Trip / purchase story for my TR182

TangoWhiskey said:
I hear you Josh. What's different is I would have disclosed all known issues to a buyer in advance. The spec sheet we bid off of had multiple errors -- said it had GPSS, it did not. Said it had 2380 hours, had 2830 (digits swapped). Didn't say "VFR only", but the 91.413 checks hadn't been done and the aircraft wasn't ready for IFR flight. Said it had digital CHTs, does not (just EGTs and TIT). Said it had a 406Mhz ELT, it doesn't (has the original Cessna 121.5 that they don't even do the "bang test" on anymore, because they break when you do). Said they had digital fuel flow, tied to the 430W... it does not.

The aircraft was also represented as "no expense spared". That wasn't true. We discovered things, then brought them to the seller's attention (airworthiness items like the fuel hoses), and then got the "oh, yeah, I was told about those at annuals but didn't fix them." Yet he wouldn't budge off his original price. I was looking for a $2K allowance on what we priced as $6K worth of first annual AIRWORTHINESS work.

Based on that--would you have asked for a small reduction off your original bid on an incorrect airplane spec sheet?
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Yes under those circumstances I would have pushed pretty hard for an adjustment :yes: What I'm not sure about is whether I would have had the guts to walk away based on the discrepancies, given how much time and $$ I had already sunk into getting there.

Great write-up, and good pointers to keep in the back of my mind should I ever get to the point of buying a plane.

Happy flying!

- Josh
 
Troy,

Great write up! The airplane purchase adventure, brings back good memories. Mary and I wish you the very best. Looking forward to checking out your new wings and catching up at the Wings Fly B Q.
 
happypilot876 said:
Yes under those circumstances I would have pushed pretty hard for an adjustment :yes: What I'm not sure about is whether I would have had the guts to walk away based on the discrepancies, given how much time and $$ I had already sunk into getting there.
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I think the seller knew that, too, and used that to his advantage. I'm just too nice and don't like playing hardball.



happypilot876 said:
Great write-up, and good pointers to keep in the back of my mind should I ever get to the point of buying a plane.



Happy flying!



- Josh
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Thanks! Hope to meet you someday. Where are you based? Can you make it to Wings or Gaston's or Oshkosh this year?
 
Yes, I already grabbed that! Should be required reading for pilots!! So much more detail than the POH!
 
Congrats!! That's quite a story. Can't wait to read more about the days to come with it. R182 sure seems more and more like what I'd want for my crew.
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Thanks! Hope to meet you someday. Where are you based? Can you make it to Wings or Gaston's or Oshkosh this year?
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I fly out of KAPV in Apple Valley, CA. I won't make Gaston's or Wing's this year, but OSH is always a possibility...
 
So I think I have personally been responsible for the four weeks (yes, four WEEKS) of low IMC, ice and snow in North Central Texas... Buying an airplane flipped the "bring on the bad weather" switch.

My new plane is due for annual by the end of March, though, and the weather and low ceilings meant that many of my IA's customers were not able to get in at their scheduled time. He was booked solid and I was actually concerned that he wouldn't be able to work me into his schedule before the annual expired. As it turned out, me being based on the same field and others not being able to fly in meant he called me up on the 10th or 11th and said "let's do it if you're ready!" So we're now two weeks in and it should be done this week. Two weeks with a few other projects in his way and some ice and snow days where nobody was getting to his hangar. He normally schedules one week for an annual, but we knew this first one would take longer, as I was having a JPI-830 engine monitor installed, ADF and its associated wiring, radio and antenna removed, BAS front seat belts with dual shoulder harnesses on an inertial reel installed, and switching to LED lights with a flasher unit.

Teresa and I spent a few long days and two weekends wiping three gallons of mineral spirits through open wing and fuselage access panels, and the engine compartment. Funny how much crud and saturated lubricant goop can end up under the floor boards in thirty years!!

Before and after:

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Engine monitor is nearly finished. I like how John does his installs. Lots of cable lacing, like they use on spacecraft, and removal of tons of zip ties and crap left installed over the past thirty years.

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I am SO looking forward to getting the plane back later this week so I can fly it. It was amazingly gorgeous and sunny today in Fort Worth and the airport traffic pattern was abuzz with the sound of GA!

And then I can tackle my flight review, and IPC... Both of which are due by March 31st....
 
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Very nice clean up, it looks great. I flew to NM to ski the last couple of weeks of spring. Nice trip, but both ways were rain, snow, icing, etc. Good to finally know who brought all of this crappy weather.:)

I'm sure it will turn out to be a perfect airplane for you guys. Keep us posted.
 
Losing the ADF?!?!

How will you listen to WBAP?
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Teresa and I spent a few long days and two weekends wiping three gallons of mineral spirits through open wing and fuselage access panels, and the engine compartment. Funny how much crud and saturated lubricant goop can end up under the floor boards in thirty years!!
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Yeah, huh? People always wonder how planes gain weight, the planes gain a whole lot of schmegma in the wings and belly.
 
Maybe by next year this time John will be done with yours and have time to work on other people's planes again! :rofl:

I'm still just trying to get an appointment out of him. :)
 
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