SMA PURCHASER FINDS FRAUD IN ACFT SOLD AS '50 HRS SINCE MAJOR'.

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AIRPLANE BUYERS BEWARE! IN FEB OF 1991; I BOUGHT A 6 PLACE SMA WHICH WAS ADVERTISED AS 50 HRS SMOH; IN ONE OF THE AVIATION NEWSPAPERS; FLEW IT 30 HRS MYSELF WITH MY WIFE AS PAX. IN SEP I TOOK IT IN FOR A HEATING PROBLEM AND ITS ANNUAL. 1 CYLINDER HAD 7 CRACKS IN IT; THE OLD RINGS (AT LEAST THEY SEEM TO THINK) WAS PUT BACK IN; THE LAST TIME THE CYLINDER WAS CHROMED WAS IN 1974. THE REASON THE MECH TOOK THE CYLINDER OFF WAS BECAUSE HE COULDN'T STOP AN EXHAUST LEAK; THERE WERE 3 MORE CYLINDERS WITH EXHAUST LEAKS. THE PROP; WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN OVERHAULED IN 1989; WITH 60 HRS ON IT; NEEDED A NEW SHAFT; BECAUSE OF RUST AND PITS; AND NEW BEARING IN THE GOVERNOR. ACCORDING TO MR X OF ABC ACFT SALES IN CORONA THE PLANE HAD 50 HRS SMOH AND 3 YRS LEFT ON THE PROP. THE MECH WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE OVERHAULED THIS ENG OWNS A FLYING SVC IN CALEXICO; CA. IF HE DID SUCH A GOOD JOB ON THIS ENG I WONDER HOW THE ENGS ARE IN HIS FLYING SVC PLANES. I TOOK ALL THE INFO ABOUT THE ENG AND ALL LOGBOOKS TO THE FAA AND HAVE GOTTEN AN INVESTIGATION STARTED; BUT WHAT ABOUT ABC? ACCORDING TO MY LAWYER; I HAVE A GOOD CASE. LET THE SMA SIT; $3000 RETAINER; AND IN 3 OR 4 YRS WE GO TO COURT. NOW; IF WE WIN AND GET A JUDGEMENT; HOW TO MAKE HIM PAY; ALSO WHERE WILL HE BE IN 3 OR 4 YRS? WILL HE STILL OWN ABC? SO; FOR YOU WHO WISH TO BUY THEIR FIRST PLANE; LIKE ME; BEWARE OF ABC. BEWARE OF ANYTHING AT CORONA; THAT'S WHERE I HAD MY PREPURCHASE INSPECTION DONE. MY LAWYER SAYS; DON'T GO NEAR CORONA -- OF COURSE NOW HE TELLS ME. $18000 LATER; I HAVE A GOOD PLANE; ONE I CAN TAKE THE GRANDKIDS UP IN AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. BUT YOU; BUYING FOR THE FIRST TIME; SEE AN AVIATION LAWYER; SPEND $50 MORE AND HE WILL SEND YOU TO RESPONSIBLE DEALERS. DON'T GET SCREWED LIKE I DID!