Pre-buy inspection checklist for a used Citation CJ3+
What a thorough pre-buy inspection covers on a light jet, who should do it, and what the logbooks must show before you wire a deposit.
Why the pre-buy matters
A pre-buy inspection is the single best protection against expensive surprises. Use a shop with no relationship to the seller and plan 2–5 days on the ground.
What the inspection covers
Airframe and corrosion
Wing attach points, gear wells and the pressure vessel. Any damage history must match the registry record.
Engines
Trend data, hot-section status and any programme coverage.
Logbooks
Airframe, engine and propeller logs must be complete. Gaps are a negotiation point at best and a walk-away at worst.
Before you wire anything
Use a licensed escrow agent and read the closing guide.
Questions & answers
Who should perform the pre-buy inspection?
A maintenance shop with no relationship to the seller. BuyJet does not vet or recommend providers; the Jet360 directory lists firms that advertise with us.
Related guides
Buying a used helicopter: a pre-purchase checklist
Component times, dynamic-component life limits, logbooks and the inspection that matters most before you commit to a used helicopter.
How aircraft escrow protects buyers and sellers
What an escrow agent holds, when money and title move, and the wire-fraud habits that keep a deposit safe.