Time since last overhaul
- Thread starter Blueangel
- Start date
tawood
En-Route
Not enough info...Hours? Climate? Hangar?
Stewartb
Final Approach
If you're planning to use it commercially? Absolutely. As a private? Condition is more important than age.
The only reason age of the overhaul should matter is if it was sitting for all that time... and even then it may start up and run just fine till TBO. The issue is if internal parts... mainly the cam/crank bearings but also other things have rusted and pitted? That can happen in a couple months in the wrong conditions or not happen for years in the right conditions.
If the airplane was flown often enough the parts would have been re-coated in oil and any moisture boiled off each flight. That's probably the only thing you can really use as an indicator... whether or not it was flown continually.
My airplane, an Archer II, has an engine rebuilt in 2001. When I bought it, it had been sitting for almost a year. My only issue in some 250-ish hours and 3 years in it has been a magneto failure on the ground. Good compression, normal oil consumption, good power. I wouldn't be afraid to buy another in the same condition and fly it based on my experience. I'm not afraid to take my airplane anywhere I'd feel safe taking a brand new one either.
Cliff notes: Age of overhaul isn't a huge deal, just check the overall condition/compressions/etc and don't worry too much about it.
If the airplane was flown often enough the parts would have been re-coated in oil and any moisture boiled off each flight. That's probably the only thing you can really use as an indicator... whether or not it was flown continually.
My airplane, an Archer II, has an engine rebuilt in 2001. When I bought it, it had been sitting for almost a year. My only issue in some 250-ish hours and 3 years in it has been a magneto failure on the ground. Good compression, normal oil consumption, good power. I wouldn't be afraid to buy another in the same condition and fly it based on my experience. I'm not afraid to take my airplane anywhere I'd feel safe taking a brand new one either.
Cliff notes: Age of overhaul isn't a huge deal, just check the overall condition/compressions/etc and don't worry too much about it.
Checkout_my_Six
Touchdown! Greaser!
It wouldn't bother me.....but, I'd want to make sure it didn't sit for the last few years.
simtech
En-Route
Average of almost 60 hours a year, that's not that bad at all..How many hours does it have in the past year? Would I be concerned, personally, no as long as it checks good and at least borescope them cylinders.
Blueangel
Line Up and Wait
I'll check the logs and get a prebuy done on it with a Beechcraft shop. I like that it has the bigger IO-550 engine as most Debbie's have smaller 225HP IO-470 engine so cruising 160-170 kts would make it a great cross country ship for me on the west coast. I'd like to fly fish in Idaho summers.