The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Good evening 170 association,

Just finished my commercial rating and now working on my tail wheel endorsement. After renting for four years, I am looking at buying an airplane and the 170’s payload capability, size and performance matches the mission profile I developed perfectly so I joined the association to learn the ins and outs of the 170. I live in Western WA, and I was looking at an Early 1953 170B for sale last weekend with many modifications I want, and what needs attention I can do mostly under preventative maintenance (and some major elbow grease polishing). However there are a few things I am not sure about namely the C145 engine’s last major overhaul occurred around 1998 (900 hours ago), topped 5 years ago (350 hours ago), the aircraft also has a history of seasonal use of flying heavy during spring/summer and sitting during the winter. Should I be concerned about this pattern as far as the accumulation of maintenance items/corrosion related to months of inactivity as well as the time passed since the last major?

Also, do any 170 WA members have suggestions regarding 170 knowledgeable mechanics in Eastern WA to do a pre-buy Annual, and a potentially a good Western WA shop for 170 owner assisted annuals?

I would appreciate any advice or help.

Thank you

Sounds like this engine is pretty typical of what you might find for an airplane with average use. Yes there are folks that fly a lot more a year that 70 hours on average but there are a lot of planes flown half that much. My own airplane has been flown much less than this lately.

I would not be concerned with the overhaul being 13 years old. I would be looking for long long periods of inactivity. I'm talking 2 or 3 hours in a years time. Not flying for 3 months over winter won't likely hurt the engine. Then if you tell me the engine sat for a few years 900 hours ago but then run a few hours on average except for the winter months for 900 hours, I''d say the engine is still good and that inactive period has no bearing on the condition of the engine. In other words the engine would have shown damage from that early inactivity by now.

From what little detail you've given and assuming the time is spread out pretty evenly besides winter months, I would not be concerned.

Now if you tell me it's only have 3 hours in the last 3 years well that could be a different story.

PM me and I'll get you in touch with some good people. Scott.....53B.....Arlington, Wa.

Bruce,

Thank you for answering my question and alleviating my concerns about the engine. From what the mechanic and owner told me the aircraft is used about 50-60 hrs a year. It looks like a well used airplane, but judging from the records and history a well maintained bird in need of aesthetic TLC.

awboike wrote:Bruce,

Thank you for answering my question and alleviating my concerns about the engine. From what the mechanic and owner told me the aircraft is used about 50-60 hrs a year. It looks like a well used airplane, but judging from the records and history a well maintained bird in need of aesthetic TLC.

These are the best kind and you wouldn't want a bird that looked good but was not used or maintained. Looks never made anything fly.

Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:[...Looks never made anything fly.

Yeah...what HE said BRUCE RHYMES!!!!

Bruce made the comment that "Looks never made anything fly."

I can remember, many years ago, when the "Looks" of certain young ladies in distant locations provided
considerable incentive to commit aviation for a long week end soiree.

Damn! Those were the really good old days.

blueldr wrote:Bruce made the comment that "Looks never made anything fly."

I can remember, many years ago, when the "Looks" of certain young ladies in distant locations provided
considerable incentive to commit aviation for a long week end soiree.

Damn! Those were the really good old days.

Dammit, George, you cropped the picture too much. I was just a bit to the left. Those were the girls I was talking about.

P.S. The two year old shown is no relation.

Those are the California girls that make a man fly north and keep going.

With regards to west coast birds, how do the bare metal 170's fair when tied outside approx 10 miles from the sea as far as corrosion? Would it be better to wait and buy a painted bird?

awboike wrote:With regards to west coast birds, how do the bare metal 170's fair when tied outside approx 10 miles from the sea as far as corrosion? Would it be better to wait and buy a painted bird?

It is called polish and a rag and you will get very familiar with there interaction and your hand, arm and back. Shiny things don't stay shiny by themselves but they attract a lot of attention when they do shine. Ask Bruce Rymes, Steve Jacobson, Rusty, Bill Kelsa and the rest of the dedicated individuals who know all about polish. George has been slacking lately with the polish rag and he also started arriving after dark to many locations necessitating an additional landing light. Wonder if there is any correlation.

You've got to ask yourself this. If all the 170s cam without paint, why have so many been painted verses polished.

Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:[... George has been slacking lately with the polish rag and he also started arriving after dark to many locations necessitating an additional landing light. Wonder if there is any correlation. ....

I held a big partee figurin' everyone would want a rag to rub it with ....but all they did was stand around drinkin' beer and eatin'....