The International Cessna^® 170 Association

With a crack, like you describe, in that bracket, I would offer an opinion that now is the time to do the annual, not late March and do the repair at the same time. Waiting until late March to save a few bucks since the current annual is good till April is risking a much larger expense if the bracket breaks. If the IA doesn't want to do the repair its time to find a new IA.

Ryan, if I offered an opinion how urgent this crack is, i'd be opening a can of worms.

But I can tell you that many many 170s I inspect have cracked tail wheel brackets or components thereof.

How concerning it is from a safety point for me is dependent on where the crack is. If it is in the corners of the aft tab on the top piece where the U bolt clamp goes around, I personally would not be very concerned.

I'm not talking of course about what would be considered airworthy which is another can of worms.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that when the supply of these parts is depleted, which could be any day at the rate I hear people looking for them, cracks in certain areas will be accepted as being unavoidable.

BTW the original steel tail wheel bracket found on 170s serial 20807 and prior, is still available. Yes the later was suppose to be an improvement. Yet there are still many old steel brackets is service. Makes you wonder if a new old steel bracket might not last the next 60 years.

What Bruce said.
I'd also offer a picture is worth a lot less guessing but it really comes down to who will sign.
Everyone should have the opportunity to judge at a convention, the spot landing contest. Tailwheel's work hard and fast.
Almost any crack is worth a stop drill first before ripping into it, almost being the wiggle word.