Imagine buying a house without a surveyor. Nobody would do that. Yet in aircraft purchases, it happens — some buyers rely on the seller's word, a photo collection, or a cursory glance. That's not courage — it's negligence. The pre-buy inspection is not optional.

What Is a Pre-Buy Inspection?

A pre-buy inspection (PBI) is a comprehensive technical examination of an aircraft by an independent, authorized maintenance organization — commissioned by the prospective buyer, paid by the buyer, reported to the buyer. It uncovers technical deficiencies, assesses the maintenance condition, and provides a well-founded evaluation of the aircraft's actual state.

Independence is mandatory: The inspector must have no connection whatsoever to the seller — no shared primary maintenance facility, no business relationship. Always commission a maintenance center of your choosing, not the seller's.

What Is Examined During a PBI?

Typical Contents of a Complete Pre-Buy Inspection

  • Document review: Airworthiness Certificate, logbooks (airframe, engine, propeller/APU), maintenance records, AD compliance list, Service Bulletin status
  • Structural inspection: Corrosion check, structural damage (hail, bird strike, hard landing), frame inspection
  • Engine(s): Borescope inspection (camera probe into engine), oil analysis (SOAP), compression test (piston engines), hours status relative to TBO
  • Landing gear: Tire condition, brake pad thickness, shock absorber status, gear mechanism
  • Avionics: Functional test of all systems, transponder certification, ADS-B compliance, database currency
  • Hydraulics, climate control, pressurized cabin: Leak testing, system function
  • Test flight: All flight characteristics, engine performance, avionics function in flight

What Does a Pre-Buy Inspection Cost?

Cost by Aircraft Category (Estimates)

  • Single-Engine Piston (Cirrus SR22, Cessna 182): EUR 800 – 2,500
  • Multi-Engine Piston / Light Turboprop: EUR 2,000 – 5,000
  • Single-Engine Turboprop (PC-12, TBM): EUR 3,000 – 8,000
  • Light Jet (Phenom 100, Citation M2): EUR 5,000 – 15,000
  • Midsize to Large Cabin Jet: EUR 12,000 – 35,000
  • Ultra Long Range Jet: EUR 25,000 – 60,000

PBI costs are always significantly less than the cost of hidden defects after purchase.

The best investment in the purchase process: If the PBI finds a significant issue — e.g., an engine approaching TBO that costs EUR 80,000 — you've saved EUR 75,000 with a EUR 5,000 inspection. Or you negotiate the purchase price down accordingly.

Finding the Right Inspector

For EASA-registered aircraft, the inspector must be an approved Part 145 organization (EASA-recognized maintenance organization). For the specific aircraft type, you should ideally choose a type-experienced facility:

  • Prefer manufacturer-authorized service centers (they know typical weak points of the type)
  • Seek recommendations from owner forums and communities (e.g., Cirrus COPA, TBM Club)
  • Choose an inspector geographically close to the aircraft — so the aircraft isn't ferried for the PBI (during ferry, defects could be masked)
  • Explicitly agree: a written report with photos is mandatory, not just verbal feedback
If a seller refuses the pre-buy inspection or insists on using their own maintenance facility — do not buy the aircraft. This is the clearest red flag in the entire purchase process. No serious seller fears an independent technical examination.

After the PBI: Decision Matrix

The inspection report typically contains three categories of findings:

  • Airworthiness items: Must be repaired before further operation — immediate negotiating position (price reduction or repair by seller)
  • Deferred maintenance: Not immediately safety-critical but due soon — factor in the costs, negotiate a discount
  • Minor observations: Cosmetic or minor technical points — typically accept and factor into the price

A pre-buy inspection is not an attempt to disparage an aircraft — it's the professional way to determine a fair price for the actual condition. Well-maintained aircraft pass PBIs with only minor findings. Problem aircraft are exposed.

On Airvalon: every listed aircraft must provide a maintenance history and the most recent ARC (Airworthiness Review Certificate). We organize PBIs on request through our partner network of certified Part 145 facilities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.