Common Man’s Guide to Buying a Used Airplane
Part 3: Determining Requirements, Education, Budgeting
If you’re lucky enough to find a plane close to home, you may have a mechanic at your home field, (or close by) that you know or is recommended by a friend. If so you could ask the seller to bring the plane there for the look over. If not, you’ll have to find someone near where the plane is located and probably deal with him over the phone. You want to have the inspection done by someone at a different location than where the plane is based. Here’s the first question you should ask a prospective mechanic: “Hey, do you know Bill Brunner over at Baker Field who’s selling the Clipper?” If the answer is “No,” then press on and inquire about price, availability, etc. If the person you’re talking to reveals in any fashion a familiarity with the seller, you should move on to someone else.
It’s not too common for a mechanic to tell you, “This plane is a piece of junk; do not buy it!” But it certainly does happen, and if this is the case, your decision is easy. It’s even more rare for him to say, “If you don’t buy it, I will!” Usually it’s somewhere in between, and the mechanic will provide you with the information to help you make a decision. Almost always there are a few items that come up, and often they become final negotiating points in closing the deal. Just be careful not to nitpick the seller. Remember, the mechanic is being paid by you and probably feels a duty to discover and report some items so you will feel you got your money’s worth, minor items that aren’t worth haggling over and making the seller become frustrated. If you’re not sure what’s minor and what isn’t, ask.
If you’re dealing with the mechanic long distance and haven’t seen the plane yet, ask about the appearance. Send him copies of the same pictures you’ve been looking at and ask how well they match the plane’s actual appearance. If at all possible you’ll certainly want to try to arrive in person to look at the plane before committing to buy. But you may decide to take a calculated risk to save travel costs and go with the facts you have gathered and the mechanic’s assessment.
If you’ve found, “the one” and you’re financing, you’ll want to quickly get some information to the bank to get things rolling. They’ll need the N-number and/or serial number to run a title search. They’ll ask you for detailed information on the engine, paint, avionics, etc. to determine value. Some lenders will ask you to send pictures, and some will require a written pre-purchase inspection report from the mechanic. If you’re not financing, you’ll want to get your own title search done and you may also want to check the accident history of the airplane. AOPA has a title search service separate from the lending service that can do this for you if you’re paying cash.
The deal is done, finally, and now you have a plane to get home. You’ve worked hard to research and learn, find and evaluate, verify and decide. The work continues; diligence must still be exercised amidst the excitement. Be EXTREMELY cautious about hopping into a new (to you) airplane and taking it cross country. If it’s a model you don’t have previous experience in, your insurance company will most likely prescribe minimum checkout requirements. Even if you have flown the same model plane before, small differences between avionics, lighting, switch locations, control placements/operation, door operation, etc. can quickly become a big deal when the workload is high and or the location or situation is unfamiliar to you. To be safe you should significantly raise your personal weather minimums for the ferry flight home. Even if the plane is equipped for IFR it is almost always a very bad idea to launch right into IMC before you have gotten to know that particular airplane and its quirks.
Another option is to have the aircraft delivered. There are two types of ferry pilots: Those with very low experience (hours) that are offering to ferry planes to build time, and those who are very experienced. Often the low-timers will offer to fly for free, or for expenses only. Obviously, you get what you pay for. Get a professional! Check your insurance to be sure the ferry pilot is covered. You can find delivery pilots by checking advertisements on Barnstormers.com. Also, you can ask local used aircraft brokers in the area to see if they’ll provide names of pilots they use.
You’ll feel like a kid at Christmas again when you get your airplane home. The first time you clean and wax it, you’ll start to notice some of the not so obvious little flaws that didn’t stand out during the initial look over. Don’t be disappointed; it is a used airplane, and no plane is perfect, not even a new one. There will be little cosmetics you want to fix, accessories you want to buy, etc. Make a to-do list of “things to buy” and “things to do” as you get to know your bird. The more you can get involved with the maintenance of your plane, the better you’ll understand it and be able to diagnose/assess pre-flight findings and potential in-flight issues. If you want to do some of your own maintenance (FAR part 43 lists items an owner/pilot can perform and sign off in the logbook) start small and with guidance and supervision from your mechanic. Many owners do their own oil changes, tire rotations, and similar tasks. Of course one of the best maintenance, “tasks” you can do for your plane is fly it! Frequently flown engines are healthier; frequently flown pilots are safer. Fly often, fly safely, and have fun!
By Brett Justus