Buyer Beware
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: UK
The owner at the time of the accident was one John Lucketti (Reg'd 16.5.74) who also flew helicopters. On approach to land 09 Barton decided to (quote) put it in the hover (unquote). I am told the aircraft stood on its nose momentarily, before finally deciding to go over on its back. At the time the aircraft was well looked after, with very low hours, due to not being flown all that often.
Whether or not it subsequently became an insurance write-off, I do not know. I am informed it was later noted at Fenland still in its damaged state.
The aircraft we see today can be a made up from several other written off aircraft: certainly looking at the photo taken at Barton the aircraft needed a set of wings and a tail section etc. I presume this will all be recorded in the log books.
I can think of a currently active Cessna 172 which in reality has been constructed from four seperately registered aircraft write-offs. Each aircraft has had its own incident, leading to its subsequent write-off, and passing to the insurance company's 'limbo' holding site, where over a period of time various wrecks have become merged into a complete airframe. Much the same as a car breaker's yard where you go hunting for a replacement bonnet, door etc etc.
It really is a case of Buyer Beware.
I agree with I0540 on the subject of hangarage. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but the problems we had with the dampness affecting the digital equipment, disappeared the moment we decided to keep the aircraft indoors.
Whether or not it subsequently became an insurance write-off, I do not know. I am informed it was later noted at Fenland still in its damaged state.
The aircraft we see today can be a made up from several other written off aircraft: certainly looking at the photo taken at Barton the aircraft needed a set of wings and a tail section etc. I presume this will all be recorded in the log books.
I can think of a currently active Cessna 172 which in reality has been constructed from four seperately registered aircraft write-offs. Each aircraft has had its own incident, leading to its subsequent write-off, and passing to the insurance company's 'limbo' holding site, where over a period of time various wrecks have become merged into a complete airframe. Much the same as a car breaker's yard where you go hunting for a replacement bonnet, door etc etc.
It really is a case of Buyer Beware.
I agree with I0540 on the subject of hangarage. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but the problems we had with the dampness affecting the digital equipment, disappeared the moment we decided to keep the aircraft indoors.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 10
From: Just South of the last ice sheet
I have nothing against a "bitsa" aeroplane per se what galled me was the secrecy, especially when pictures of the aircraft in it's original "distressed" state are freely avialable on the net.
I used to fly an AA-5A which had a fuselage from one aircraft and a main wing each from two other aircraft. However, when the aircraft was sold to the guy I rented from this situation was made clear to him and the aircraft priced accordingly. It was in excellent condition due to all the work that had been done on it and it flew like a dream. A great buy for little more than the scrap value of the components.
I used to fly an AA-5A which had a fuselage from one aircraft and a main wing each from two other aircraft. However, when the aircraft was sold to the guy I rented from this situation was made clear to him and the aircraft priced accordingly. It was in excellent condition due to all the work that had been done on it and it flew like a dream. A great buy for little more than the scrap value of the components.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: cambs.
172 on ebay
After reading all the negative comments here i just had to go see this with my engineer. Bought it on the spot as it is a real beauty - sold it later and made 5 grand! Delighted with the power of a negative press on the purchase price by the way, keep up the tyre kicking/nitpicking as i need the profits.
Happy , safe flying to all.
Spernkey Bowlock
Happy , safe flying to all.
Spernkey Bowlock
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 10
From: Just South of the last ice sheet
bencoulthard no reson not to buy it if it has been properly re-built as spernkey says he has. It was just the lack of response to a straight question about the aircraft's history that got my alarm bells ringing that things may not be all they were cracked up to be.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,068
Likes: 0
From: Brighton. UK. (Via Liverpool).
Originally Posted by spernkey
After reading all the negative comments here i just had to go see this with my engineer. Bought it on the spot as it is a real beauty - sold it later and made 5 grand! Delighted with the power of a negative press on the purchase price by the way, keep up the tyre kicking/nitpicking as i need the profits.
Happy , safe flying to all.
Spernkey Bowlock
Happy , safe flying to all.
Spernkey Bowlock
