Does anyone know of someone who could do a pre-buy on a Twin Cessna in the Seattle area? Someone very patient as well as well versed in three hundred series is what I'm looking for.

Any tips would be appreciated.

I use ProFlight at Renton for my aircraft maintenance. I've always been satisfied.
425.228.9510

Thanks Bill.

I failed to mention an important requirement: They have to travel to the airplane. The owner is insisting that any inspection be performed at his hangar. I know, I know. All the same, it's worth it to me but I need someone to show up and check out the airplane. I'd do it myself but I don't know what I'm looking at. I'll give ProFlight a shout and see if they have any provision for that sort of thing.

The type of twin C will determine who can handle it.

The rare and elusive T303.

Good luck John.
Keep us informed!

Thanks.

So close yet so far. I just need some boots on the ground.

The owner's mechanic is probably the most knowledgeable T303 guy in the area willing to travel to the airplane.

If true, then John will need the second most knowledgeable T303 guy willing to travel.

Not sure if the link below coveres the 303, if it does, well worth giving to your pre-buy mechanic as a guide for his/her pre-purchase inspection. If you are serious about this plane, I'd suggest joining the TTCF and connecting with Bob Thomason or Tony Saxton

https://www.twincessna.org/OnLineStore.asp?p_num=P014

Try Michael Thompson here on Beechtalk. You would have to ask him about his 303 knowledge. I would argue there is no one who knows a 303 well as there are so few.

Thanks guys. Apparently the seller is the mechanic, and he claims to know the airplane better than anyone around, which I can believe after having maintained it himself, but of course that doesn't help us. On the outside I'd see this as a big red flag, but when you talk to the guy he comes across like someone's dad. He's old school, possessive and protective of his airplane, nobody else is good enough to touch it, etc. it's not helpful but it doesn't come across as sinister.

That said, my partner isn't at all happy with the situation and wants to pull the plug. I don't want to but don't have a good alternative. I'm still thinking. If I can calm him down I'll try the names given above and see if I can find a compromise that works.

Thanks for the help.

Lots of people have been ripped off by smooth talkers who sounded nice and trustworthy. Trust but verify.

There can be lots of debate among IAs about what exactly is airworthy. If the seller is unwilling to bring the plane someplace for inspection it can mean he is afraid another A&P will question the airworthiness of what he has done and ground the plane.

Owner performed maintenance can be very good or very bad. You need an independent review to tell you what you are dealing with.

I was gonna PM this, but what the hell, I need more dislikes.

...is he a GA mechanic? like as his main bread and butter? With a T303???

It is a red flag. Not because the plane will be unairworthy -- it won't (hopefully) -- it's all of the middling shitsnack stuff that a mechanic can sign off with the intent of fixing later -- that tends to accumulate. Worse if they don't have a sugar momma or a non-GA primary trade (like him being a turbine mechanic in high demand) to pay parts bills with. The mechanics I know who own planes HATE buying parts with a passion. They'd rather squirt LPS or Mouse Milk or ProSeal into any failing part and "keep an eye on it".

I'm talking things like the clock, and com2, and that backup gear indicator, intermittent boost pump, and the flaps are sticky so just bang on the armrest. (I don't know the T303 versions of these -- these are Beech ones ) -- basically a plane has two of everything and most of the mechanic planes I've seen (not all! just most) have been able to talk themselves into airworthy meaning "greater than 1.5 of the systems work" -- which means all sorts of fiddly nonsense and workarounds and rationalizations that end with "well they're unlikely to BOTH fail at the same time...".

If you've ever seen a plane where the owner only took care of the bare minimum of maintenance -- this will be worse. Not less safe. Just worse. Imagine that same "barest minimum" philosophy applied at a component level, not just an airframe and engine level. Be afraid.

I would hope I was wrong, but now to be sure, you need an IA so good, he can call bullshit on this one, and will be willing to -- over and above any professional courtesy/deference owed to a fellow IA. The bar has been raised quite high for you to have a successful purchase endeavour.

Buy it from his widow instead. For $0.12 on the dollar.

IMO.

$0.12

- Mike

Thanks gentlemen.

Mike, the guy, according to Google, is a property manager for a living. If the address shown is correct he's good at what he does. He just bought a 414 and is selling the 303. I have no idea where he got his A&P, but he's not one by trade.

That said, the points you raise are valid. My partner wants to play hard ball with him. I chose to go with "Good cop-Bad cop". We'll see what happens.

Thanks for the perspective and good advice.