Hey all-
I’m 18 months into a 3 man partnership in a well equipped 421. During Covid we flew a lot as a family (4 kids) but now everyone is back in school and our mission has changed for the foreseeable future. I don’t see us flying nearly as many hours and the ownership costs of the 421 are not justifiable. The plane is amazingly capable, but as I’ve had been warned, it is very expensive to own and needs a lot of unscheduled maintenance. Parts are hard to come by and very expensive. Plus, it’s just not built to Beechcraft standards which again, I knew going in.

I know the first year of ownership is always more expensive with catch up maintenance, so this number may be high, but for 75 hours the past year it has cost about $1000/ hour.
If down the road I get back into a pressurized plane I would like to consider the p baron. Can anyone comment on the costs between owning a p baron and a 421?

If you buy junk with deferred MX AND maintain it to low standards then yes it’s expensive.

Parts are not hard to get and the average maintenance for a PBaron , Duke or 421C are about the same.

I have thousands of hours in my 421C and NEVER had a AOG.

Did you see that MU2 that Zastrow has for sale?

Respectfully Gerald, we bought the best 421 we could find and while it did have deferred maintenance, it is far from junk. It’s probably one of the nicest in the country right now. Squak free. Every system works. But then something new always seems to break. So you’re saying if kept to the same standards, in the same condition, they’re all about the same cost to own and operate?

We did indeed Jesse. Very tempting.

If the plane REALLY IS IN THAT GOOD OF CONDITION then something is seriously wrong with your maintenance program.

Its alot like shopping at Tiffany's.

If you have to ask......

A friend of mine with a very nice appearing, not neglected 414 just spent $80,000 in a year for fixing things that broke. It was not his first year, he had put a new panel and other big upgrades a few years prior. He was so disappointed he is buying a turbine.

Not saying a $75k or $80k year is normal, but also not the only story I’ve heard.

Perhaps you’d be kind enough to share your annual costs?

I fly it about 200 hours per year. The first annual the one that should fix everything was 60,000.

For the last seventeen years each year a low of 8,000 and a high of 12,000.

Buy the MU2

Or an 01 or 02 or 03 Meridian near TBO and do a hot section under the advisement of specialty turbine.

Yes I know I’m not answering your question.

Had a P and spent a ton on getting the engines balanced and cool and to where they would run LOP and cool.

Sold it after I bought the Meridian. 2 months later one of the engines started making metal…

Thanks Ryan. I think you’re correct. The meridian just doesn’t have the useful load for when we do take family trips with all the kids. Can’t justify an M600 or TBM.

Guy, The only thing I can add as having a 421 since 1999 is I would never judge the costs in a partnership. All the partners will break something. Mine almost never breaks. But since jumping on the wagon to turbinehood jet, you are lucky your costs are just 1,000 per hour. Mine were never that high single owner 421.

Thanks Rocky. What are you flying now? Sounds fast.

Buy my old MU2.