The International Cessna 170 Association

I've recently purchased a 1949 Cessna 170A. A friend of mine also has a 1949. His flaps lock in the up position mine do not. if the wind is blowing from behind it will blow then down and they will spring back up, is something wrong with my flaps?

Thanks, Don

Okay, I've read through some older posts, I see what's going on. just a bad design.

Dferr34 wrote:I've recently purchased a 1949 Cessna 170A. A friend of mine also has a 1949. His flaps lock in the up position mine do not. if the wind is blowing from behind it will blow then down and they will spring back up, is something wrong with my flaps?

Thanks, Don

My ‘51 A model was the same way when I bought it. There are adjustable tabs and small spring loaded latches that act as up-locks and disengage at the slightest pull of the flap bar from inside, but work to protect from flapping in a tailwind when parked. After some adjustment, mine now work like new. They are located at the inboard side of the flap by the actuator arm through an access panel on the top side of the wing.

Many owners of 170/170A aircraft deploy full flaps to prevent damage from tailwinds, prop-blasts, helicopters, etc when tied down.

I checked out my flaps and found the J shaped bracket with the two holes that bolts to the side is missing on both sides. is this a part I can still find? Or would it have to be fabricated by an A&P mechanic? Thanks, Don

A part must be made using an approved method. One of those methods is an Owner Produced Part. An A&P can't just make a part. You could have your A&P make a part so long as you comply with the Owner Produced Part algorithm.

Here is a thread on the topic of Owner Produced Parts. viewtopic.php?f=43&t=2567&hilit=Owner+produced

Dferr34 wrote:I checked out my flaps and found the J shaped bracket with the two holes that bolts to the side is missing on both sides. is this a part I can still find? Or would it have to be fabricated by an A&P mechanic? Thanks, Don

(Bruces exacting, absolutely-correct, legaleazed answer is translated to: Yes, your A&P can make this part for you under your authority as Owner. )

You will have to provide the pattern, or specifications, or a part to reverse-engineer to your A&P and a written request to him to dot the I and cross the T.

Does anyone Know of a place to find these parts used?

You might try Del-Air in Porterville, CA. Haven’t been by there in a while but they had a large inventory of older Cessna parts and possibly could assist in fabricating a replacement. Also T&M Aviation in Ukiah, CA might be a resource. If my memory serves they offered service and recovering Cessna flight controls. I’m sure the association discussions on owner produced parts are excellent and here’s another useful link.

https://resources.savvyaviation.com/wp- ... -parts.pdf