Advice on buying a twin engine cessna

Question

I'm looking at buying a twin engine cessna. What is the most reliable? Performance wise and mechanical wise. I want something that handles good. with minimal mechanical problems.

Answer 1

The best advice is not to buy one.  Why would you want the cost and hassle?  You would be much better to buy a single engine aircraft like a GA8

Answer 2

You really need to be more specific in your question:

Mission Profile - where will be your home based?  Metropolitan Airport or private strip?  Size of the runway?  How many passengers will you be carrying?  Are you flying over Mountains or water?  Will you be going to higher altitudes - hence pressurized, distance you will be flying?

Now the Cessna Family:

300 Series

The 337 offered in normally aspirated, turbo charged, and turbo charged pressurized.  Has the advantage or center line thrust, but has mechanical issues with the landing gear (you will be spending money every year at the annual rigging the gear and gear doors), and the Continental Engine do not cool well and often do not make it to TBO.

The 310/320 Series - a good solid airplane - good speed, good performance and range.  Normally aspirated and turbo charged models.  I would suggest the 310Q or 310R.  As for turbo charged or not depends on your mission profile.

The Cessna 335 (Unpressurized) and the Cessna 340 Pressurized, a good airplane, good speed, performance.

The Cessna 303 This replaced the Cessna 310 line, a cabin class airplane, unpressurized, trailing link landing gear, turbo charged.

Now on the 300 Series of airplane insurance is a little easier and less expensive than a 400 Series.

The 400 Series

Stay away from the old 401 / 411 they had smaller rudders and where a bear to fly on one engine.  This can be corrected with vortex generator, but your yearly maintenance will be expensive.

The Cessna 402 and the 414 are basically the same airplane with the exception the 402 is not pressurized and the 414 is pressurized.  402 where popular with air charter and cargo companies.  The 414 was more popular as a corporate aircraft.  Both are good airplane, but if the airplane has not been maintained properly it can cost you a few bucks to bring it back into shape.

The Cessna 404 and 421 use the same basic fuselage as the 402 and 414 but there use the gear drive GTSIO-520 Engine and they are very sensitive to the way you fly.  If you do not step down your decent and watch your power setting carefully you will be replacing a cylinder or two at your yearly annual.

All in all depending again on your "Mission Profile" I would lean towards one of the following:

Cessna 303 the last new design to come out of Cessna, cabin class, unpressurized with good performance

Cessna 310Q, 310R the classic Cessna Twin, fly great carry a good load, a joy to fly

or the Cessna 340 (if you want pressurization)

Updated your question and maybe we can assist you further,  But remenber no matter what you buy if the previous owner has not been maintaining it properly it could eat you out of house and home to bring it up to par.  Make sure and do a good prebuy inspection.

Answer 3

The reason why he wants a twin engine is possibly because he wants a further range, and more options. I am no expert, aviation is simply a hobby of mine. I suggest however a Cessna 402.  

Answer 4

Have known a couple of Cessna 340 owners. Seems to be a good mix of features if you had to pick one of the twin Cessnas. Perhaps a Conquest.

Answer 5

Im selling a 1976 414. Everyone and their brother knows how to work on a 414 or 414A.

Answer 6

Wow....some great answer here very educated and informed....all I will add is that if you a realitivley new get someone to represent you in negotiation that can do a proper pre buy inspection of the aircraft , logs and documentation.

good luck

Answer 7

I see some good answers here, however I will not lean toward the idea of a twin cessna, of any type.

Twin Cessna's are not necessarily a bad option if you can find one that has  been maintained in a pristine condition.

The problem sits with the AD's on an airplane. and the twin cessna has plenty of them, (largely depending on which model of course)

The older 310's for example had many problems with spar corrosion, mostly due to the fact the exhaust was actually routed through the wing and out of the trailing edge.

This design was actually quite s**y and appealing to most pilots, it streamlines the airplane, and reduces stuff hanging from the bottom of the cowling.

