Expert Aircraft Pre-Purchase Inspections (PPI)
Protect Your Investment. Ensure Your Safety. Fly with Confidence.
Buying an aircraft is a significant milestone, but a “clean” exterior can hide costly mechanical issues or legal nightmares. Our comprehensive Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) service provides a deep-dive analysis of an aircraft’s history and physical condition, ensuring you know exactly what you are buying before the funds transfer.
1. The Records Audit: The “Paperwork” Defense
In aviation, the paperwork is as important as the metal. We perform a forensic audit of the aircraft’s history to ensure it is legally compliant and holds its value.
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Logbook Completeness: We verify chronological continuity. Missing logs aren’t just a headache; they significantly devalue the airframe.
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AD Compliance: We cross-reference all Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the aircraft is up to date and identify any expensive recurring ADs on the horizon.
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Damage History: We look beyond the surface, hunting for evidence of past incidents and verifying that repairs were performed to FAA standards.
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Title Search: We ensure the title is “clean,” free of hidden liens, and has a clear chain of ownership.
2. The Physical Inspection: The “Big Three”
A PPI is more than a walk-around. We focus on the core components that dictate the aircraft’s safety and longevity:
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The Engine: Borescope inspections, oil analysis, and compression checks.
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The Airframe: A search for hidden corrosion, structural fatigue, and “smoking rivets.”
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The Avionics: Testing for system integration, autopilot reliability, and database currency.
3. Strategy & Expert Advocacy
We don’t just find problems; we provide the strategy you need to negotiate.
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Choose YOUR Mechanic: Never rely on the seller’s maintenance shop. We act as your independent advocate.
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Specialization Matters: We match the inspection to the aircraft type. A high-performance Mooney requires a different eye than a Piper Cub.
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Define “Airworthy”: We help you distinguish between a cosmetic flaw and a legal “grounding” item.
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Pre-Buy vs. Annual: We guide you on whether to perform a standalone PPI or transition the inspection into a full Annual to save on labor costs.
4. Common Red Flags We Watch For
Our experience has taught us where the “skeletons” are usually buried. We look closely at:
Fresh Paint & Wax: Is it a well-cared-for plane, or is the seller hiding “filiform” corrosion under a new coat?
Low Engine Time / Disuse: An engine that has flown only 20 hours in 5 years is often a greater risk than one at TBO. We check for internal camshaft rusting and seal degradation.
Missing 337 Forms: Major repairs or alterations without the proper FAA Form 337 make an aircraft technically unairworthy. We ensure every mod is legal.
Ready to move forward on an aircraft?
Don’t sign the bill of sale until you’ve seen our report.