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Pre-Purchase Inspection

Pre-Buy + AD Check.

A structured pre-buy checklist with integrated AD compliance review. Know what you're buying before you sign.

Sample report — N7284R · Cessna 172S (2008) · 1,247 hrs TT
N-number
N7284R
Aircraft type
Cessna 172S
Serial number
172S10234
Year / Total Time
2008 · 1,247 hrs TT
74
Pre-buy score / 100
37
Items passed
2
Flags / fails
2
Open ADs
$330
AD repair est.
Good candidate with open items
Strong compressions and clean logbooks. Two open ADs require compliance before purchase. Budget $330 for AD work. Negotiate accordingly.
Documentation Review
Logbooks, title, 337s, registration
7/8
▾
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Airframe logbook — complete, no gaps
All annuals signed by A&P/IA. Continuous from manufacture.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Engine logbook — complete, SMOH documented
Time since major overhaul (SMOH): 847 hrs. Overhaul by Lycoming in 2019.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Propeller logbook present
Propeller time and any prop strike documentation.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Airworthiness Certificate on board (FAA 8100-2)
Must be displayed. Confirmed correct aircraft.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Registration current (FAA AC 8050-3)
Expires every 3 years. Matches aircraft data plate.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Current weight & balance with all equipment listed
Updated after G1000 install in 2021.
Pass
Fail
N/A
Title search — no liens or encumbrancesCRITICAL
Order FAA title search from AOPA or title company (~$150–300).
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Damage history disclosed — no 337s for major repairsVERIFY
Seller reports no accidents. No 337s found in logbooks.
Engine & Powerplant
Compressions, oil analysis, time, exhaust
8/8
▾
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Time since overhaul — 847 hrs SMOH (TBO 2,000 hrs)
1,153 hrs remaining to TBO. Factory overhaul by Lycoming Service Center.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
TBO remaining and projected overhaul costVERIFY
Field OH: $28k–$38k; Factory reman: $38k–$50k. Varies by shop and region. At $100–130/hr shop rate.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Compression check — all cylinders 72–78/80CRITICAL
All 4 cylinders measured at 72/80, 76/80, 78/80, 75/80. All within limits.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Oil analysis — last 3 reports clean, no metal trendVERIFY
Blackstone Labs reports from 2024: all metals normal, no trend.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Borescope — no corrosion or scoring in cylinders
Borescoped all 4 cylinders. No pitting or scoring visible.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
No significant oil leaks
Minor weep at front prop seal. Acceptable, monitor.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Magneto timing and grounding test normal
Mag check: L-drop 75 RPM, R-drop 80 RPM. Symmetric.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Exhaust system — no cracks at welds or slip jointsCRITICAL
Minor surface oxidation. No cracks at slip joints. Heat muff intact.
Airframe & Structure
Corrosion, damage, skins, control surfaces
7/7
▾
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
No corrosion on wing spar or carry-through structureCRITICAL
Both spars inspected. No corrosion or pitting found.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Control surfaces — full travel, no slop, rigging correct
All surfaces checked per POH. Rigging within spec.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
No skin wrinkles, oil-canning, or suspicious repairsVERIFY
Some minor hail damage on left wing, disclosed. No body filler.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Landing gear — struts, shimmy damper, brakes
Strut extension within limits. Brake pads at 60%. Shimmy damper good.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Firewall — no cracks, burns, or patch repairsCRITICAL
Firewall clean, no repairs, no evidence of fire.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Windshield and windows — no crazing or delamination
Slight crazing on pilot-side windshield. Functional, cosmetic only.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Seat track attachment — secure and undamaged
Both seat tracks inspected at annual. Secure per AD 87-20-03.
Avionics & Instruments
ADS-B, pitot-static, transponder, databases
5/6
▾
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
