Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes HELP!! Looking at a plane.

I'm looking at a 1963 C150. It was damaged back in 1971 a student ran off the end of the runway and it nosed over according to the NTSB database. My feelings on this are that if the plane was not repaired correctly it would have fallen out of the sky long ago, is this right?
The logs are also a mess, I've given them too, and paid, an A&P mechanic to look at them and give some advice he isn't done yet. I've ordered the FAA CD to see what history they have. The sale would include an extensive annual.
The price is low any advice is helpful , should I be running?

Mark:

There are many aircraft out there flying every day that were damaged sometime during their years in service; repaired correctly, this is a mute issue. That said, you are going in the right direction having an AP/IA go over the logbooks. This may take some time, so please allow for it; it's in your best interest to take the time now! I know this much, there's nothing like an old square tail!

Hang in there. If you need any help, just yell.

herb Rose, N5793E; KZER

Should you be running? Naw...not if you otherwise like the airplane.

I just bought a 1963 Cherokee, and log books are complete, but yes, they are a "mess". However, if carefully reviewed, there really is no issues on your 150 that should not have been addressed (AD's and such) in recent years so shouldn't be your deciding factor. If the plane is what you want, price, equipment and times, then certainly reviewing the logs for AD compliance and quality of repairs plus an "extensive annual" will mitigate your risk substantially. My Cherokee had a full outboard section of wing replaced (337 but no damage history????) plus part of the tail at one time. Then there was some brackets with corrosion (steel) that were replaced, but the general airplane, while it does show some surface corrosion, is in good shape, so I bought. Time will tell whether you and I are right, but time is okay as long as we are flying.

Hmmm, not an expert, but "nosed over"?
Prop damage and maybe some cowl replacement.
Nose wheel strut damage maybe.

The Prop work should be in the logs. A 1971 nose-over wouldn't stop me if it has been flying since.
Just try to go slow, and let the facts surface on the plane.

I just bought 2 weeks ago after a 3 month search, and many trips down dead ends. In the end I got a great plane.

That was 35 years ago. If the plane has been flying for all that time I doubt there is anything wrong with it.



The FAA CD may be useful, revealing 337s and such. The log books are much more useful, if you can get them decoded.

Who is doing the annual, the seller? Better if you get your mechanic to do the annual and the seller pays for it.

Geo.

Mark :
Look at the overall picture of the plane . I agree fully with comments on damage history . I would tend to focus on the engine . Date of overhaul , what TYPE of overhaul , Any recent prolonged down time . was it flown on a fairly regular basis . SMOH hours . OH yes and do check each engine log and make sure that the engine data plate agrees with all the logbook serial numbers and if not why not . For the most part , the engine condition / history is the achilles heal of these birds so if you know what you are dealing with under the hood you have half the battle won . Nothing is going to be " perfect " its a judgement call . you just want as many facts on your side to be able to make it .

Kent N150EW

9ED ended up nosed over in a field way back in it's life. The pilot forgot he was running an O-320! That is what the NTSB says any how. So far, it has been a perfectly flying airplane for me.

Me, too. Hey, Bill... Do I still have more hours in it than you do? You know, after flying Mr. Ed, only my Lil Miss Texas can compare. What a nice flying plane.

Back on the original thread, this is the place to get the best advice. Damage history must be considered, but doesn't automatically rule a plane out. I agree with the engine advice given here, too. I hope you have a mechanic you TRUST do the annual. Then, as Larry told me when he sold me mine, it is what it is. Take it or leave it. You'll have a blast with whatever you buy, for sure.

Mark,

You are a smart guy!! I wish I was as smart when I bought my plane ....you got on this forum and started asking questions...you are way ahead of where I was when I bought my plane.

My mistakes...

1.)I got the fever ....looked at one plane and was ready to buy (didn't buy the first one ...bought the second one)
2.) Put my faith in the guy that was brokering the
plane that I bought.
3.) The guy brokering was also the mechanic....
4.) I didn't spend time finding out the information on 150's that I shopuld have....I didn't do the research
5.) Thought that the low price of a 150 made it the plane to buy. Never considered expenses other than the cost of an annual ...and that cost was quoted by the guy selling the plane...
6.) I didn't have a clue about the potential cost of annuals and costs for maintanance if things go bad.

A few questions for you..

Are you planning on keeping the plane?
...If not, you won't get your money back on a plane thats old with damage history...are you willing to sell it for less than you pay for it?
....Some one already asked you....what are the times...total and engine....?

Do you have the resources to cover things if they go wrong quick? $5K to $10K...if not you could be the proud owner of a plane you can't fly....or why your in finacial trouble after paying the bills...
Have you rented and flown a 150? are you OK with limited power and speed....

I would suggest Mike Arnam's book.

I love to fly ....low and slow is for me...but I wish I had all the money that I have spent ....do it.. but do what you are doing. Take your time, do the home work...if you miss one.. don't worry, there are plenty more....I recomend as low time as you can get...with out damage history, if you a going to sell with in a few years....If resale is not an issue then damage and total time aren't a big deal.
Engine time is another story and SMOH needs to be looked at closely. Who did the overhaul? Were the cylinders replaced?
What brand? What else was replaced at overhaul?

I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from having the enjoyment that I have had ....I only hope that your enjoyment is more ecomomical!!!

Good luck Mark and welcome to a great club....

I disagree.................I bet that I can sell 9ED for at least as much as I paid for it!

I don't really think people pay that much attention to damage history. Especially if it has been flying a long time since the damage has occured. I would be curious how many 150's, 152's, out there actually have not had the nose gear buckled at least once? Further, I wonder how many have actually had the nose gear buckled and not have it documented?