{"id":8332,"date":"2022-10-31T10:53:07","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T10:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/?p=8332"},"modified":"2022-12-21T14:31:32","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T14:31:32","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/","title":{"rendered":"What you need to know about pre-purchase inspections"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a previous article<\/span><\/a> in HeliTrader\u2019s Hub, we walked through the steps a buyer should expect when purchasing an aircraft. One of these steps arguably has the most potential to save buyers considerable cost and headache, and that is the pre-purchase inspection.

Regardless of whether a buyer is purchasing a helicopter from down the field or the other side of the globe, the pre-purchase inspection is a vital process that includes multiple steps of its own to ensure the helicopter is worth its value and has no hidden expensive surprises.

HeliTrader sat down with two respected inspectors to take a deeper dive into the intricacies of pre-purchase inspections, and what buyers should both expect and demand.<\/p>

\"\"
A thorough inspection is a buyers best protection from unwanted expensive surprises.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Who should perform pre-purchase inspections?<\/strong><\/big><\/strong>

The first step in planning the inspection is identifying who is best to perform this vital service. A good broker or dealer will have inspectors they recommend. Some may be in a position to perform the inspections themselves. However, buyers should ask one important question: Does the inspector have considerable experience with the make and model being purchased?

\u201cYou can end up with some pretty significant expenses if you don\u2019t have your inspection performed by someone who really knows the aircraft make and model,\u201d said Scott Hope, president of Heli Connections Aviation Inc<\/span><\/a>. \u201cI look for inspectors with some serious experience not only in maintaining the aircraft, but also higher-level experience such as quality assurance manager or director of maintenance. These people know and understand maintenance records and will be able to carefully, confidently, and confidentially review the paperwork as well as inspect the aircraft.\u201d

\u201cIf records are missing or incorrect, you could be facing some unnecessary expense down the road or have difficulty reselling the aircraft,\u201d continued Hope. \u201cYou want a multifaceted person you\u2019re confident can do a thorough job.\u201d

Chances are an inspector won\u2019t be based near the aircraft. The buyer should be prepared to pay the inspector\u2019s daily rate plus expenses \u2014 travel, hotel, meals, etc. Hope says a buyer can expect inspectors to take three to four days to properly inspect a single-engine aircraft. A twin-engine helicopter will take five to seven days, depending on the status of the aircraft and level of cooperation received throughout the process.<\/p>

What is involved in a pre-purchase inspection?<\/strong><\/big><\/strong>

There are several steps to these inspections. Ideally, a buyer should request them all, if possible, to ensure the most thorough inspection possible.

\u201cHow the inspection is done will depend on the aircraft\u2019s use as well as what country it will be operating in,\u201d explained Markus Leutner, CEO of HELITECHNIC Leutner KG<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIf the aircraft is moving between countries, then the inspection scope of work should include reviewing modifications and certifications to be sure that it’s going to be accepted in the country where it\u2019s going.\u201d

In general, a good pre-purchase inspection includes an in-depth physical look at the aircraft. The inspector opens all the panels to look at the structure and components and look for damage, leaks, and other compromises. A good inspection will also include a thorough borescope inspection of the engine(s), as engines make up a significant portion of a helicopter\u2019s value, noted Hope. The inspection also includes the onboard equipment, ensuring it works as it should and there is no damage.

The next step is a thorough review of all the aircraft\u2019s technical records. This includes ensuring the maintenance records are complete, serial numbers on all components match actual technical records, and STC and modification records are complete.

If the aircraft is serviceable or airworthy, Hope highly recommends doing a test flight as part of the pre-purchase inspection.

\u201cWhether it’s with your own pilot, or a pilot supplied by the company selling the aircraft, take advantage of a test flight,\u201d he said. \u201cOn it, your inspector records observations, parameters, and the working order of all the avionics and radios. They’re also going to do some performance checks of the engines, recording certain parameters and then plotting them on a chart or putting in a program to tell you if the engine is healthy.\u201d<\/p>

What do pre-flight inspections most often uncover?<\/strong><\/big><\/strong>
<\/p>

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Regardless Piston or Turbine powerplant a detailed inspection is key. Skip Robinson Photo<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Leutner says the most common finding in his pre-purchase inspections is issues with engines. Whether it be nicks, dents, corrosion, or other damage, it all adds up.

\u201cEngines definitely tend to be the area where I find the most issues,\u201d he said. \u201cI once inspected a helicopter where I discovered both engines needed overhauls. Considering my daily rate is considerably less than that would cost, the inspection was quite valuable to the buyer.\u201d

Hope agrees. Being that engines are enclosed, they can hide latent defects that are not detectable externally, which may not show up in a performance check. That\u2019s why he emphasizes the importance of borescope inspections. The borescope is also valuable in inspecting around other parts of the aircraft you can\u2019t easily see. There he\u2019s found loose or working rivets, a compromised panel, delamination, and the like.

And then, of course, there are records. Hope says he almost always finds something in the records. A missing record of an STC or a particular inspection can spell problems, especially if the buyer is importing the aircraft to another jurisdiction, whereby an inspection will take place by the local authorities.<\/p>

The final report<\/strong><\/big><\/strong>

At the end of the inspection, the inspector should provide a very detailed report of all the findings. Often, there will be minor findings that do not affect the aircraft\u2019s price or airworthiness, but having a record is valuable. Other findings are easy to remedy, like updating records. The biggest findings will affect the price or overall sale.

\u201cWe always try to stay neutral, listing all the findings and reporting the facts so the buyer can make the most educated decision,\u201d said Hope.

Leutner approaches the inspection as if he is purchasing the helicopter for himself. His report is thorough, which he then goes over with his client in a zoom call.

\u201cI am honest and tell my clients if I would buy this helicopter at this price or not,\u201d he said. \u201cI have a lot of return customers who trust my work and my advice. Find someone you can trust, who is thorough, and who will tell you honestly what they think.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regardless of whether a buyer is purchasing a helicopter from down the field or the other side of the globe, the pre-purchase inspection is a vital process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-helicopter","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat you need to know about pre-purchase inspections - HeliTrader<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What you need to know about pre-purchase inspections\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Regardless of whether a buyer is purchasing a helicopter from down the field or the other side of the globe, the pre-purchase inspection is a vital process.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HeliTrader\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-10-31T10:53:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-12-21T14:31:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/assets.helitrader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Rectangle-132.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"586\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Heli Trader\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Heli Trader\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Heli Trader\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/#\/schema\/person\/79c39f9ef49d0fec2310e7a9bb8ef959\"},\"headline\":\"What you need to know about pre-purchase inspections\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-10-31T10:53:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-12-21T14:31:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/\"},\"wordCount\":1086,\"commentCount\":2,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.helitrader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Rectangle-132.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Buying a helicopter\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/helitrader.com\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pre-purchase-inspections\/\",\"name\":\"What you need to know about pre-purchase inspections - 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