Leading edge landing light

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

User avatar
dpowell
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:44 am

Leading edge landing light

Post by dpowell »

Trying to find out if the stc # 106 is the correct one for a '48 C170 with metalized wings. I would like to replace the inoperative grimes units. Also, the fuel cap for the r/h tank came from a C195 or something according to the previous owner. It is about 4" in diameter and has a bar in the center that you twist 90 degrees to lock it down. Pretty sure it is not original. Leaks like crazy. Is there a source for the original type, satisfactory replacement etc., and if the tank is vented does the fuel cap require a vent :?: ? Thanks
User avatar
n3833v
Posts: 858
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 6:02 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by n3833v »

On the fuel cap, replace the oring on the center bolt and should solve the leak. If outer gasket is leaking, automotive store should have large flat gaskets for fuel filter cans that will work.

John
John Hess
Past President 2018-2021
President 2016-2018, TIC170A
Vice President 2014-2016, TIC170A
Director 2005-2014, TIC170A
N3833V Flying for Fun
'67 XLH 900 Harley Sportster
EAA Chapter 390 Pres since 2006
K3KNT
Fearless Tower
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:01 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by Fearless Tower »

I have the leading edge landing light installed on my '48 (installed when they metalized the wing in 1961), and have the 337 for it in front of me.

It refers to it as 'Skycraft Designs, Inc Supplementary Type Certificate SA1-647'

As for the fuel tank caps, both of mine are exactly what you describe - I never thought of them as non-original, but I haven't looked at alot of other '48s to compare. My left one leaks, but the right one seems to hold up just fine.
Andrew Hochhaus
N3996V - 1948 170
Fearless Tower
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:01 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by Fearless Tower »

Here is a copy of the STC for the '48 posted on another thread here:

http://www.cessna170.org/forums/downloa ... &mode=view
Andrew Hochhaus
N3996V - 1948 170
User avatar
dpowell
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:44 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by dpowell »

Thanks for the replies and info. :)
User avatar
minton
Posts: 764
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:20 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by minton »

Does it cover -A and -B's?? It would be a good one for an extra light on the other wing!
User avatar
dpowell
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:44 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by dpowell »

Hi folks,
I understand that I must get hold of the people that was issued the stc and buy the rights from them. In the case of the landing light in the leading edge it seems that the certificate was issued to Skycraft Corp of Medford, MA. Cant seem to find them on the internet. There was one number listed in a different state but had been disconnected. Anyone know how to proceed in trying to get the stc ? :?
Fearless Tower
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:01 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by Fearless Tower »

dpowell wrote:Hi folks,
I understand that I must get hold of the people that was issued the stc and buy the rights from them. In the case of the landing light in the leading edge it seems that the certificate was issued to Skycraft Corp of Medford, MA. Cant seem to find them on the internet. There was one number listed in a different state but had been disconnected. Anyone know how to proceed in trying to get the stc ? :?
AFAIK, Skycraft doesn't exist anymore.....one of the reasons that no one can find good documentation on the metalized wing conversions.

Hopefully George or someone will come along with a recommendation on how to get a current STC, if it is even possible.
Andrew Hochhaus
N3996V - 1948 170
User avatar
Bruce Fenstermacher
Posts: 10426
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by Bruce Fenstermacher »

If you can't find the owner, you can't get an STC, ever. It is that simple. In fact the FAA won't even give you any information, like installation drawings for continued airworthiness that they might have.

This is one of the problems with STC's and for aging aircraft it is a growing problem.

The next problem is the FAA won't recognize the STC owner is non existent and therefor the STC not supported and unobtainable. If you were to ask for a one time modification approval for the same modification, they won't approve it, instead telling you to buy the STC, that you can't buy.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!

Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
User avatar
jrenwick
Posts: 2045
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:34 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by jrenwick »

Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:If you can't find the owner, you can't get an STC, ever. It is that simple. In fact the FAA won't even give you any information, like installation drawings for continued airworthiness that they might have.

This is one of the problems with STC's and for aging aircraft it is a growing problem.

The next problem is the FAA won't recognize the STC owner is non existent and therefor the STC not supported and unobtainable. If you were to ask for a one time modification approval for the same modification, they won't approve it, instead telling you to buy the STC, that you can't buy.
Makes sense, in a legal sort of way. The FAA can't give away a person's private property, and it's awfully hard to prove the nonexistence of something (e.g. a will somewhere, conferring ownership of the STC to persons unknown). That's where type clubs can really help, by accepting donations of STCs from their holders. Even then, some of them are bound to get lost. I don't know the answer to this very real problem.
John Renwick
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
User avatar
Bruce Fenstermacher
Posts: 10426
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by Bruce Fenstermacher »

Yes John in a legal sort of way it is a problem and I didn't think the FAA should just give out the STC. However there is a point if there is no declared ownership that I think think the info should be released. Kind of like our airplane registration, there should be mandatory reregistration to retain ownership of STCs. If one can't bother to claim ownership, just like our airplanes registration, it is lost.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!

Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 21304
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by GAHorn »

One of the legal problems with FAA giving out STC info which belongs to lost/deceased owners is..... the STC is still owned by the estate of the noncommunicative person. 1-Who is going to be responsible for the engineering of that STC if FAA "gives" it away? 2-What if the person (or the heirs/assigns) is still around but doesn't want to issue anymore?
3-What if an unforeseen problem with an STC develops. Who will be responsible?

If a legitimate owner of an aircraft which was modified in accordance with an STC loses the documentation....then that's no different than the loss of original logbooks. The airplane will have to be inspected and new logs developed. (The potential loss of the STC documentation, and/or the death/disappearance of an STC-holder, is something every owner must consider when he undertakes to modify the aircraft. (Guard your documents! Make copies!)

I agree with the FAA policy. If anyone wishes to duplicate an STC...all they have to do is develop their own data and make application.
'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. ;)
User avatar
Bruce Fenstermacher
Posts: 10426
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by Bruce Fenstermacher »

George the government is not concerned with estates, heirs or even living owners who do not reregister their aircraft, and the government will then take the aircraft registration. Why should STCs be different. Reregister your STC in order to establish ownership. Those with no active ownership, that are not being supported the government should release information for continued airworthiness of aircraft.

I'm not saying the government should give away an STC, in other words assign another owner. But at some point with no owner stepping forward STCs should fall into the public domain.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!

Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
User avatar
blueldr
Posts: 4442
Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 3:16 am

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by blueldr »

!. Install the landing light in the leading edge.
2. Beg or borrow a copy of the STC and make a very bad, hard to read, copy.
3. ditto the 337
4. stuff them in with the other paperwork.
5. It all came that way with the airplane when you got it.
BL
N2625U
Posts: 188
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:21 pm

Re: Leading edge landing light

Post by N2625U »

blueldr wrote:!. Install the landing light in the leading edge.
2. Beg or borrow a copy of the STC and make a very bad, hard to read, copy.
3. ditto the 337
4. stuff them in with the other paperwork.
5. It all came that way with the airplane when you got it.
Won't be the first time THAT has been done...
Keep your speed up, Blackhawk on final behind you.
Post Reply
Cessna® is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc. The International Cessna® 170 Association is an independent owners/operators association dedicated to C170 aircraft and early O-300-powered C172s. We are not affiliated with Cessna® or Textron Aviation, Inc. in any way.