If anyone is interested, I have the final squawk list for this airplane (N45291) and can post it.

About as thorough a list as anyone could hope for or hope against. I authorized all of them to be corrected today, which will cost me a bundle. Total squawks = 62, but many are NA.

Is this a good lesson for a buyer? So far I don't know. I suspect that many (repeat, many) annuals signed off in logbooks are pure CRAP from either mech laziness or the owner trying to squeek by, and should be taken with a big grain of salt. See the "recent annual" stuff in the ad and put your tail between your legs and walk off or just consider it a come on.

I think you could consider this particular experience I had to be an "anal" rather than an annual.

The plane should be nice when they are done...perhaps close to perfect. And, would I buy her again knowing what I know now? Yes, I would, but I happen to have the resources to fix her up. If I didn't, I would be on a dead end street at this moment. But, I can afford the absurd and move her to avionics for another anal exam and an expensive upgrade. But, that is what I want to do. Don't fall for this OK stuff if you are a potential buyer with limited resources.

I know their are better birds on paper (so many philosophers out here with so much "inside" information...it makes me warm inside as to how informed they are), but after these guys (the competent ones) do their little exam, I bet they don't come out so hot, of course, in less they cheat, which they often do. That may be the paradigm. I wonder what the FAA would think of those AP types who overlook the obvious...and sell planes to suckers? Some kind of retribution is in order here. I will look into that.

One nice thing about Flightline here in KTLH is that they let me visit daily and talk with the mechanics. I get to see all of the problems and then have them explained to me. Afterwards, I go home and research the issues and confirm or question the diagnosis. It is a really good education for an owner/pilot.

If you want details on this annual of annuals, I'll put them up here. Just let me know.

Thanks for all of the nice comments during the past week.

Paul

Last edited by Paul_Lewis; 04/01/06 01:17 AM.