Damage History

M

meritflyer

Well-Known Member
Often when you read an ad for a plane, they state "No Damage History."

So the question(s) is/are, would you consider an airplane with 2 prop strikes to have no damage history and secondly, should it influence your decision to buy it?

The engine was torn down and rebuilt by a reputable shop.

What say you?
 
A prop strike alone does not constitute damage history in my book, an engine can be completely replaced with another... but there's no set definition.

If the teardown was done and the service bulletins and AD's complied with... and some time was put on the engine, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
meritflyer said:
The engine was torn down and rebuilt by a reputable shop.
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One thing most don't understand is that for the most part engine parts are all reconditioned at only a handful of places. The big name shops use the same manuals as everyone else.

Once an engine breaks in its probably going to be ok.

Corollary is not always causal. Most gear ups I've ever seen were caused by pilot error, not a bad airplane.

Pour through the logs, pull all the inspection panels, and if the plane was repaired correctly it's good to go.
 
esa17 said:
Corollary is not always causal. Most gear ups I've ever seen were caused by pilot error, not a bad airplane.
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True, but if an airplane has had a gear up landing and been repaired I wouldn't touch it unless it was the only one available (not likely) or if it had "proven itself"

An airplane tends to sit for a long time during a gear up repair, and sometimes systems are opened and closed, and a lot of repairs are done. It's almost guaranteed that you'll have a lot of problems in the first few hundred hours.
 
Practically speaking, I wouldn't take "no damage history" to mean anything other than the seller's defintiion of what "damage" is. Examine the maintenance records and 337s and decide for yourself.

In terms of an engine rebuild from a prop strike, I think that you see the two views in the two previous posts. Me, I'd want to know a what the lot more about the airplane, the incident, the other damage, what the repairs were and where the repairs were made before even considering a decision.
 
I'd be leary of an engine that's had a propr strike. It can cause damage hat magnafluxing can't see. I have seen a crankshaft spiral crak that had a prop strike.
 
2 Prop Strikes would be part of damage history in my book. I mean the Prop is damaged isn't it?

But there are some that might argue it's just an AD.

Any prop strike is supposed to result in a complete engine teardown and inspection according to most manufacturers because it now generates an AD.

If you are purchasing an aircraft that has been involved in a prop strike, then it would be prudent to know the circumstances of that prop strike. When you have two prop strikes on a single engine aircraft then you should really check into what happened with both strikes. You don't want to be the third prop strike.

Of course the benefit of a prop strike is a lower time engine, prop and hub. That could also play into your decision.
 
meritflyer said:
Often when you read an ad for a plane, they state "No Damage History."

So the question(s) is/are, would you consider an airplane with 2 prop strikes to have no damage history and secondly, should it influence your decision to buy it?

The engine was torn down and rebuilt by a reputable shop.

What say you?
Click to expand...

If the engine was rebuilt, I don't see a problem with it.
 
JOEFRIDAY2 said:
2 Prop Strikes would be part of damage history in my book. I mean the Prop is damaged isn't it?

But there are some that might argue it's just an AD.

Any prop strike is supposed to result in a complete engine teardown and inspection according to most manufacturers because it now generates an AD.

If you are purchasing an aircraft that has been involved in a prop strike, then it would be prudent to know the circumstances of that prop strike. When you have two prop strikes on a single engine aircraft then you should really check into what happened with both strikes. You don't want to be the third prop strike.

Of course the benefit of a prop strike is a lower time engine, prop and hub. That could also play into your decision.
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The AD is only on Lycoming engines that have a crankshaft gear dowel pin, and retaining bolt... and even that doesn't require a complete teardown, just the accessory section removed... Most people choose to do the complete teardown because the difference in labor is pretty minor, and who wants to wonder whether there's something wrong with the crankshaft or not, right?

As far as the prop being damaged, if it's damaged beyond repair you'll be replacing it... does it then still have a damage history? ;)
 
meritflyer said:
Often when you read an ad for a plane, they state "No Damage History."

So the question(s) is/are, would you consider an airplane with 2 prop strikes to have no damage history and secondly, should it influence your decision to buy it?

The engine was torn down and rebuilt by a reputable shop.

What say you?
Click to expand...

Was this a tear down inspection, or were the engines overhauled? Big difference as far as value of the airplane.
 
I agree with Ppragman, if the engine was majored and has been run I wouldn't worry. Most of the time "damage history" is for the airframe.
Did you find out HOW there was 2 prop strikes? Crashing it in, nosed over, tow bar left on etc? Did this happen in a short timeframe?
 
roundout said:
I have a feeling it's a Mooney and they were probably landing accidents. Do I win a prize?
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If so then it's very different than a Bonanza that hit a toolbox.

Propstrikes that happen on landing are due to significant porpising (sp?). This will damage the firewall and it needs to be carefully inspected before buying.
 
Indeed. They are pretty resiliant airframes, though, and quite repairable. I'd estimate half or so of the used Mooneys on the market (excluding long-bodies) have had landing accidents or gear ups.
 
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