Looking to buy a '80 Dakota. Will have a full pre-buy done by an A&P of course, but are there any Dakota specific tips for my own visual inspection or consideration? This will be my 8th Piper (mostly Seneca IIs) and have not owned a Dakota.
The Dakota prebuy is just like any other PA28: Check the logs to make sure SB1006 has been done in the last 7 years. If not you and the seller can negotiate who pays for the inspection but make sure it gets done and that the seller is on the hook for repairs. It's rare but you could be looking at new wings. Inspect the wing root attach bolts. Oil hoses on the engine are supposed to be replaced every seven years. Check the wing walk for flex (broken supports) when you step on it. The only Dakota-specific thing to watch out for is checking the engine mount and firewall for bending/warping from hard nose-first landings. The airplane is nose-heavy and it has its share of problems. It takes a lot of abuse but still worth checking.
I have a 79 dakota here is my list of things to look for
1) Brakes, undersized for the place so check rotors and pads closely check puck for leakage due to overheating or glazing
2) Airleron bearings, about the age where they may be a little sloppy, also check stabilitor bearings, both sets on my place had to be replace this year, was not a big deal.
3) A/C, I yanked mine more trouble than it is worth, be sure the right freon is in the system, some have made the conversion inproperly, also check pulleys and idler bearing
4) lower cowl for heat damage from stack, very close, blistering may indicate more serious problems
5) Check starting gear for sticking, also be sure you have copper battery leads, check ring gear for serious wear, result of starting gear dragging
6) oil lines and fuel line(include fire sleeve)
7) Check for front wheel shimmy, see torque link bushings haev ever been replaced and when
8) check front baffle structure for cracking, pretty common since some wt is placed on front baffles from cowl
Dave Wrote:
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> Anyone? :)
Just did an owner assist on my 79 Dakota so this one is fresh in my mind. There are 2 plates under the fuselage about in the center of where the wing attaches. It's a little 3" by 3" plate that comes off with a few screws.
