Buying a used aircraft with poor documentation

[SHIPCHIEF]

I looked at a nice older homebuilt hot rod the other day. This is NOT an RV, however is a similar type.

It was being sold by the widow of the builder. Her son was assisting with the sale, but they are frankly 'way over their heads' trying to sell this plane.
Very friendly and honest, they are unaware of the administrative and inspection requirements, anything to do with aircraft...anything.
The builder owner lost his medical a few years after completing, registering and flying the plane, then he appearantly continued to fly it off and on for about 15 years without further log entries.
The triannual registration date has not yet expired.
There are lots of pages of plans, brochures for bits and pieces, letters pertaining to registration, and also state tax records. Intersperced are letters regarding loss of medical etc.
there is no builders log.
What if this is a nice restorable plane? What would be a list of important documents and procedures to get legal and safe?

[Ron Lee]

Even if you do not buy it, advise them of the cheap reregistration process.

[Andrew M]

Registration, airworthiness certificate, and condition inspection. I'm pretty sure that's all that is required. Getting a condition inspection without good times might be tough. Hobbs or Tach? See if the FAA has any thing that will help reconstruct times and or logs. Good luck.

[NickAir]

One option for info:
There is professional help for this issue, accessable with a membership to EAA as well as AOPA. You can talk to live people about it to help. In addition to the other posts, an airframe, engine, and prop log would be nice to find. Good luck.

[Ironflight]

Remember to get the Ops Limitations - they are technically part of the Airworthiness Certificate, but because they are a sheet of paper rather than a little pink slip, they are frequently misplaced by owners....and especially by non-builder owners.

We are in a very similar situation with the RV-1 (many, many years out of inspection), and we are having DAR Mel Asberry get it sorted out.

Paul

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Remember to get the Ops Limitations - they are technically part of the Airworthiness Certificate, but because they are a sheet of paper rather than a little pink slip, they are frequently misplaced by owners....and especially by non-builder owners.

We are in a very similar situation with the RV-1 (many, many years out of inspection), and we are having DAR Mel Asberry get it sorted out.

Paul

Would the approved Ops Limitations be on the $5 FAA CD of aircraft documents?

[Mel]

Originally Posted by az_gila

Would the approved Ops Limitations be on the $5 FAA CD of aircraft documents?

They should be.

[DonFromTX]

Keep in mind that you can make an aircraft registration for a box of rivets if you wish and have $5. The Airworthiness Certificate however can be difficult to obtain.

[Geico266]

Lost AW Certs can be duplicated at your local FSDO. Contact them for the info you need.