1969 C150J - Good buy?

[kenco]

Hello,

I'm looking at getting a 150 (My first plane ). The particular 150 I'm looking at has these details:

TT9563
TSMO 1083
Paint - 2006
VHF VOR
VHF
Cont. O-200A Engine 100 HP
Compressions #1- 78/80, #2- 75/80, #3- 76/80, #4-74/80
Garman Pilot III GPS
Transponder Mode C
Annual done - Oct 2008
Import inspection (From USA) done in 2007

My questions are:
1) What are the drawbacks of a high time plane? Do I have to do an extensive 10k hour inspection?
2) If I decide to buy and do a pre-inspection, what are the major things to get the AME to look at?

Thanks for the help.

[Invertago]

Get an independent mechanic (not the one who has done the annuals on said airplane) to do the inspection. Also, be warned of the extra costs that can occur bringing a US plane to Canada. Example "a" Cessna 150 bought in the US, $29000 paid, import fees $20000 due to missing paperwork mainly. True storys btw. Other story, early model C172, $39k paid, $18k to import. Yes American aircraft may seem cheaper and nicer then ones north of the border, but watch out, it can become a nightmare.

Other aircraft, Piper turbo arrow, $69K paid, 10k importation expenses, paperwork was in order, so that 10k went into the prop and turbo which needed it anyhow. Nothing sucks more then to drop your money into paper work replacing perfectly good aircraft seats because the paper trail didn't support them.

It may all work out and you might get a nice airplane for a good deal, but be prepared to budget close to 50% of the airplane purchase price to get it here and flying. Oh and the import times all ran around half a year in the above stories.


Edit: I'm not an AME, but just known / worked for people who have imported aircraft.

[HS-748 2A]

What I gleaned from Kenco was that the import was done in 1997.

[Invertago]

So it is a Canadian aircraft already? If so that eliminates most potential headaches.

[kenco]

Yes, it was imported in 2007. How detailed are import inspections? I know it was used as a trainer in the US and would be used as a trainer here (ie to train me )

[HS-748 2A]

What I gleaned from Kenco was that the import was done in 1997.

Ooops - Time lapse back the Bad-'ol Days.. I meant 2007.

[Invertago]

Guess the other big item is what price your looking at... said aircraft should be fairly inexpensive to be worth it.

[HS-748 2A]

One thing I will note for you Kenco, is, for an old Continental, you have excellent indicated compressions. I've seen those engines run seemingly perfectly fine almost no indicated compression. I realize that seems strange but maybe on said engines things thighten up when they get hot, I don't know. So cylinder-wise, that engine appears in good shape.

[culver10]

Do I have to do an extensive 10k hour inspection?

There is no such thing as a 10000 hour inspection on a privatly registered Cessna 150, who told you this crap?

[Hedley]

Right - check the airframe AD's. All else is nonsense.

[HS-748 2A]

Have a good look under the floor for smoking rivets, particularilly gear boxes, (gear attach points). They could be bagged out on such a high time machine.

[Big Pistons Forever]

The first airplane I owned was a 1969 C 150 complete with the original horrible green and orange Cessna's "discover flying" paint scheme, a ratty but servicable interior and one radio. But it had no airframe corrosion and a Continental factory reman engine with a solid maintainance history since the engine went in. I bought it in 1990 for $8500 and sold it 4 years and 350 mostly trouble free hours later for $11000.

For any of these little bug smashers the only thing that really matters is the condition of the engine. The prepurchase should include a boroscope check and you want a good look at who/how it was maintained and crucially how often the aircraft was flown (once a week is a bare minimum). Lack of use kills more private aircraft engines than any other cause. A C 150 engine Overhaul will be a minimum of $20,000 plus another $2000 to $4000 labour/parts for the Re & Re. This is the best case. The worst case is the crank and cam can not be re used and the cylinders are too worn /corroded to be overhauled. This will drive the bill to the high twenty K mark. The bottom line is an older C 150 with a bad engine is for all intents and purposes worthless.

[HS-748 2A]

I think you're on the high side for the cost of an overhauled O-200 there Big Pistons.

[kenco]

For those following this thread:
Asking price is ~20K
The plane has only flown about 40ish hours in the last year, so not much. I guess this is the most worry some part. I do know a cylinder was replaced during the import inspection.

I got the 10k hour from my flight school owner. I told him about the plane, and he said watchout for the 10k inspection. Is there a comercial requirement? Maybe the anual for the plane just happen to fall on the 10k hour and there were lots of problems??