Second--The main gear legs are long..which means problems can occur more easily with accidental sideloads (such as landing in a strong crosswind and not keeping the airplane down the centerline, making a fast turn while taxiing)

They have an AD for this that fixes the problem..but don't always be so sure that it has been completed, hence the pre-buy inspection.

As the models go up, some of the problems do too.

320's had the same problems the 310 did...same fixes..all is well there.

340's are possibly on the upside...BUT, they are pressurized (which means they are also turbo charged powerplants). This can lead to shorter TBO's, chance of shock cooling and just more maintenance...

I'm not even including the 335, or 337..the 335 is a fixed gear model of the 337...which is nicknamed the "torque twister" or "mix master"...

These things are obnoxiously loud...in and outside of the cabin...I have time in one...I dont care if I ever see one again...

The 401,402,404 series...all have had wing spar problems in the past.

Look up on the ntsb reports and see for yourself how many of these things have broken up in flight..quite a few actually..This was found to be caused by pilots exceeding the zero fuel weight of the airplane and getting into rough air.

414, now this one will probably give you the most bang for your buck...It is a nice looking airplane with a good reputation for holding together when times get rough...It is pressurized, so therefore it does have turbo charged engines...but, they are a good fit...the airplane is not underpowered..easier to manage your power and temps..to keep the engines running good between TBO's.

Lastly, the 421...sure..she is a beauty...but she is a maintenance hog...anytime you put big engines on an airplane..then slap gears on them to slow the prop down,,,you are asking for something to break...maybe not now, not next year...but it will be faster to strand you than a non geared engine...With all of this being said...I do not bash a Cessna twin...It is simply just an opinion from my having experience with several twin cessna's in the past...Good luck..and go with what YOU really want!

Jonathan S

ATP-LR-JET,HS-125,G-V

CFI/AGI

Answer 8

As mentioned, the reasons for buying a twin have to do with range, loading, and performance.

The question again revolves around your "mission profile."  What do you need the airplane for?  If it's for personal travel with friends and family, there are really two choices:  the 310 and the 337.

As we recently chatted about, the 337 Skymaster is a really fine choice for personal flying.  This is especially true if you can get one with an STOL conversion and upgraded engines.  Take a look at the Riley Skyrocket concept.  You can look it up under that name on the internet.

I think the Skyrocket (a modified 337) is the ultimate personal airplane, and can't be beat.  They are expensive.  Wish I could afford one, myself.  You can get in and out of a 1500 foot grass strip and cruise at 200kts at 25,000 feet.

If the centerline thrust idea doesn't ultimately flip your flipper, look at 310s.  The 310 is very conventional and has been around a long time, so most of the bugs have been worked out.  It is a handful of airplane for a low-time pilot.  Very fast, very slippery.  Doesn't want to slow down, and has a whiplash of a stall.

Also consider your passenger load.  If you have an aunt with a gimpy knee, she won't be able to get in and out.  In fact, the 310 is one of the hardest airplanes to get in and out of ever built.  But it is solid and durable, and, once you have some hours in it, very easy to fly.  The "R" model and later are the market's choice, but all of them are quite acceptable.  And there are many on the market, ranging from the late 1950s to the early 1980s.  A matter of the budget.

On the other hand, if you are looking to carry more people, then a cabin class Cessna twin is a great choice.  The 421 is the hot rod.  Very fast and amazingly easy to fly, but complex and costly to own.

The 402, 411, and related models are simpler and less costly to own and operate.  And you can carry 10 people and fly to the Bahamas.  And so on like that.  Start looking at ads for the various types on the internet.  Like "Cessna 421 for sale" will bring you up lots of ads.

Try searching by type on YouTube.  There are lots of video clips that will give you an idea of what each type is like.  You will notice that there are no more films of Skymasters falling apart or crashing than any other airplane.  If you want a personal and family airplane, the 337 is still my choice.

Good luck!