Max Landing Weight

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
User avatar
Wyoming1
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2021 7:23 am

Max Landing Weight

Post by Wyoming1 »

What are folks using for a max landing weight, specifically for entry into the ForeFlight w&B info? I see no reference to a MLW in the operating handbook. I have seen reference to 1900# in some places, but no information as to where that information was derived.
User avatar
sfarringer
Posts: 323
Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:49 pm

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by sfarringer »

I wonder how anyone landed a C170 before Foreflight suggested there should be a max landing weight? :wink:

In the absence of approved data from Cessna, I assume it can be landed at gross weight....
Ragwing S/N 18073
User avatar
brianm
Posts: 145
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:04 am

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by brianm »

Thought experiment: If I took off at max gross weight with full fuel and flew around until the tanks ran dry, would my dead stick landing be legal with a 1900 lb max landing weight?
Last edited by brianm on Sun Apr 27, 2025 10:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Brian M
N2669V - '48
User avatar
sfarringer
Posts: 323
Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:49 pm

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by sfarringer »

Only if you carried more than 300 lbs of fuel!
(Which my C170 doesn't.)

Or if you jettisoned some cargo.......

Of course there are airplanes that have Max Landing Weights. But I don't believe the C170 is one of them.
Ragwing S/N 18073
User avatar
redacted
Posts: 124
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2022 4:31 am

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by redacted »

Under CAR 3.25 (“Maximum Weight”), the regulation required manufacturers to define a single maximum weight — the highest weight at which the airplane meets all applicable requirements (structural strength, performance, etc.). CAR 3 did not require a separate maximum landing weight unless specifically necessary (such as if the landing gear had a lower structural limit).

For airplanes like the Cessna 170, certified under CAR 3, the maximum takeoff weight and maximum landing weight are the same. The Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) for the Cessna 170 specifies a maximum weight of 2,200 lbs and confirms that the landing gear is certified to the full maximum weight. There is no separate landing weight limit — full gross weight landings are allowed.

The 1900# reference is max weight in the utility category, also has different CG limits.

Little CAR 3 reading and chat gpt to parse the data for me. And boom goes the dynamite.
Nathaniel Perlman
1952 170B
N2282D S/N 20434
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 21260
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by GAHorn »

If a take-off were performed at gross wt of 2200 .bs….and at 50 ft AGL the takeoff were to be abandoned…. would it be illegal to land on the remaining runway at the same gross wt? (rhetorical question)

To the OP’s question: For flight planning purposes (such as ForeFlight, etc) the idea would be to ustilize the weight expected at the end of the flight.
'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
Wyoming1
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2021 7:23 am

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by Wyoming1 »

redacted wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 10:53 pm Under CAR 3.25 (“Maximum Weight”), the regulation required manufacturers to define a single maximum weight — the highest weight at which the airplane meets all applicable requirements (structural strength, performance, etc.). CAR 3 did not require a separate maximum landing weight unless specifically necessary (such as if the landing gear had a lower structural limit).

For airplanes like the Cessna 170, certified under CAR 3, the maximum takeoff weight and maximum landing weight are the same. The Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) for the Cessna 170 specifies a maximum weight of 2,200 lbs and confirms that the landing gear is certified to the full maximum weight. There is no separate landing weight limit — full gross weight landings are allowed.

The 1900# reference is max weight in the utility category, also has different CG limits.

Little CAR 3 reading and chat gpt to parse the data for me. And boom goes the dynamite.
My thoughts as well, thank you.
User avatar
rnealon1
Posts: 264
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:28 pm

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by rnealon1 »

I think we are all concurring that there is no maximum landing weight limitation for the Cessna 170 (or nearly any light aircraft). If Foreflight’s program requires a number you could enter 2200, same as takeoff. As stated 1900 is the limitation in the utility category along with a more restrictive CG range for stalls, etc.

Bob
Bob Nealon

Southbury, CT
User avatar
cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4109
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by cessna170bdriver »

I have two weight and balance profiles for my airplane in ForeFlight, one for normal category, one for utility category. Maximum landing weight in each category is the same as the maximum takeoff weight for that category.
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
User avatar
mit
Posts: 1066
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:54 am

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by mit »

we are doomed......
Tim
User avatar
redacted
Posts: 124
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2022 4:31 am

Re: Max Landing Weight

Post by redacted »

I didn’t do a separate for utility category. Just the basic 4 profiles for 8.50’s with and without back seats and 29” Bushwheels with and without back seats.
Nathaniel Perlman
1952 170B
N2282D S/N 20434
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.