Leading edge landing light

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

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hilltop170
Posts: 3485
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by hilltop170 »

Out of the seven planes I have purchased for my own use, EVERY ONE had either missing, incorrect, or incomplete paperwork and logbooks! Some vastly worse than others but EVERY problem got corrected with various levels of anxiety, effort, money, and time. The FAA helped in each case and went out of their way to assist in making the planes airworthy once they realized I wanted to make them legal as well.

The worst was a PA-18-105 Special Super Cub that I bought a 1/3 share with two neighbors who had the plane for 20 years and had it annualled by the same IA until I bought in. I was told the paperwork was in good shape and I said I would like to take a look. The IA quit and we never saw him again. The Cub had 32 items that each one caused the plane to be unairworthy. The 150hp engine and airframe data plate were illegal as were the wings, flaps, prop, tires, wheels/brakes, elevators, rudder, etc, etc, etc.

In the end, the effort spent was well worth it on each plane, well maybe not on the Cub, but at least when we sold it, it WAS lagal.

p.s. BL- I'm posting this while eating lunch in Grants Pass.
Last edited by hilltop170 on Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
bagarre
Posts: 2615
Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:35 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by bagarre »

hilltop170 wrote: The Cub had 32 items that each one caused the plane to be unairworthy.
And yet the plane flew safely for 20 years :roll:

Not that I think repairs or modifications shouldn't be documented but, I do think the FAA takes itself too seriously with GA airplanes.
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GAHorn
Posts: 21304
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by GAHorn »

bagarre wrote:
hilltop170 wrote: The Cub had 32 items that each one caused the plane to be unairworthy.
And yet the plane flew safely for 20 years :roll:

Not that I think repairs or modifications shouldn't be documented but, I do think the FAA takes itself too seriously with GA airplanes.
How do you know it flew "safely"? All we really know is that it did not fly "fatally".
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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dpowell
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:44 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by dpowell »

PS. I never did use that stc for the light. During all the "research" I found that my installed wing landing lights worked beautifully after I rewound the motors. When I find some time I will write about the process and send a few pics(if I can figure out how to post them).
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