What Is a Pre-Buy Inspection?
A pre-buy inspection (also called a pre-purchase inspection) is a thorough airworthiness review of an aircraft conducted by an independent FAA-certificated A&P mechanic before you purchase it. Unlike a standard annual inspection, a pre-buy is not required by the FAA — but it is one of the smartest investments any prospective aircraft buyer can make.
Definition: A pre-buy inspection is an independent mechanical evaluation of an aircraft's airframe, engine, systems, and logbooks, performed by a mechanic who has no relationship with the seller. Its purpose is to identify existing and potential airworthiness issues before the buyer commits to a purchase.
Why Is a Pre-Buy Inspection So Important?
Used aircraft can have hidden issues that are not visible during a casual walk-around or a short demo flight. Common problems discovered during pre-buy inspections include:
- Undisclosed damage history — previous accidents or hard landings not reflected in logbooks
- Corrosion — especially in Florida aircraft exposed to salt air
- Engine issues — low compression, excessive oil consumption, or metal in the oil filter
- Airworthiness Directive (AD) non-compliance — required ADs that were never completed
- Logbook discrepancies — missing entries, unsigned maintenance, or incomplete records
- Deferred maintenance — items that have been ignored and are now expensive
A pre-buy inspection typically costs $500 to $1,200 — a small fraction of the purchase price of even the most affordable aircraft. Discovering a $15,000 engine problem before you buy is far better than discovering it after.
What Does a Pre-Buy Inspection Cover?
A thorough pre-buy inspection should include:
- Complete logbook review — airframe, engine, and propeller logs
- Airframe inspection — structure, skin, control surfaces, corrosion
- Engine inspection — compression test, oil analysis, borescope inspection
- Propeller inspection — blade condition, hub, spinner
- Systems check — fuel, electrical, hydraulics, avionics
- AD compliance review — verification that all applicable ADs have been completed
- Annual inspection status — review of the most recent annual
Should the Pre-Buy Be Done at the Seller's Shop?
Ideally, no. A pre-buy inspection should be performed by a mechanic who is independent of the seller. Having the seller's mechanic perform the pre-buy creates a conflict of interest. At Paragon Flight, we perform pre-buy inspections for buyers at any of our three locations — or we can travel to inspect an aircraft at another facility.
How to Request a Pre-Buy Inspection at Paragon Flight
Contact us at (239) 274-3170 or schedule online [blocked]. Tell us the aircraft make, model, and location, and we'll coordinate the inspection. We serve buyers looking at aircraft throughout Florida and Georgia.
Paragon Flight performs pre-buy inspections at KFMY (Fort Myers), KPGD (Punta Gorda), and KLGC (LaGrange, GA). Call (239) 274-3170.