These two get used interchangeably, and they shouldn't be. One examines the airplane. The other examines its history. Smart buyers use both — usually in a specific order.
When you're buying a used aircraft, "get it checked out" can mean two very different things. Understanding the difference saves you money and keeps you from skipping the step that catches the most expensive surprises.
The short version
What it examines
The paperwork — the aircraft's documented history and compliance.What it examines
The physical airplane — airframe, engine, systems, hands-on.Where
Remote. Done from scanned records, anywhere in the country.Where
In person. Someone has to be at the airplane.Cost & speed
Lower cost, fast turnaround.Cost & speed
Higher cost, plus travel and shop time.Catches
Damage history, ADs, missing records, undocumented overhauls, continuity problems.Catches
Corrosion, compression, wear, leaks, deferred maintenance you can see and feel.Why the logbook review usually comes first
Here's the logic I give every buyer: the records review is remote, fast, and inexpensive. A physical pre-buy means either flying yourself to the airplane or paying a mechanic to travel to it, then paying for shop time. If the logbooks are going to kill the deal — an uncomplied AD, a hidden gear-up, missing books — you want to find that out before you spend money getting to the airplane, not after.
So the efficient order is: review the records first. If the history is clean and the airplane still looks like the one for you, then commit to the physical pre-purchase inspection. Think of the logbook review as the filter that decides which airplanes are worth flying out to see.
Do you need both?
For most purchases, yes — they catch different things, and neither replaces the other. A beautiful airplane with bad paperwork is a bad buy, and a clean set of logbooks doesn't tell you whether there's corrosion in the belly today. But if you're early in the process, comparing several candidates, or the airplane is far away, the logbook review is the smart, low-cost first move on every one of them.
Who should do each
Both should be done by someone qualified and, ideally, independent of the sale. For the records review, you want a mechanic who reads logbooks regularly and knows what a clean history looks like versus a dressed-up one. For the physical inspection, you want an A&P — preferably one familiar with the type — putting hands and eyes on the actual aircraft. As an A&P/IA who owns and flies my own airplane, I do both, and I'll always tell you honestly which one your situation calls for.
Start with the records.
A logbook review is the cheapest, fastest way to find out whether an airplane is worth pursuing. I'll read the maintenance records and give you a written report — before you spend a dollar on travel.
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