ADS-B Out — Garmin GTX 345 installed and compliantVERIFY
Installed 2020. FAA compliance verification confirmed. Dual-link.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Pitot-static cert current (within 24 months)
Last cert: March 2024. Good through March 2026.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Transponder cert current (within 24 months)
Last cert: March 2024 combined with pitot-static.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Garmin G1000 NXi — proper STC documentation on file
STC SA02228WI. 337 on file. Installed 2021 by Garmin dealer.
Pass
✕
Fail
N/A
ELT operational — ACK E-04 — battery expires 12/2026CRITICAL
406 ELT registered with NOAA. Battery within life. ⚠️ AD 2025-03-07 open.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
GPS database subscription — Garmin Pilot subscription active
FliteCharts + ChartView active. Garmin Pilot annual: ~$800/yr.
Flight Test
Performance, handling, systems in the air
7/7
▾
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Engine start — clean, no smoke, bearing noise normal
Cold start at 55°F. Started first blade. No bearing rumble.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Runup — both mags within 75/80 RPM, carb heat normalVERIFY
Runup nominal. Both mag drops symmetrical and within limits.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Takeoff — rotation normal, climb 700+ fpm at Vy
Vy climb: 720 fpm at 3,200 ft DA. Slight right rudder needed. Normal.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Cruise — no unusual vibration, instruments normal
Smooth at 2,400 RPM/23". Oil temp/pressure midrange. No vibration.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Stall behavior — wing level, adequate warning buffet
Power-off stall clean. Horn 5 kts prior. Recovery straightforward.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Landing — normal rollout, braking even, no pull
Smooth touchdown, braking even. No shimmy.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
No cabin odors — fuel, exhaust, or electricalCRITICAL
No odors detected. CO detector nominal throughout flight.
Maintenance & Upcoming Costs
Annual status, squawks, deferred items
3/4
▾
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Annual inspection — signed off January 2025VERIFY
Annual by Aero Services, KPAO. All ADs complied except ELT battery.
Pass
✕
Fail
N/A
Known squawks — ELT battery recall open, fuel line AD openVERIFY
Seller discloses: AD 2025-03-07 ELT battery pending. AD 2024-14-03 fuel line pending.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Next annual estimate — $2k–$4k
A&P estimate at $100–130/hr shop rate. Clean aircraft, no major squawks. Budget higher if deferred squawks exist.
✓
Pass
Fail
N/A
Oil change at 50 hrs — last done at 1,230 hrs
Current Hobbs: 1,247. Oil change due at 1,280. Budget $90.
Airworthiness Directives
FAA ADs applicable to N7284R · C172S
2/5
▾
⚠️
2 open ADs require compliance before purchase. Estimated cost: $330. Negotiate this into the purchase price.
✕
Open
Cessna 172 — ELT battery recall (ACK E-04/B-57)
OPEN AD
Compliance requirement
Inspect ELT battery date code within 30 days. Replace affected batteries per ACK SB 2025-01.
Estimated cost: ~$130
✕
Open
Cessna 172S — Fuel line chafing at firewall
OPEN AD
Compliance requirement
Inspect fuel line routing within 25 hrs. Reposition if chafing found per Cessna SL-172S-103.
Estimated cost: ~$200
Rec
Lycoming O-360 — Crankshaft gear bolt (recurring)
Recurring
Compliance requirement
Initial inspection within 50 hrs. Reinspect every 100 hrs per Lycoming SB 632B.
Estimated cost: ~$180
✓
OK
Cessna 172 — Fuel tank cap O-ring inspection
Complied
Compliance requirement
Inspect fuel caps within 25 hrs. Complied at annual Jan 2025.
Estimated cost: ~$85
✓
OK
Garmin G1000 — Software update for airspace alerting
Complied
Compliance requirement
G1000 NXi updated to v21.10 in 2021. Documented by Garmin dealer.
Estimated cost: ~$300
Red flags
AD 2025-03-07 — ELT battery recall. Open. Requires compliance before flight.
AD 2024-14-03 — Fuel line chafing. Open. Inspect within 25 hrs.
Title search not yet completed. Order before closing.
Estimated acquisition costs
Open AD compliance
$330
Pre-buy mechanic fee
$600
Title search
$225
FAA registration
$5
Total additional costs
$1,160
Negotiating points
2 open ADs — request $330 price reduction or seller compliance
Engine at 847 hrs SMOH — mid-life engine; TBO overhaul budget in ~5 yrs
Windshield crazing — cosmetic. Replacement ~$2k–$3k (Parts ~$900–1,200 + 4–6 hrs labor) if needed later
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