Citabria What to look for on an Aurora 7ECA prebuy inspection?

[kubark42]

I'm traveling this Monday to look at a 1998 7ECA I plan to purchase. It's generally low hours (just under 500), and has flown a reasonable amount this last year (a DPE traveling to check-rides as well as doing spin-endorsements and taildragger sign-offs, but has never allowed someone else to solo the plane). The plane legitimately seems to have been hangared its entire life, and it's already been given a once over by a family member (also a pilot) who says it's in superb condition.

The Citabria enters into annual on Tuesday, and I will be there for it. Is there a buyer's guide checklist of what should be done during the annual, and maybe what else should be done as part of the pre-buy?

• I am aware of the 500hr Slick mag inspection, but the inspecting mechanic doesn't do them himself, instead sending them out to a shop. The inspection is a little over 10 hours or so out, but it sounds like the IA doesn't plan on doing them at this annual.
• I plan to pull the carpet and inspect for any obvious water damage

 

[Bob Turner]

The guy is OCD. I would just buy it if it looks good.
He probably put towels on the seat before a passenger got in.

 

[Bruce]

The mag inspection is it an ad or a service bulletin? If it’s a service bulletin that’s not required if your buying the plane replace the mag with a sure fire eltronic ignition no more inspections and so much better mag. Cost wise in the long run you will save money and add value to the plane. Just my penny worth.

 

[kubark42]

The mag inspection is it an ad or a service bulletin? If it’s a service bulletin that’s not required if your buying the plane replace the mag with a sure fire eltronic ignition no more inspections and so much better mag. Cost wise in the long run you will save money and add value to the plane. Just my penny worth.

It's not required, and I think when the time comes to have to pony up real money we'll almost certainly go the e-mag route. But right now it's someone else's plane and someone else's annual, so that sets up limitations on what I can do right now.

The guy is OCD. I would just buy it if it looks good.

LOL, I have to admit, knowing it's a DPE certainly improves confidence in the process. Of course a DPE can be rotten just like any of us, but there's a powerful incentive to have a perfect sale when a murky sale could cost you your reputation and consequently your livelihood.

However, the plane is not a single-owner so there's only so much the current owner can vouch for.

 

[Tangogawd]

There is nothing special about these planes. If the shop is confident with tube/fabric airplanes, the annual will be enough for me. If your worried about water damage, look at the rear window sills, and while the aft wall is out, its easy to look at the formers for deformation. while the boot cowl is open, you can look down the belly as well.

While you don't have to do the mag 500hr. If they are 23 yrs old, they will likely be some issue with them. I don't force my clients to do mags until there are run-ability issues, but at that age, mags seem to not pass the 500hr. Not saying they wont go another 200 before issues arise. So I would budget for that. Good thing is you already have slick harnesses, which is what the popular e-mags use.

My 7GCBC only has 350ish hrs on the engine and mags, but all overhauled in 98. I've had a little miss and vibration that new engine mount bushings and prop balance wouldn't take out. Pulled that mags and the mag shop was able to 500hr one of them out of the parts from the other, and had to overhaul to new the other. Haven't ran it, cause I have not wings on it, but if I were a betting man.....