I'm arranging for an LAA Inspector to conduct an annual check to issue the aircraft with a new Permit to Fly before I buy
Heff, that's a good start, but I advise more... Here's why...
An "annual check" and a prepurchase inspection should be two different types of inspections. The PPI should complelely include the elements of an annual inspection. But, it should go further too.
An Annual inspection is basically "What does it
need to be airworthy now (and for the next year)?" A good PPI will tell what it
will need to be airworthy a few years from now. What's going wrong with it now, which is still airworthy, but will cost you money in years to come?
I'm just working on a painfully complex design approval for the replacement of a very simple single part on the wing spar of a Piper twin. During the PPI of that aircraft 9 months ago, the corroded condition of this part was not fully appreciated in the context of what action was required for airworthiness in the future. Worse than that, (and unknown at the time) Piper will no longer make this part available, and a repair (by replacement with a "made part" - yes, sometimes it is legal!) is not supported by Piper. So what do you do with this plane? It could be scrap! - The whole airframe! Piper's response to me on this dilemma (with respect to this particular model- I don't know what they say about their other models) three days ago was:
"
Piper Aircraft does not assist with repair approval nor do we approve repairs or manufacturing of our parts in the field."
Piper did not contradict my observation that this could permanently ground this aircraft. The sad thing is that the aircraft had more than $100,000 work done in the mean time, which could all be for naught. The bottom line is a simple thing not understood during a PPI can be very costly.
A good PPI by a knowledgeable inspector is vital!
Pilot DAR