The International Cessna 170 Association

Hello again,

I am progressing well through my 48' that sat out for 25 years and am at a point I need some advice. I have the tail cone off the clean corrosion and to replace the stiffeners in the rear. As I am ready to reassemble the tail end I realize I need an access point in the area or I am going to have to once again place my person in a crapped place while my assistant pounds rivets and as I reinstalled pulleys, cables and such. I saw the document here that listed a 3 1/2" x 4" opening in the side, however when I account for the 1" stiffener needed this places the opening a good ways up the side of the fuselage. I made my first trip to Sun-and -fun this year and saw a beautiful 170A with a round access point further back but up on the the top of fuselage. Is this an option for me? I live in FL and Oompa Loompa's are currently unavailable. My chiropractor told me if I keep crawling in the back of the plane he will get to buy a new car this year. Any suggestions are greatly welcomed.

Arthur

I had a Member contact me about accessing his tailcone for visual inspection and I suggested he use the existing hole in item 54. He replied his airplane did NOT have this access/inspection hole.

Apparently his airplane had an undocumented repair in which that skin had been replaced entirely…sans that inspection-hole (see items 55 and 56)…
…(or it had been left-out at assembly..(?)

Is yours missing also?

That inspection hole is not shown on the '48 C-170 or the C-170A IPC.

I have nothing there, however, I now have this drawing and can get me one. Thank you for the help. I'll send you pictures of my progress to date, as soon as I finish the fuselage repairs im going to the tail feather then wings. Thank you for all the help, seems no matter what I ask you are always one of those who has an answer or suggestion.
regards,
Arthur

Here’s a pic of it on my 170-B for location purposes…. and here is where they did it in the “scab plate” on a C-172-C…DESPITE the fact the C172 IPC shows it to be in exactly the SAME place as on the 170B:

n2582d wrote:That inspection hole is not shown on the '48 C-170 or the C-170A IPC.

And yet, my '50 170A has one in that location. I have never looked in the IPC at that page, so was not aware it was not supposed to be there.

I don’t think those doublers on the horizontal bulkhead will be found in the IPC either but who cares, as long as stuff works.

wabuchanan wrote:

n2582d wrote:That inspection hole is not shown on the '48 C-170 or the C-170A IPC.

And yet, my '50 170A has one in that location. I have never looked in the IPC at that page, so was not aware it was not supposed to be there.

The IPCs (Illustrated Parts Catalogs) are NOT approved documents. They are CATALOGS (not manuals) for Ordering Parts only…Not for assembly instructions or certifications. While they are helpful and informative….They are well-known to include many errors and omissions.
(My use and posting of them are for illustrative purposes only…that word being in their Title.)

My 48 has this access panel. I have no idea if it left the factory this way

Thank you everyone for the replies. It has been very helpful.
Arthur