Annual Inspections and Pre-Purchase Inspections

The 1 to 10 Scale and the condition of the plane
(Do you have complete Log Books?)

 Pre-Purchase Inspections: . . I can do Pre-Purchase inspections at Auburn Airport or at your location..
How long does it take? . . A typical pre-purchase inspection takes 3 to 4 hours.
How much will it cost?. .. Prices start at $400 for inspections at Auburn Airport, Auburn, CA
. . . . . . . . . . Prices at other airports vary by distance/travel time - let's talk.

Buyer Beware! . . Don't buy any airplane without a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Annual Inspections: I have been doing anual inspections fulltime since 1997. I am still amazed with how many airplane owners fail to take basic care of their planes. I'll see the same plane year after year and the plane has never been washed in between annuals. I am still seeing panes with 30 year old fuel and oil hoses. Many have SCAT tubing that is shredded and patched back together with silicon RTV. To, what, save 10 dollars? One plane, in the Fall of 2006, had had the right brake bled 4 times during the previous year (30 hours since last annual). The guide pins, calipers, and brakes on that plane were so corroded that NOTHING moved. Another plane had the aileron cables wrapped around the rudder cables (7 hours since the last annual). Your first annual at AuCountry will be a LOT more thorough than any annual you've ever had. It may cost more. I recommend you participate to see just what condition the plane was in when you last flew it. It may scare you.

The basic Annual Inspection takes about 18 hours. At $75 per hour (the current shop rate) that is $1,350. This pricing is for labor only and does not include additional parts and labor incurred as a result of the findings of the inspection. Owner assisted Annual Inspections are encouraged and the price will be adjusted as necessary depending on the amount of assistance provided by the owner.

This is cheap when you consider you are getting an A&P/IA mechanic with over 38 years of mechanical experience (including a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and 16 years as a propulsion engineer for the U.S.Air Force) plus, 27 years of experience with Grummans. For comparison, GM charges $92/hr and Pep Boys charges $90/hr. The mechanics with any experience at all are running the shops there; they don't do the work!


