Composite structure
Tap testing for delamination and disbonds, gelcoat crazing that points to stress, hard-landing evidence at gear attach points and bulkheads, UV damage and moisture intrusion.
Tap testRepair qualityGear & bulkheads
Pre-buy assessments — composite & light sport aircraft
The annual says it's legal. A pre-buy says whether to buy it.
An independent assessment for the buyer, not the seller. We inspect the aircraft, audit the logbooks against the manufacturer's directives and service bulletins, and tell you what it will cost to own before you sign.
BasedMinneapolis, MN
Travel radius~200 miles
AirframesComposite LSA & experimental
EnginesRotax 912 / 914
CredentialsLSRM-A · Rotax iRMT
Condition inspection vs. pre-buy
A fresh annual protects the seller. A pre-buy protects you.
A condition inspection answers one question: is the aircraft in condition for safe operation today? A pre-buy answers a different one: should you buy this aircraft, at this price, knowing what's coming due?
| Condition inspection | Pre-buy assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| Serves | The owner | The buyer |
| Who picks the shop | Usually the seller | You, independently |
| Question | Is it airworthy today? | Should I buy it, and what will it cost me? |
| Records | Current entries and required items | Full history: serial numbers, gaps, repairs, damage, directive compliance |
| Looks ahead | No | Calendar limits, overhauls, repack dates and parts support |
| Result | A logbook entry | A written report with findings ranked by safety and cost |
What we inspect
Composite airframes hide damage that aluminum shows.
Most shops in the region are built around aluminum airframes and Lycomings. Our work is light sport, composite structure and Rotax engines.
Rotax 912 / 914
Borescope of cylinders and valve seats, the 5-year rubber component replacement, calendar and hour limits, and a line-by-line service bulletin compliance audit.
BorescopeSB auditCalendar limits
Logbook forensics
We reconcile airframe, engine and propeller logs against what's physically installed: serial numbers, inspection gaps, interval overruns and repairs with no paperwork.
Serial checkGapsDamage history
S-LSA & MOSAIC paperwork
Manufacturer safety directives, repair authorizations, whether the aircraft still qualifies as S-LSA, and what the operating limitations allow under MOSAIC.
DirectivesOp limitsAirworthiness cert
Recovery chute, prop & avionics
Ballistic parachute repack and rocket dates, propeller history and data plates, and instruments checked against open service bulletins.
BRS currencyProp historyInstruments
What's coming due
A plain list of the items that fall due in the next one to three years, so you can price them into your offer instead of discovering them after closing.
Upcoming itemsNegotiation
Recent assessment
Current annuals on file. Still not ready to buy.
NOT AIRWORTHY — FURTHER EVALUATION REQUIRED
- Aircraft
- Composite motorglider, S-LSA
- Engine
- Rotax 912 ULS
- Extras
- Feathering prop, ballistic chute
- OPENAn instrument discrepancy tied to an open service bulletin had to be corrected before the aircraft could be called airworthy.
- OPENA structural repair at the landing gear bulkhead, logged after a long gap between inspections, had no supporting repair documentation.
- RESOLVEDRecent annuals listed a propeller serial number that had been removed years earlier after a prop strike. We verified the installed prop from its hub marking.
- RESOLVEDSeveral inspections had run past their 12-month window. We checked for flight time logged outside a current inspection.
Identifying details withheld. The buyer received a summary cover page, an item-by-item checklist, a photo appendix and a service bulletin compliance sheet.
Packages
Start with the records. Travel only if they hold up.
Most problems show up in the logbooks first. A records review before anyone drives or flies to the aircraft saves you the trip when the paper doesn't add up.
Records review
$150
- Scans or photos of all airframe, engine and prop logs
- Serial, gap and repair reconciliation
- Directive and service bulletin check
- Written list of red flags and questions for the seller
For buyers still deciding whether the aircraft is worth a trip.
On-site assessment
$350 + travel
- Everything in the records review
- Hands-on airframe, composite and engine inspection
- Borescope and photo documentation
- Full written report with a determination
For buyers ready to make or confirm an offer.
How it works
From listing to report
- 01Send the listing
The ad, the N-number and whatever the seller has shared.
- 02Records review
We go through the logs and tell you whether to keep going.
- 03On-site inspection
We meet the aircraft where it sits, within about 200 miles.
- 04Report and call
You get the written report, and we walk through it together.
The report
What you receive
Summary coverThe determination and key findings on page one.
Item-by-item checklistEach item marked OK, Squawk, Open, Resolved or Deferred.
Photo appendixBorescope stills and walk-around photos, grouped and captioned.
Service bulletin sheetEvery applicable Rotax bulletin with its compliance status.
Questions
Common questions
The seller just had an annual done. Why do I need a pre-buy?
An annual confirms the aircraft met the inspection standard on the day it was signed. It doesn't reconcile the full history, look at what's coming due, or work for you. The aircraft in our recent assessment had current annuals on file and still had open safety items.
Who pays for the pre-buy?
The buyer. That's what keeps it independent. Any repairs it turns up are usually a matter for negotiation between you and the seller.
Can the seller's shop do it?
They can, but they've already signed off on the aircraft. A second set of eyes with no stake in the sale is the point.
Do you only work on light sport aircraft?
We work on special and experimental light sport aircraft. Under MOSAIC, LSRM-A mechanics can also perform condition inspections on experimental amateur-built aircraft once the owner has updated operating limitations. We can help with that paperwork.
Is a pre-buy a guarantee?
No. It's a thorough, documented look at the aircraft and its records on the day of inspection. It lowers your risk and gives you facts to negotiate with.
Contact
Found an aircraft? Call before you send a deposit.
651-494-4579
Have these ready if you can:
- The listing or N-number
- Photos or scans of the airframe, engine and propeller logbooks
- Where the aircraft is located
- Your timeline for making an offer
Email: jim@stcroixlightplanes.com ·stcroixlightplanes.com