8KCAB DECATHLON - PRE PURCHASE TIPS

B

Boots79

New member
Looking at this plane any tips on what to look out for when buying. Located in Australia.

1979 8KCAB 150 HP Decathlon TT approx 3990 hours engine 1370 SOH - fitted with: Aileron Spades / Aerobatic sight gauge / spin on oil filter / New Icom A210 VHF / Intercom / External cabin cover / Hooker competition harness / Alaskan Bush wheel tail wheel.
 
If it has wood wings You need a person who knows what he is looking at, inspect the wings per the AD note.
Check that the wood formers in the fuselage are not all warped, has new style gear "U" bolts, gear looks straight, wheel alignment looks good. Also be aware that this is only a 1600 hour TBO engine, so you only have 230 hours left.
Bill Becker
 
18 months ago I purchased a 1995 8KCAB Super D. Some of the relativley important (costly if not conisidered in purchase price) items were as noted below. I'm not familiar with the differences from a 1995 to a 1979, so some of this may not be applicable. I know you already know this, with any airplane, its' a matter of cost. All can be addressed and repaired as long as the purchase price is appropriate.

Some models / years require the front wing strut attach fittings to be either replaced or removed / inspected / re-installed every 1,000 hrs.
As stated above, engine is likely 1,600 hr TBO (or even 1,400 hr recommended by American Champ on the Super D) - keep in mind.
Some Super D's had engines with a bad AD that required crank replacement, not sure about the 150 hp.
Also stated above - Wood spar AD - Need good inspection, then re-curring.
If constant speed prop, check hub AD - some require replacement (Is this a constant speed prop model?).
Fuel tank leaks (discoloration on bottom of wing trailing edges and other) due to cracks (usually from snap rolls).
Landing gear bolts need replacement every 400 hrs (?), again not sure on this model.
Fabric condition - 30 year old plane, condition depends on if hangered or not.
All the "regular" stuff that would be found in a normal pre-buy (oil leaks, enginer condition, wear and tear, corrosions, etc).

Hope this helps a little.
 
Sams, I am looking at a 1996 super D and it has a HC C2YR-4CF prop with a Hub replacement in 2004 I have read the AD over and over and can not make any sense of it. Do you know if I should be looking for a particular serial # on the hub or what? What items did you find that applied to your year model airframe? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, John
 
Hi John,

In my case, I spoke with the mechanic that maintained the airplane from brand new (I purchased it from the original purchaser and he had one mechanic work on it, along with his other airplanes, since new). The log book clearly noted that the prop hub was replaced, and all future annuals noted that the hub AD was no longer applicable due to the replaced hub.

I would have an A&I take a look at the log books to confirm that the replaced hub makes the AD no longer applicable. No sure what your proximity is to the airplane, but most sellers will photo copy the log book pages and e-mail or fax them for your review.

Sorry I can't be of more help, maybe someone else that uses this message board can help.

Sam
 
AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS - DECATHLON

150 hp Lycoming engine AEIO-320-L2B SN L-5706-55A
Inverted fuel and oil systems
Fixed pitch Sensenich propeller 60" pitch
TTIS 3950 hrs
Engine TSO 1367
Engine compressions from the last 100 hrly were 75 79 79 78
The prop overhaul is due at 4912 hrs
January 2006 new camshaft fitted at 3470 TTIS
New engine hoses 25/2/05
Kelly geared starter with new wiring
Concorde RG25XC battery
Airframe refurbished March 2004 at 3227 hrs TTIS
Finished in classic dope
New Alaskan Bushwheel tailwheel fitted January 2007
Interior refurbished 2007
except cabin headliner
New electrical panel with fuses replaced by circuit breakers
Deluxe seats, removable cushions for parachute use
Hooker competition harnesses

Features:
Aileron spades
Aerobatic sight gauge
B&C oil filter adapter - spin-on oil filter
New ICOM A210 radio fitted April 2009
Sigtronics intercom
Factory cargo net
Lahona external cabin cover
 
AD 01-23-08, what’s so tough about it? I can't seem to add bold or underlines to work, so the key parts are inside the --- sections.

If you have a propeller hub with no letter at the end of the serial number originally, you probably get to do eddy current inspections every 150 hrs:

(a) Perform initial and repetitive eddy current inspections (ECI) of the propeller hub fillet
radius for cracks. The initial ECI is for propellers with --- no suffix letter at the end of the serial
number --- and on propellers with serial numbers DN3607A, DN3609A, DN3613A, DN3615A,
DN3628A, DN3630A, DN3641A, DN3940A, DN3944A, DN3949A, and DN3962A….


If your installed propeller has an “A” at the end of the serial number, you’re probably SOL now:

(c) Propellers with the suffix "A" at the end of the serial number, excluding serial numbers,
DN3607A, DN3609A, DN3613A, DN3615A, DN3628A, DN3630A, DN3641A, DN3940A,
DN3944A, DN3949A, and DN3962A, --- are to be replaced --- in accordance with Hartzell Propeller
Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) No. HC-SB-61-227, Revision 2, dated May 8, 2000, as
follows:

(2) Propeller hubs on aircraft certified in the acrobatic category are to --- be removed from
service and replaced --- with serviceable parts at next overhaul but not to exceed 1,000 hours
TIS or 72 months, whichever comes first, after the effective date of this AD.


Given the original AD was effective 24 December 2001, any prop hub with an “A” suffix should have been removed from service several years ago and replaced with either an MT propeller (what I did), or a “B” suffix hub.

Just a wild guess, but I would bet the prop hub was replaced in 2004 with a “B” hub, but you’ll need to check the serial numbers to be sure.

So to summarize, if its a "B" hub, you're fine, if its a non-suffix hub you're fine (with a little bit of work every couple years), if its an "A" hub someone is probably in trouble.

Paul
 
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