I just assumed (took the word of my flight school owner) that a comprehensive inspection @ 10k hours is done on all planes.

Thanks for the info guys.

K.

[kenco]

Smoking rivets? What do the look like? Or would they be missing?

[HS-748 2A]

Rivets smoke when they are loose. You'll have seen them before, no doubt, around cowlings etc.

There will be black powder, (aluminum oxide), eminating them.

[kenco]

Cool. Yes I have seen that before. Always thought it was dirt or oil residue. I will now check for that on the planes I fly now

Thanks.

[black hole]

There is a 10 year limit on the engine if is to go into commercial service.

BH

[Big Pistons Forever]

I think you're on the high side for the cost of an overhauled O-200 there Big Pistons.

This is a price list from Air Power in the US. Prices are US Dollars and do not include shipping but do require a servicable exchange core (i.e. case, crank, and cam must be servicable)

Engine Search Results Click on engine number to view engine detail page.
Engines Found: 9 -- page 1 of 1
pages (1)




Engine......................Volts..HP.. New/Rebuilt............... Aircraft
O200A48B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,754 $22,057 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $276 N/A
O200A54G N/A Continental 12 100 $25,879 $22,509 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $324 $282 N/A
O200A66B N/A Continental 12 100 Call $22,057 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: N/A $276 N/A
O200A67B N/A Continental 12 100 Call Call Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: N/A N/A N/A
O200A72B N/A Continental 12 100 Call Call Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: N/A N/A N/A
O200A73B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,745 $21,982 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $275 N/A
O200A74B N/A Continental 12 100 $25,027 $22,234 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $314 $279 N/A
O200A75B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,745 $21,982 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $275 N/A
O200A76B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,754 $21,988 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $276 N/A


Granted a factory rebuild is the most expensive option but even a overhaul at your local engine rebuider is going to use a lot of expensive parts priced in USD. Can you to provide a link to a legitimate engine shop who will provide a quote for an 0 200 overhaul (including mags and carb) for less than $20,000 Canadian ?

[ThatGuyYouKnow]

20k sounds like a lot cash for a 150 with almost 10000 hours. I wouldn't pay that much.

[HS-748 2A]

I think you're on the high side for the cost of an overhauled O-200 there Big Pistons.

This is a price list from Air Power in the US. Prices are US Dollars and do not include shipping but do require a servicable exchange core (i.e. case, crank, and cam must be servicable)

Engine Search Results Click on engine number to view engine detail page.
Engines Found: 9 -- page 1 of 1
pages (1)




Engine......................Volts..HP.. New/Rebuilt............... Aircraft
O200A48B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,754 $22,057 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $276 N/A
O200A54G N/A Continental 12 100 $25,879 $22,509 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $324 $282 N/A
O200A66B N/A Continental 12 100 Call $22,057 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: N/A $276 N/A
O200A67B N/A Continental 12 100 Call Call Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: N/A N/A N/A
O200A72B N/A Continental 12 100 Call Call Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: N/A N/A N/A
O200A73B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,745 $21,982 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $275 N/A
O200A74B N/A Continental 12 100 $25,027 $22,234 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $314 $279 N/A
O200A75B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,745 $21,982 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $275 N/A
O200A76B N/A Continental 12 100 $24,754 $21,988 Cessna 150; Reims F-150, FA-15
Monthly Payments: $310 $276 N/A


Granted a factory rebuild is the most expensive option but even a overhaul at your local engine rebuider is going to use a lot of expensive parts priced in USD. Can you to provide a link to a legitimate engine shop who will provide a quote for an 0 200 overhaul (including mags and carb) for less than $20,000 Canadian ?

Maybe I'm out of touch Big Pistons. It was afew years ago now and it was a C-90, not an 0-200. As to whether or not that would make a difference, I don't know. The shop was Alberta Aero Engines and the price was just under 15K as I recall. A good core was provided, with accessories.

I will stand corrected if I don't come accross a current price.

Regards,

48

[HS-748 2A]

Here are some prices in USD more in line with what I expected.

http://www.casaviation.com/serv01.htm

[SeptRepair]

Well i just got off the phone with a fellow looking to sell his 150J. TTSN is 4100 and TTSOH is about 1500 Thing could use a paint job, been out of annual for a couple years and has one low cylinder and a mag drop a little on the excessive side. ( I will be looking into it this weekend). He is asking 15000.00$. To me it sounds about 3000 too high. But Im kinda out of the loop when it comes to pricing. Comments?