newbie needing help with sale of airplane

[lbrwn36]

We recently inherited a Bellanca Super Viking, but don't know much about airplanes. We were wondering if someone might be able to provide some guidance as to how to determine a sales price and what type of information people look for in ads. Any feedback would be sincerely appreciated.

[Doug Robertson]

Are you in the USA? If so, go to your nearest General Aviation airport and ask around if anyone has a recent issue of TRADE-A-PLANE. This timely periodical lists aircraft for sale by make and year model. You could get some price range idea there, and learn from aircraft condition descriptions. Verifiable?

Does the plane have all logbooks, maintenance history and is it in current registration? When was the last Annual inspection? Who did it? What was done then? Is the plane now airworthy? Is the plane hangared? Or is it an outside recluse? Total time aircraft? Total time engine? Original engine? Date of last engine repair or overhaul? Any damage history? Was it regularly flown? Upgraded panel?

Lots of factors determine aircraft value.

[lbrwn36]

Thank you for all the areas that we need to gather information on the airplane, that is exactly what I was needing to get started in getting educated in this area and I appreciate you taking the time.

[Doug Robertson]

When a prospective buyer contacts you and wants to test flight the airplane if airworthy, ask to see his/her Airman's Certificate and establish the true identity of the person-Driver's License, etc. Run copies of those. Establish whether he/she has retractable gear, complex aircraft experience. Have a short meeting with the prospective buyer and the airport manager. Let the manager know there will be a test flight (that you must go along on), mainly in the pattern or close area-when and about for how long. The pilot should call for a local weather report as a minimum. A complete pre-flight per the specific aircraft model checklist should be done by the prospective buyer. You witness and verify that all steps comply, including sumping the fuel tanks for water, fuel & oil levels, etc.

These cautions considers the possibility of hijack theft of an airplane-the last thing you need. A prospective legit buyer might also bring his own Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic to verify aircraft condition, Aircraft Directives compliances, Service Bulletins-(not mandatory) etc at his/her own expense. You establish the mechanic's credentials also. The mechanic will want to ride along also as the Super Viking will hold you and his mechanic.

If you need a mechanic to get the plane airworthy, a one time ferry permit from the FAA might be required. I know a Bellanca Viking specialist A&P in SoCal who gets owner pilots from as far as Texas or more.

[Doug Robertson]

If you find these necessary tasks overwhelming, you could list the aircraft with a General Aviation aircraft broker who could act on your behalf to advertise and sell the Viking, getting any necessary pre-sale tasks accomplished for you.

[Don308]