AEROMISSION’S General Guidance for aircraft inspection

1. HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PRE-PURCHASE

INSPECTION
Your pre-purchase inspection is important and proper preparation can save time,
money and headache down the road.  Here’s the basics:

 Review and fully understand the sales contract

 Define the work scope and records research criteria
 Define what the seller is responsible for correcting
 Agree with seller on the definition of an “Airworthy” discrepancy
 Perform the pre-purchase in-flight checklist (if applicable) prior to starting the
physical pre-purchase inspection.  The pre-purchase in-flight check is not in
lieu of final acceptance flight.
 Determine who is responsible for crew/fuel expenses of the pre-purchase and
acceptance flights
 Locate and organize your records, log books, 8130s by ATA chapter, 337s,
8110-3s, STC cover pages, STC Flight Manual Supplements, ICAs, burn
certifications, completion & modification wiring diagrams, electrical load
analysis, current equipment list, weight and balance records etc.
 Determine if the discrepancies found will be worked on in conjunction with the
pre-purchase inspection or after it has been completed – this requires
agreement between the buyer, seller and your chosen inspection facility

You should also prepare your expectations of the process ahead of time.

 Estimated pre-purchase inspection downtime does not include the correction

of defects found – total downtime is always longer and sometimes by several
weeks
 Understand that a pre-purchase inspection is not designed to find every
discrepancy – it’s designed to give the buyer a general overview of the current
condition of the aircraft and to review known problem areas specific make and
model of aircraft
 The invoice for the pre-purchase inspection is usually paid in full prior to
starting the process – all other invoices (buyer’s & seller’s) are generally
required to be paid in full upon completion and prior to the release of the
aircraft
 Understand the aircraft’s sales tax implications of the state you elect to close
the aircraft purchase in

2. UNDERSTANDING WHAT’S IN THE “SALES

AGREEMENT”
First things first – let’s take a look at what should be in the “Sales Agreement”.  This
is the road map for the sale as well as the pre-purchase inspection.  The Sales
Agreement should at a minimum:
 AEROMISSION’S General Guidance for aircraft inspection
 Provide a clear list of the aircraft, total times, cycles and an accurate list of the
equipment.
 Tell you how the aircraft is being sold (as is, warranties, etc.)
 Tell you who is responsible to correct the different types of discrepancies
found
 Determine when the seller will have access to the information discovered
 Establish if there is a “Technical Acceptance” deadline
 Determine the scope of the pre-purchase and acceptance flights
 Define responsibility for the crew and fuel expenses for the prepurchase and
acceptance flights

All of these items are important, so if any are absent or unclear in your “Sales
Agreement”, ask for clarification.

3. DEFINING PHYSICAL WORK SCOPE FOR PRE-

PURCHASE INSPECTIONS
It’s important to understand that there is NOT a standard pre-purchase
inspection.  Every facility develops their own pre-purchase inspection checklist based
on their experience.  Some facilities have 3-4 different levels of
inspection.  Generally, items can be added to a facility’s standard checklist, but not
all facilities will allow you to delete items from their established list.  It is also
important to understand that there can be differences in the pre-purchase inspection
within the same facility depending on the aircraft make and model. 

Be sure to request a copy of your selected facility’s pre-purchase check list to ensure
you understand the extent of the scope of work to be performed, particularly in these
areas:

 Depth of the airframe inspection

What is included?  Internal fuel tank inspections, gear inspections requiring partial

disassembly, inspections under floor in galley and lav areas for corrosion, system
operational or functional checks (landing gear, flight controls, trim systems, TRs,
etc.), hydraulic fluid samples, pressurization leak tests, cabin furnishings

 Depth of avionics inspection

What is included? FAR 91:411 & 413 to RVSM limits, pitot-static leak checks, auto-
pilot system checks, navigational and communication system checks, phone
systems, data link systems, cabin management systems, ELT, CVR, FDR etc.

