, and at the end of the 4 ft straight edges. If you find a significant difference, or correcting tire pressure does not cure your problem, it is time to consult your mechanic. Q: Everybody knows Beech made a few aerobatic Bonanzas, models E 33C and F 33C about 50 years ago. A friend told me a few of the Sundowners around 1970 were also aerobatic legal. He said you can tell aerobatic versions because of a slightly different paint scheme. Is he right? A: CAUTION! Paint has no structural properties. I have seen a Sundowner repainted with the aerobatic scheme that was NOT an aerobatic legal airplane! The Pilot’s Operating Handbook should be used to determine aerobatic certification. Beech added an aerobatic kit during construction to some airplanes, but to only a few. Be cautious.
Q: I have heard that some aircraft mechanics will no longer do a prepurchase inspection? Is this true, and if so, why? A: Yes, true. There is no legal definition of a prepurchase inspection. Some mechanics may feel (sometimes correctly) that a prospective buyer is looking for a complete review of the prospective purchase by paying only for a couple hours of inspection time. If, after the airplane is purchased, significant hidden problems or paperwork issues are found that were not discovered during a brief prepurchase inspection, the new owner may hold the mechanic responsible. In other words, the reward of a few hours of revenue may not be worth the risk – or hassle – of missing an item or two. Q: I have noticed my recently acquired Skyhawk wants to turn a bit to the right on landing roll and while taxiing. Could my main wheels be out of alignment? A: Possibly, but unlikely. In my experience, the very simple cause is that one tire has lower air pressure than the other. Service your two main tires to the same recommended air pressure and see what happens. You can do a primitive tire alignment test yourself in 5 minutes, or a better test in 30 minutes, as follows, if your wheel pants are off: Put the tab of a tape measure in the center tread of the front of the tire and measure the distance to the front of the other main tire. Then do the same for the rear of AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE 15
