Cessna 165 Airmaster Insurance Cost

Cessna 165 Airmaster Overview:

Even people unfamiliar with aviation know the name Cessna. Frequently used as a generic term for any small general aviation plane, Clyde Cessna began building aircraft of his own design in 1911 and incorporated the Cessna Aircraft Company in 1927. The Model A, Model CW-6, and finally Model DC-6 (not to be confused with the later Douglas airliner) were some of the first cabin-equipped monoplanes produced but the market crash of 1929 and subsequent economic depression ended production of all of these aircraft early in serial production, and Cessna officially closed their doors in 1932.

By 1934, the United States economy had slowly begun to crawl back. Cessna reopened with a small staff, and set to work producing a slightly more modern version of their earlier four-seat aircraft. Design work was headed by Clyde Cessna’s nephew, Dwane Wallace, and the new model, known originally as the C-34, would be loosely based on the earlier Cessna cabin airplanes but would incorporate more passenger comforts and aerodynamic modifications including a cowled engine to boost speed as a result of Cessna’s air racing experience.

The fuselage and wing design were roughly borrowed from the A-series, maintaining the characteristic narrow windows and high mounted all-wood wing. The fuselage used a steel tubing structure covered with fabric. Cessna selected the seven-cylinder Warner Super Scarab radial engine, a derivative of the Scarab used on the earlier A-series, producing 145 horsepower initially. The aircraft included a basic electrical system and sufficient fuel for over four hours in the air. The design was dubbed the Airmaster, the first production Cessna aircraft to be assigned an official name in addition to a model number.

A single rear entry door was provided, then all occupants climbed forward into their respective seats. The original C-34 version was followed by subsequent models providing more cabin space, more docile landing gear, and flaps to help the aircraft land in a shorter distance. Over the course of production, one of the main improvements was continually improving Warner engines, with the last version producing 175 horsepower from the same Super Scarab engine.

A total of 183 Airmasters of all versions were produced before the outbreak of World War II shut down production as Cessna rapidly retooled for warplanes. Over 50 remain registered in the United States, with an unknown total still flying. The remaining specimens have frequently been upgraded with better brakes, more robust electrical systems to support modern radios, and modern seat belts to increase safety in the event of an accident.

Cessna 165 Airmaster Insurance Cost:

Aviation insurance in general, is a very specialized industry and premiums vary depending on make and model of the aircraft, hull value, use of the aircraft, pilot history and qualifications and aircraft insurance rates even take into account the loss history of each specific make and model and the loss history of the aviation industry as a whole.

Cessna 165 Airmaster insurance, like all aviation insurance, is broken down into 2 specific coverages. The first is Liability Coverage, which is standard on every aircraft insurance policy and the second is optional hull coverage, which covers damage to the aircraft itself.

Cessna 165 Airmaster aviation liability insurance covers damage caused by the aircraft, outside of the aircraft, specifically property damage, bodily injury, and provides for legal defense in the event that the aircraft owner or policyholder is sued.

Aircraft liability insurance is typically offered for Cessna 165 Airmaster’s at $1,000,000 per occurrence (per incident) and includes coverage for passengers, but typically limits that amount to between $100,000 and $1,000,000 per passenger. Passenger liability coverage is included within the total liability coverage amount.

A real-world example of how this aviation liability coverage would protect you: If, as a result of operating your Cessna 165 Airmaster you damaged property or caused bodily injury outside of the aircraft, you would have the full amount of total liability coverage to pay for damages that occurred, less the liability amount paid for passengers inside the aircraft. If the aircraft crashed and you had passengers inside the aircraft that were injured, your insurance policy would pay up to the policy passenger limit for each passenger.

This liability coverage also applies as a bubble that follows the aircraft around. If the aircraft is hangered, liability coverage extends throughout your hangar and it is this coverage that airports will typically require you to have. It’s not a separate insurance policy, it is actually coverage built into your standards airplane insurance policy.

Other liability options: Higher liability coverage on the Cessna 165 Airmaster may be available to qualified pilots with experience in the make and model and a minimum Private License/IFR rating.

The second coverage on a Cessna 165 Airmaster insurance policy is hull coverage and is an optional coverage. Aircraft hull insurance covers damage to the aircraft itself and is an agreed value, not subject to depreciation. Agreed value is decided during the initial insurance quoting process, the aircraft owner requests an insurance quote for his or her Cessna 165 Airmaster and requests a quote including hull coverage in the amount of say $78,000. Once an aviation insurance company provides a quote, they are agreeing with you that your aircraft is worth $78,000.
*Insurance companies may place additional stipulations on quotes to prove the value of your aircraft prior to binding, if your agreed value is higher than bluebook.

Most aviation insurance companies do not offer deductibles higher than $0 deductibles, which means in the event of a total loss, if your aircraft was insured for $78,000, you would get a straight check for $78,000.

Cessna 165 Airmaster Insurance Cost Breakdown:

As of January 2021, there are 8 carriers quoting Cessna 165 Airmaster insurance in the U.S. We consider qualified pilots to have at least a Private License with 200 total hours, 100 tailwheel hours and 25 hours in the make/model.

For an annual policy with $1,000,000 in liability only coverage.
 Premium range for qualified pilots: $450-$600 per year.
 Premium range for less than qualified pilots (low-time/etc): $675-950 per year.

For an annual policy with $1,000,000 in liability coverage and $78,000 in hull coverage
 Premium range for qualified pilots: $1,200-$2,800 per year.
 Premium range for less than qualified pilots (low-time/etc): $2,950-$6,700 per year.

BWI is a family-owned, nationwide insurance brokerage specializing in aviation insurance since 1977. Our dedicated Aviation Insurance Professionals are highly trained, hand-picked and experienced in helping Cessna 165 Airmaster owners and operators obtain the very best insurance coverage.

BWI offers comprehensive Cessna 165 Airmaster insurance policies for personal, business, charter, industrial aid, and commercial aviation uses.

For more information or to get an actual Cessna 165 Airmaster insurance quote, please fill out a quote request online here or call us at 800.666.4359