The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Recently we had a 172 [early model A] come into the shop and the owner complained about the rudder being biased to one side. Rudder trim [including springs] was checked out and found correct. then wing angle of incidence was checked ,within limits [one wing was at the extreme limits of the concentric bolt hole] . All tail feathers were then checked. all within limits. while the aircraft was in flight mode off the ground it was noticed one wing was slightly higher than the other . So a detailed inspection of the fuselage was started in case it had been twisted in a ground loop . The logs briefly said [very early in the history of the aircraft ] showed a trip into the weeds via a fence and all the repairs were carried out correctly to the point it wasn't picked up in the inspection. A strut inspection was then carried out AND it was noted very different part no,s on the struts. Right hand strut was correct and we measured from attachment hole to attachment hole the distance. The left hand strut had a number that we couldn't trace. [no such animal] plus it was about 1/2 in longer. So another strut was sourced [correct part number] and aircraft flew hands off beautifully. The owner said after wards that he had owned the aircraft for over 25 years and it had always flown that way but due to his advancing years had trouble with his leg holding the pressure on the rudder. So how many yearly inspections had this aircraft gone through without someone picking this up? While not documented, we think the strut was replaced when the aircraft had the trip off into the weeds.

One year I was at the annual fly-in at Merced,CA, and made it a point to look at all the other C-170s. One that we looked at had a definite dihedral-set on the wings that was easy to see. It did, however, have the wing and flaps of an "A" model. We looked all over, but could never find the owner to find out about it. As a result, I've always wondered if a set of "B" length struts could be installed on an "A" model airplane.
I do remember of reading about somebody having an "A" model strut on one side of a "B" model.

I remember sitting under the wing of a friends 170 drinking beer at Johnson Creek one Summer. He made some remark about his plane that included the tail number 9222A. I was sitting on the other side and asked: You mean 9922A don't you? He said "No 9222A" I said:" you must be drunk, it's 9922A". Sure enough, 9222A on one side and 9922A on the other and he had never noticed it.

Joe

I think we all know an A-model owner who had B-tail, wings, and strut..... until he conveniently got the ins. co. to buy it from him!

And a few years ago there was a B model in the Ohio-Pittsburg PA area with no dihedral due to A model struts being installed. I saw it at the Lock Haven Sentimental Journey fly-in. When I approached the owner knowing full well what was wrong, the owner would not acknowledge anything until I convinced him I was not a fed. The owner was surprised I knew what I was looking at. Said it flew fine.