Buying my first 120

[lampak25]

Just joined this group as I sit on layover. Headed from AK to TX to inspect a 1946 120. Lucky for me my mechanic back home first learned to fly and wreck on his 120. I’m aware the need to inspect the door posts, gear box and tail section, my question to the group…what other areas require extra attention or areas I should make sure the mechanic looks at during my pre-buy?

[lampak25]

Wrench not wreck! Talk about a seriously poor word mix up!

[6643]

Wrench not wreck!

Some people learn to do both...

Go to this section of the web site. There is an inspection check list there, along with a bunch of other interesting information.

[6898]

Welcome to a fun group and great plane. Wow hard to cover whats needed for that kind of pre buy. Best if a experienced 120 140 person looked it over. Great planes but with so many years of wrenching on them theirs a lot that could be right? or wrong? Take your time either pay up front for a correctly maintained one or get one home and have a project. Not saying ones better than another just know what your getting into or able to do the work to make it correct. Hope to see you at our Iowa Convention.

[8413]

As Jeff said above... highly recommend a pre-buy with an experienced 120/140 mechanic. There are a lot of mechanics out there but they may not know the important (expensive to fix) spots to fix on the 120/140's.
Go to the main 120/140 website and under "Resources", there is a "Mechanics" link. On the list scroll down to TX and try to find one close to where you are looking at that plane. That will get you a good start on getting the best pre-buy possible.

A search of this website for "prebuy" will answer your question about what specifically to look for during the inspection.
Josh

[lampak25]

Thanks for the replys and advice. Just got home after a quick 50 hour turn and burn from AK to Tx and back. The 120 I looked at is in prime condition. Complete logs back to 1961, and I didn't find anything that was scary. I found a mechanic that has a lot of experience with 120's. I'm having an annual done on the plane plus having him inspect the tail section of the airframe, gear box and door posts. I was only on the ground in Tx for 11 hours but was able to fly it for 3 hours. What a beauty and she flies even better!

Plan is to fly her home to AK in early June after spring bear season shuts down for me. My mechanic ( I'm doing my A&P apprenticeship in his shop), put up 500 hours in his 120 and knows these planes well.

The plane also comes with the original wheel pants, which I do not need. I'll be selling those as well as swapping out and selling the uAvionix ADS-B out taillight.

[8413]

lampak,
Please post pics of your 120. Glad you like it!
Josh

[edidin]

Fantastic! Just flew my 120 for 3 hours yesterday after a couple weeks off and remembered why love that little plane so much. Fingertip delight.

[lampak25]

Here she is

[8413]

Very nice!