BARRON AVIATION LLC
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION
GUIDELINES
Performing pre-purchase inspections is a very good investment based on what we have seen in the past. There are some very costly discrepancies that can exist with 50+-year-old airplanes. There is nothing that cannot be fixed, however, it is always good to know what an aircraft is and is not prior to paying the purchase price.
Being the one who performs the inspection is a very good way to end up with someone un-happy with your service. To help avoid this situation we have elected to describe what we will and will not do as well as what we can and cannot do in this guide.
What we will do:
- A pre-purchase inspection as brief or thorough (up to annual inspection criteria and beyond) as you would like.
- All inspections conducted and their results will be documented in a report for whoever has hired us to do the inspection.
- We will start with the most common and expensive problem areas first so if a problem is discovered that precludes the purchase of the aircraft, you will not have to pay for other inspections you do not need.
- If you do elect to purchase the aircraft, and would like the inspections applied to an "Annual" inspection, we will do this provided the aircraft has not left our shop.
What we will not do:
- No written inspection report will be supplied to anyone other than the person hiring us to do the inspection.
- We will not be influenced by either party (the seller or prospective buyer) as to the outcome of the pre-purchase inspection or any part thereof. The inspection will be conducted in accordance with Barron Aviation's inspection criteria and reported in accordance with our standards.
What we can do:
- As with any inspection, our pre-purchase inspection and report is a statement, to the best of our knowledge, as to the condition and airworthiness of the aircraft at the current time.
- We can report on the general condition of the aircraft pertaining to such things as corrosion, hoses, fuel bladders, wiring, etc.
- We can perform many additional specific and detailed inspections and checks, however most of these are not worth the costs unless the item or area is suspect for some reason.
What we cannot do:
- We cannot forecast the condition of any component of the aircraft. For example, if the aircraft has been recently stripped and painted without all of the stripper being removed and neutralized between the lapped metal structures of the airframe, the resulting corrosion may not become externally visible for some time.
- The following listed items are either not covered in a standard inspection or are nearly impossible to determine:
- Internal engine, prop and accessory component condition including #4 link rod
-Fresh residual paint stripper not removed and/or neutralized from skin seams (not yet producing visible corrosion salts).
- Any forms of corrosion that are hidden with no visible signs such as early development of intergranular corrosion.
- Fuel bay corrosion and bladder condition.
- Internal gear leg flaws and inclusions.
- Avionics and equipment condition and function.
All of the above areas can be determined with the proper inspections and are available at an hourly charge.
Throughout this process our goal is to have all parties involved and informed every step of the way. We have found that, when needed, there are usually good solutions found that are fair to both parties when everyone is involved. We work very hard at keeping everyone informed and involved with any work we do. We think you have made a wise choice in having pre-purchase inspection performed prior to writing a large check. Our goal is for everyone to have the positive experiences we have so enjoyed with these fantastic planes!
Sincerely,
Michael Barron - President