Check on hoser's board. I think there are some guys that live in PA that may be able to direct you to a reputable shop, or help you with the inspection process. A honda shop most likely won't be much help since Honda hasn't sold pilots for 15 years.
Some things to look for
Overall condition of machine:
Rust...some is to be expected especially at the welds
bent cage....been rolled in the past and the frame way or may not be bent
missing pieces...self explanatory
Engine...do a compression check should be between 145-150
Brakes...do they work??? How what condition is the rear rotor in?
Suspension:
Inspect the tie rods...are they bent???
look at the tie rod boots...are there any torn?
CV boots...are they torn?
shocks...are they leaking oil?
A-Arms bent?
Rear control arms bent?
Electrical:
do ALL the lights work...even the reverse light?
is the correct size battery installed?
Steering...is the steering tight?
Safety:
Does the harness function correctly?
are the wrist restraints in place?
Of course pictures of the Pilot would be a great help in determining the overall quality of the machine.
What are you looking for? A Perfect Pilot? or one that is mechanically sound, but needs cosmetic work? Or a pilot that you can get for cheap, but needs a lot of work?
You can go here and download a manual for the pilot.
http://g2-innovations.com/gentech/manuals.htmMy advise would be to read over chapter 3. You can pretty much plan on doing everything in that chapter to ANY pilot when you get it.