Included in
Pre-Purchase Inspection
Included in
Annual Inspection
Included during Annual
at extra cost
Propeller Group
Remove Spinner .
X
Inspect Spinner and Back Plate
X (visible inspection)
X
Inspect blade for nicks and cracks
X
X
Inspect hub for cracks/corrosion .
X
Check mounting bolts/safety .
X
CONSTANT SPEED PROP
check blades for tightness .
.
X
check governor attachments .
.
X
check for grease and/or oil
X
.
X
remove Prop & remove sludge .
.
X (TBD)
lubricate as per manual
 .
.
X
Inspect front crankshaft oil seal
X (visible inspection)
X (visible inspection)
Replace spinner
 .
X
Engine Group
Remove cowling, clean
 .
X
Check for cracks missing fasteners
X
X
Oil System Check
Drain engine oil
 .
X
R&R filter, check screen/filter
 .
X
Check Temp sending unit for
leaks and electrical connections
X
X
Remove oil cooler and flush . .
X (up to 4 hours)
Clean and check fins
X (visual)
X (as req)
Check for leaks
X
X
Check security of clamps
X
X
Check condition of oil lines
X
X
Fill engine with oil .
X
Fuel System Check
Clean/check fuel filter screen .
X
Drain carburetor . .
X (1/2 hour)
Service fuel injection nozzles . .
X (TBD)
Check for leaks, condition and
security of fuel lines and clamps
X (visual)
X
Check throttle shaft for looseness
X
X
Induction System Check
Remove and replace air filter .
X
Induction and heat seals
X (visual)
X
Condition of Carb heat box
X (visual)
X
Repair as Necessary
Tightness of intake manifold .
X
Turbo-Charger mounting .
.
X (TBD)
Fuel Injection mounting .
.
X (TBD)
Exhaust System Check
Check for leaks, cracks, etc.
X (visual)
X
Check condition of gaskets .
X
Check muffler shroud
X (visual)
X
Ignition System Check
Mag points for clearance . .
(as required)
Breaker belts for lubrication . .
(as required)
Contact spring height . .
(as required)
Mag oil seal for leakage
X
X
Harness and insulators
(cracks corrosion connections)
X
X
Mag to engine timing .
X
Spark plugs (service/Replace) . .
X (up to 2 hours)
Charging System Check
Alternator (remove/replace)
 . .
(as required) 3 hours
Check mounting .
X
Wiring (Fraying/chafing) .
X
Safeties, security .
X
Service Battery .
X
Starting System Check
Remove and Replace as necessary . .
(as required) 3 hours
Check wiring harness
 .
X
Check safety wire and mountings .
X
Engine Condition (General)
Baffles
X
X
X (up to 16 hrs)
Breather Tube
X
X
Check crankcase for leaks/cracks
X
X
Engine mounts and bushings .
X
Cylinders for excessive heat
X
X
Drive Belts
.
X
Vacuum Pump and lines/security
X
X
Check Air-Oil Separator .
(as required)
All electrical connections
X
X
Loose parts, hoses, connections .
X
Proper installation of safety wire .
X
Engine Controls (operation)
Throttle
X
X
Carb/Injector mixture
X
X
Prop governing controls
(as required)
(as required)
Cowl flaps
(as required)
(as required)
Compression Check
X (as required)
X
Clean Engine .
X
Lubricate Controls .
X
Reinstall Cowlings .
X
Cabin Group
Interior (damage/operation)
Cabin doors and windows
X
X
Seats, seat belts, mountings
X
X
Heater, vents, etc. .
X
Controls (operation)
Flaps
X
X
Fuel selector valve
X
X
(service) up to 4 hours
Rudder pedals
X
X
Replace rudder pedal springs . .
(replace) 2 hours
Brakes
X
X
Control wheel and column
X
X
Pulleys, cables, chains .
X
Ailerons
X
X
Elevator and trim
X
X
Lubricate controls
 .
X
Brakes (check)
Operation of brake cylinders
X
X
Check for leaks
X
X
Check fluid level (fill as required) .
X
(fill) 0.5 hours
Parking brake (operation) .
X
Instrument Panel
Instrument lines and attachments .
X
Service gyro & instrument filters .
X
(replace) 1 hours
Instrument panel shock mounts .
X
Wiring and instrument chafing .
X
Static ports, static lines, alt air .
X
Aircraft lighting
Cabin and instrument lights
X
X
Landing lights
X
X
Navigation lights
X
X
Strobe lights
X
X
Rotating beacon / tail strobe
X
X
Wing Group
Remove inspection plate, fairings .
X
Wings
Surfaces for damage, loose rivets
X
X
Wing tips for damage, loose rivets
X
X
Wing attachment bolts .
X
(replace) up to 5 hours
Pitot tube assembly .
X
Stall warning indicator/operation
X
X
Ailerons
Surfaces for damage
X
X
Hinges and attachments
X
X
Check control cables
 .
X
Check pulleys and bellcranks
 .
X
Flaps
Surfaces for damage
X
X
Hinges and attachments
X
X
Flap operation (mechanical)
X
X
Fuel tanks
Check for leaks and/or water
X
X
Fuel tank vents
X
X
Marked for octane and capacity
X
X
Operation of fuel drain
X
X
Lubricate as per manual .
X
Reinstall Inspection Plates / fairings .
X
Landing Gear Group
Put airplane on jacks . .
X
Tires and Wheels
 . .
Up to 5 hours
Remove Tires and Wheels
 . .
"
Clean Wheel Bearings . .
"
Check for wear or damage . .
"
Repack wheel bearings . .
"
Check for broken bolts/corrosion .
X
Check tire pressure .
X
Replace tires and wheels . .
X
Brakes
Check linings, disk, drums .
X
Brake lines (leaks/security) .
X
Brake attachment bolts .
X
Fixed Gear
Nose Gear Strut Attach .
X
Shocks (leaks/scoring)
X
X
Gear attachment bolts .
X
Nose strut removal/reinstall .
.
X (as req)
Gear Leg Fairings for condition
X
X
Check condition of fairings
X
X
Lubricate as per manual .
X
Remove airplane from jacks .
X
Periodic Inspections
Radios checked (dates) . .
(as required)
VORs checked (dates) . .
(as required)
Transponder check (date) . .
(as required)
Tachometer calibration (date) . .
(as required)
Gyro certification (date) . .
(as required)
Artificial Horizon certification . .
(as required)
Altimeter/static check FAR 91.411 . .
(as required)
Encoding altimeter (date) . .
(as required)
Altitude Encoder (Mode C) . .
(as required)
ELT Battery (date) .
X
Operational Checkout
Before starting
Check fuel gauges
X
X
Check electric fuel pump
X
X
Check fuel pressure
X
X
Check fuel flow gauge
X
X
Start Engine
Check oil pressure
X
X
Check fuel pump
X
X
Check fuel pressure/flow gauge
X
X
Check Alternator output
X
X
Check manifold pressure
X (as applicable)
X (as applicable)
Check alternate air/carb heat
X
X
Check mag switch operation
X
X
Check RPM (left Mag drop)
X
X
Check RPM (right Mag drop)
X
X
Check static RPM
X
X
Check idle RPM
X
X
Check oil pressure
X
X
Check oil temperature
X
X
Check propellor smoothness
X (as required)
X (as required)
Check governor operation
X (as required)
X (as required)
Check vacuum gauge
X
X
Check cabin heater
X (as required)
X
Check electrical equip operation
X (as required)
X
Check parking brake
X
X
Check throttle/mixture operation
X
X
Check idle mixture at shutdown
X
X
Aircraft Papers
Aircraft conforms to FAA specs .
X
All ADs complied with .
X
All special insp. complied with .
X
Aircraft forms signed / completed .
X
Registration .
X
Airworthiness Certificate .
X
Radio License .
X
Flight Manual .
X