douglas393
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,999
- Display Name
- douglas
Not sure this is where to post so if it needs to be moved no problem. Sorry about the length.
I have not posted in a while, and though continued to fly, other issues kept me offline. Anyhow, I purchased a previously injured plane about 4 years ago, flipped on a landing. It was repaired by what I was told by my long term (over 10 years then) mechanic by a reputable repair shop. I had a prebuy done before purchase by my mechanic's shop (he was originally a small shop owner, but as he was winding down, he became an employee of a large well-respected avionics and maintenance company). Though he was involved in the prebuy, he did not do the majority of it. Anyhow, it came through the prebuy with only a few small squawks, no major issues, and nothing that was graded as good on their scale of good, average, and poor. After talking to the manager, the mechanics involved in the prebuy, and researching the squawks they identified I purchased the plane at a very good price compared to a similarly well-equipped plane of same vintage.
I have flown it for 4 years at this point, putting well over 200 hrs on the plane, and other than its tendency for a right-ward yaw (requiring a lot of left trim in cruise, and left rudder in take off) it has performed beyond my expectations in VMC, IMC, mild turbulence, powered on and powered off stalls, basic and commercial maneuvers, extreme slow flight, etc. It has gone through 3 subsequent annuals at the original shop, and though one was a disaster (discussed in a previous post) and no problems with the repairs were ever noted. and it was always declared airworthy. It had one extended search for an electrical (charging issue) which was finally fixed, though I was unhappy with how the search for the problem was done.
This year I relocated the plane from my airport to a new one in a different state, and so I had my annual done at this new airport with a new mechanic. He had done some minor work on the plane prior to the annual and was quite familiar with the plane. My interactions with him have always been positive, and he often helped me out without charging me. About 3 days after I left the plane with him, he called me and told me he had did a cursory inspection of the plane at most three hours) and was concerned that there were major issues with the repairs and 337 and he did not think the plane was airworthy. He asked me if I wanted him to do a more extensive inspection requiring about 30 to 40 hrs to document the issues and I agreed. This resulted in a 60+ page report documenting issue with both wings and the tail being out of spec, major rigging problems, wrong rivets and missing rivets, necessary repairs not performed, repairs not done correctly, discrepancies (wrong part numbers, missing part numbers, undocumented repairs, etc) on the 337, and other issues. I spoke to the wing repair shop who he consulted, and they confirmed his findings on the wings and tail after reviewing his report (which included numerous pictures).
Bottom line just for the wings and tail the needed repairs will require at least 6 months. For the other known issues, and unknown issues, who knows how long.
I contacted AOPA legal services, and they gave me a list of possible lawyers, recommending one in particular. I contacted this well known for his aviation work lawyer and after a number of correspondences he basically told me he could take on the case, I would almost definitely win, but at the end of the day the cost of the suit would be so high, my return would be net negative.
I then contacted the original shop who did the prebuy, and subsequent annuals, and their answer was the prebuy was inadequate given the previous damage to the plane (which they knew about and even documented in the prebuy) and they did not know how some of the issues missed on subsequent annuals. Their offer was to have me get the plane to them, they would inspect it, get the needed repairs done, and give me an undisclosed discounted labor rate! My insurance compnay obviously said it was not covered, unless there was a subsequent accident after I purchased the plane.
At this point, I am going to end up selling the plane, at a price about 2/3 what I paid for it, lick my wounds, and try to decide whether I will ever fly a plane again.
Sorry about the long post. Thought I did everything right, but in retrospect not too sure. I think the moral of the story is a bargain often is not a bargain at all. It is sad because this bird is an awesome plane, I loved flying it, it has given me memories that are certainly priceless, but in its present condition, it is certainly not airworthy and requires more money and time than I want to invest. I hope the purchaser does do it justice and it will be airworthy and flying again.
Thanks for letting me vent. Appreciate any thoughts, comments, questions, etc.
I have not posted in a while, and though continued to fly, other issues kept me offline. Anyhow, I purchased a previously injured plane about 4 years ago, flipped on a landing. It was repaired by what I was told by my long term (over 10 years then) mechanic by a reputable repair shop. I had a prebuy done before purchase by my mechanic's shop (he was originally a small shop owner, but as he was winding down, he became an employee of a large well-respected avionics and maintenance company). Though he was involved in the prebuy, he did not do the majority of it. Anyhow, it came through the prebuy with only a few small squawks, no major issues, and nothing that was graded as good on their scale of good, average, and poor. After talking to the manager, the mechanics involved in the prebuy, and researching the squawks they identified I purchased the plane at a very good price compared to a similarly well-equipped plane of same vintage.
I have flown it for 4 years at this point, putting well over 200 hrs on the plane, and other than its tendency for a right-ward yaw (requiring a lot of left trim in cruise, and left rudder in take off) it has performed beyond my expectations in VMC, IMC, mild turbulence, powered on and powered off stalls, basic and commercial maneuvers, extreme slow flight, etc. It has gone through 3 subsequent annuals at the original shop, and though one was a disaster (discussed in a previous post) and no problems with the repairs were ever noted. and it was always declared airworthy. It had one extended search for an electrical (charging issue) which was finally fixed, though I was unhappy with how the search for the problem was done.
This year I relocated the plane from my airport to a new one in a different state, and so I had my annual done at this new airport with a new mechanic. He had done some minor work on the plane prior to the annual and was quite familiar with the plane. My interactions with him have always been positive, and he often helped me out without charging me. About 3 days after I left the plane with him, he called me and told me he had did a cursory inspection of the plane at most three hours) and was concerned that there were major issues with the repairs and 337 and he did not think the plane was airworthy. He asked me if I wanted him to do a more extensive inspection requiring about 30 to 40 hrs to document the issues and I agreed. This resulted in a 60+ page report documenting issue with both wings and the tail being out of spec, major rigging problems, wrong rivets and missing rivets, necessary repairs not performed, repairs not done correctly, discrepancies (wrong part numbers, missing part numbers, undocumented repairs, etc) on the 337, and other issues. I spoke to the wing repair shop who he consulted, and they confirmed his findings on the wings and tail after reviewing his report (which included numerous pictures).
Bottom line just for the wings and tail the needed repairs will require at least 6 months. For the other known issues, and unknown issues, who knows how long.
I contacted AOPA legal services, and they gave me a list of possible lawyers, recommending one in particular. I contacted this well known for his aviation work lawyer and after a number of correspondences he basically told me he could take on the case, I would almost definitely win, but at the end of the day the cost of the suit would be so high, my return would be net negative.
I then contacted the original shop who did the prebuy, and subsequent annuals, and their answer was the prebuy was inadequate given the previous damage to the plane (which they knew about and even documented in the prebuy) and they did not know how some of the issues missed on subsequent annuals. Their offer was to have me get the plane to them, they would inspect it, get the needed repairs done, and give me an undisclosed discounted labor rate! My insurance compnay obviously said it was not covered, unless there was a subsequent accident after I purchased the plane.
At this point, I am going to end up selling the plane, at a price about 2/3 what I paid for it, lick my wounds, and try to decide whether I will ever fly a plane again.
Sorry about the long post. Thought I did everything right, but in retrospect not too sure. I think the moral of the story is a bargain often is not a bargain at all. It is sad because this bird is an awesome plane, I loved flying it, it has given me memories that are certainly priceless, but in its present condition, it is certainly not airworthy and requires more money and time than I want to invest. I hope the purchaser does do it justice and it will be airworthy and flying again.
Thanks for letting me vent. Appreciate any thoughts, comments, questions, etc.
Last edited:
.