 Depth of engine and APU inspection

What is included?  Ground runs, leak checks, performance of the day, general visual
inspections of the engines, APU & pylons, borescope inspections of the engines and
APU (need to determine if the engines or APU are on a service contract that prohibit
borescope inspections first), inspection of fan and compressor areas for evidence of
 AEROMISSION’S General Guidance for aircraft inspection
F.O.D, inspection of inlets, cowlings and TRs for general condition, delamination &
corrosion, inspection of fuel and oil filters, testing of engine  and APU oil samples

4. UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE OF RECORDS

RESEARCH
Similar to the physical work scope, records research is another critical area where
you need to understand what is included in the process.  Your pre-purchase
inspection should include the following:

 Verification that all log books and records are present with no gaps in entries
 Verification of the current times and cycles of the airframe, engines and APU
 Verification of maintenance program inspections and airworthiness inspection
items are signed off in the records
 A list of any overdue inspections or maintenance items
 A list of when hourly and calendar inspections are due next
 A list of when life limited and overhaul components are due next
 A list of when the engines and APU are next due HSI and overhaul 
 Verification of A.D. and Alert Service Bulletin sign-offs (airframe, engine)
 Verification of A.D. sign-offs on APU
 Verification of appliance A.D. sign-offs (this is generally an option)
 If the aircraft has sat idle for more than 30 days, verification that the proper
airframe, engine and APU short or long term storage requirements were
performed and recorded
 A check for 8130 tags for life limited and overhauled parts that have been
replaced (this is generally an option)
 Verification that major modifications, alterations and repairs have been
approved by FAA Documentation such as 337, 8110-3s or OEM
documentation, burn certification and fire blocking (this is generally an option)
 Verification that all STC modification are FAA approved and have a copy of
the 337, STC cover page, the FAA approved Flight Manual Supplement, the
ICA (Instructions for Continued Airworthiness) along with any applicable
maintenance /IPC manuals
 Verification of the ICA inspections and maintenance items are completed and
signed off in the records
 A check for damage and/or repair history
 Determination if the aircraft is “damage tolerant” and if there are any recurring
inspections due to modifications or repairs
 Check records for last actual Weight & Balance
 Check for aircraft’s wiring diagrams and electrical load analysis

5. DEFINING WHAT THE SELLER IS RESPONSIBLE TO

CORRECT
First, the buyer is normally the one paying for the pre-purchase inspection and has to
approve the release of the findings to the seller.   When the results of the Pre-
purchase inspection should be made available to the seller should be determined
 AEROMISSION’S General Guidance for aircraft inspection
before the process begins.  Before the process begins is also when to determine if
the seller is only responsible to correct items related to airworthiness or out of
Maintenance Manual limits.

Second, this is where the “Sales Agreement” specifics come into play.  What does
the “Sales Agreement” actually say?  Some agreements state that the seller will be
responsible for all airworthy discrepancies and that “all systems will be operating
normally.  This type of language can cause confusion and disagreement that can
disrupt workflow.

For example, “all systems” – what does this include specifically?  Video sources,
sound systems, lights, cabin address systems, monitors, wireless headsets, coffee
pots, ovens, microwaves, water and lav systems, service lights, electrical outlets,
flashlights, portable equipment etc?

This is why the sales agreement is so important.

6. DEFINING AN AIRWORTHY DISCREPANCY

The best definition for “airworthy” is the one stated on the aircraft’s airworthiness
certificate.  It usually states that the aircraft “conforms to the type design”.

Airworthy does not only mean “safety of flight” items, but also includes any
discrepancy found that does not have defined limits in the Maintenance Manual,
Master Equipment List or other approvals by the OEM.

Generally, the facility performing the pre-purchase will deem items to be out of limits
per the FARs, manufacturer’s maintenance manual or other OEM documentation.

Here are some examples of items that may be deemed as airworthy items or out of
M.M. limits requiring repair of further OEM dispensation that may not be considered
“Safety of Flight” items:

 Missing panel or edge sealer

 Missing or torn flight control seals
 Missing or torn fairing seals 
 Missing or illegible placards
 Corrosion
 Nicks/scratches
 Fluid leaks
 Delamination, etc.

EXAMPLES

Delamination
 AEROMISSION’S General Guidance for aircraft inspection

Missing Panel or Edge Sealer

Illegible Placard

Scratches / Wear
Corrosion

7. RELATED AFTER PURCHASE MODIFICATIONS

Proper planning can again save time, money and headache.  This is especially true
with any after-purchase modifications you might want to have completed prior to
operating the aircraft.  Be sure to discuss any of these desired modifications ahead of
time with the facility that is completing the pre-purchase inspection.  This can include
things like:

 Complete strip and repaint, stripe color or “N” number changes

 Interior soft goods, wood refinishing, cabin reconfiguration
 Galley or cabin lighting modifications (LEDs)
 New phone systems, monitors, cabin management systems, Wi-Fi etc.
 Avionics upgrades – FANS/CPDLC, WAAS/LPV, ADS-B, TCAS 7.1 etc.

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