The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Part # 0711006-1 Left step Assembly -- Saturday morning, one fat old pilot + 52 year old 170B = broken Step Assembly -- Time to go on diet.

I need help and/or advice. I really do not want to drill the six rivets holding this assembly to the fuselage because it only broke at the bend (joint) where one places foot. I am going back out to hanger to test if Aluminum or steel.

Question: What would you do? get someone to weld the crack and place a "strengthener" there with the weld or replace the entire assembly if possible?

Has anyone out there experienced this type of failure and if so what did you do?

Any advice is appreciated.

Additional info - checked with Cessan - not available
Checked with McFarlan - not available
Checked with Univair -Part Number: -0711006-1,CESSNA STEP $6,707.07

HOLY $HIT !!!!! $6.7 grand for one stinking step assembly???? What part of insane do I not understand?


Joel

N3437D

That step you got quoted a price on must have been made of platium Check the C-170 quarterly news and see Johnny Williams ad. He has steps that I think are supposed to be better quality than the originals. I am not home or I would give you the exact price, but I think they are $600+ each. Some other members can give better suggestions. Johnny is in San Angelo, TX.

I broke mine the same way last year. My A&P welded it up without removing the step from the airplane, painted it up, and it looks great. He used a TIG welder, I believe, and he added enough material to the joint to strengthen it for the future (I hope!). Since then I always use the hand-hold and try not to put too much weight on the step. I also try to keep my weight as close to the joint as possible when I climb on it. We gotta be gentle with these old machines!

John

I second what John said. Welded it back up with a splash of paint. Better than new. The extra bit if metal used to strengthen it is hardly noticable.

The steps are $250 each from Williams. He has an ad in TAP

Joel, I dont know about the later models but the ones I have seen were steel, my 48 is steel. If yours broke, it was about to break no matter how much senority the pilot had Just like the rest said, weld it up, it will be fine.

Well thanks all for the suggestions,

Took magnet out to hangar - yep its steel so that will make the weld easier.

The Univair ad had to be a misprint

Joel
N3437D

They are 4130 steel. I welded mine, if you need more material, you can buy the same stream-lined tubing from Spruce & Specialty.

Joe

Be sure to have the weldment done within "do it this way" in the aircraft repairs secton of 4313. Since it isn't a flight control or structural item, an owner manufactured part is permissible. Since it is the safety of your body while mounting the cabin, you want to make sure that the weld is properly applied and won't crystalize the 4130 tubing. Many years ago I repaired one of these and beefed it up by making a little "L" shaped insert to go inside the streamlined tubing and it added lots of extra strength.

Well "a day late and a dollar short" I thought about this taking all suggestions into account. When all said and done I went to local Metal fabricator got 12" x 1/4" 4130 (no charge). I ground down all sides to conform (somewhat) to smooth airflow. I preped the broken step by soaking with MEK and removing paint and primer - discovered that peg was never zinc chromated only sprayed with typical grey primer. Vertical portion of original peg was blemish free however horizontal portion (where foot goes) showed considerable rust but not to the point of weakening metal. Upon examination there appeared to be a tiny crack on the leading edge of verical piece right near the weld to the horizontal step. This probably lead to the failure - weld did NOT fail. Local av. shop did a great job on bending piece to match bend on step - weld was squeaky clean, zinc chromated and painted all in one day - total cost $163. The new assembly is A-bomb proof. Bring on those cheesburgers and fires!!! I'm good for another 200lbs.

flyguy wrote:... Since it isn't a flight control or structural item, an owner manufactured part is permissible. ....

Just to be accurate... the intended purpose of the part is not the determining factor as to whether or not the part may be "owner produced". (If you have the necessary information, a lot of patience, and the right materials to start with... you can take a file and emory and make a crankshaft if you like.)

Now, Ol'Gar knew this. I don't know why he tried to mislead you about it. We take regular classes on the subject and to show you how serious we are about keepin' up on these things, here we are getting our diplomas at the last FAA seminar we attended. (One of us has been drinkin' too much beer from green bottles, lately):

I have been thinking about simply removing the foot peg and closing up the hole. I hardly ever use it and I generally "bang" my shins on the end of the foot peg.

Is there any problem or negative with removing the foot peg or step that I should be aware?

I can't imagine any problem at all with removing it and closing up the hole wth a patch-plate. (I'd use tinnerman nuts to make it removeable for inspection because you can count on it, someone's going to get curious about it in the future.)
You've gotta have long legs to get into this thing gracefully without some sort of step tho'. I encourage you to have it replaced or repaired by welding.

gahorn wrote:(One of us has been drinkin' too much beer from green bottles, lately):

Since Gary took all the beer in green bottles from the convention, I assume that's George on the right.

Miles

I have NEVER in over 350 hours with my 170 used the steps!! I am just shy of 6' 4" (by 6 !/2" ) and just reach my short legs up and step in. It may be silly but I guess that I have always regarded those steps as something else expensive that I don't want to replace!
David