While shopping for my next plane (c182) how critical should i be of location even when hangared when evaluating salt / humidity exposure and future corrosion?

I see some planes available for sale in FL but promoting that prior to being in FL, it was based in the central US...once an aircraft gets exposed to salt / high humidity does the clock start ticking regardless of current condition?

If planes have spent most of their life within 50 miles of the east coast does that add any substantial corrosion risk or is it more related to how it is stored (I.e. hangared or not)?

Thx

Difficult to generalize. Best thing is to inspect. Take a look behind and around the instrument panel. Unzip the headliner and look at the spar carry through. Pretty hard to hide it in those places.

My mentor was a soft spoken man who seldom did more than hint at his opinion. He started working on planes in high school before WWII and continued through the war in the south pacific and for the rest of his life as an A&P IA. One strong opinion he was willing to share. "Never buy a plane from Florida".

Side note: In a rare moment of self reflection he once told me, "When the O-320 was first introduced (1955?) I had 20 years of aircraft engine overhauls under my belt" They worked on OX engines in the local trade HS (Benson Tech).

You should be very critical and wary.

Sounds like some nonsense. I've inspected quite a few planes that have lived their lives in the panhandle with no more or less corrosion than those from back home in Indiana. If it's hangared and had been taken care of I see no issues. A good corrosion treatment every few years does wonders. As with all things, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Careful inspection can give a good overall assessment on each airframe. As was alluded to, check the areas that aren't generally paid much attention to and you can get a general assessment of the overall health of the airframe. The engines can be a little harder to get a feel for but planes that are flown regularly have no issues. The planes that sit outside have more issues than anything. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an aircraft that's been in Florida.

Aryana wrote:

After seeing some truly awful corrosion in Florida here's my decision tree...

First question: What do you (seller) use for corrosion protection? (If mumbles => WALK)
Second question: How often do you apply anti corrosion treatments? (Annually, every 2 years, etc. If not annually or if unclear => see No. 1 above).
Third question: May I see your maintenance logs? (If no or spotty corrosion treatment history => see No 1 above).
Fourth question: When and where can my AI and I do a thorough inspection? (If not convenient or Seller waffles => see No 1 above).


Only after all of the above four steps are completed and you (buyer) are satisfied there is no corrosion would I consider making an offer.

Too many good corrosion free aircraft available on the market to waste time on ones that need work.

That may change in the future if demand is greater than supply, but unless repair and restoration is a labor of love for you, it makes no sense.

Right now there are more airplanes on the market than people willing to pay for them and fly them.

Aryana wrote:Too many good corrosion free aircraft available on the market to waste time on ones that need work.

That may change in the future if demand is greater than supply, but unless repair and restoration is a labor of love for you, it makes no sense.

Right now there are more airplanes on the market than people willing to pay for them and fly them.

I fully agree. I am really trying to assess risk of future corrosion. If a plane is in FL today with no visible corrosion is it more likely to develop it 5-10 years from now vs a plane that is in the Midwest? My gut says yes but my gut Is not basing that on data.

DJ Balla wrote:

Aryana wrote:Too many good corrosion free aircraft available on the market to waste time on ones that need work.

That may change in the future if demand is greater than supply, but unless repair and restoration is a labor of love for you, it makes no sense.

Right now there are more airplanes on the market than people willing to pay for them and fly them.

I fully agree. I am really trying to assess risk of future corrosion. If a plane is in FL today with no visible corrosion is it more likely to develop it 5-10 years from now vs a plane that is in the Midwest? My gut says yes but my gut Is not basing that on data.

If the plane is clean, I'd get it on a program of ACF-50 every other annual and not think about it anymore.
A few years in Florida isn't a death sentence by any means.

My last 170 spent nearly it's whole life outside on the East coast in that Severe area without any issues outside of what every other 60 year old airplane contends with.