A potential 421C I'm looking at has a useful load of 2014lbs, which seemed on the low side? Anyone have any knowledge of what the useful load typically is?

I have a 1976 421C and mine is 2254

Be aware that it might be realistic, there are many aircraft whose W&B docs contain errors and when fixed they don’t actually have as much useful as they thought. I looked at a number of C340s (my previous airplane) that had significant paperwork issues, one was off a few hundred pounds. Be especially skeptical of an airplane with a beautiful luxiurious interior that still has what seems like an above average (or even average) useful load for the breed.

That said, I don’t know reasonable numbers for the 421C offhand, just know that what they say on the paperwork is sometimes pretty out of whack, more often than you’d like to believe.

A number of airplanes have had GW increases. If not you might be able to pretty easily get another 200 lbs. (of note, SE climb performance is apache-like awful at new max gross)

Ours is 2,008 lbs. Weighed in 2016.

1979 'straight legged' 421C:

- Empty weight 5283
- Useful load @ 7500 max gross = 2,217
- Useful load @ 7629 max gross = 2,346

A lot (a majority?) of the fleet has VGs which add 129lbs to the max takeoff weight so that obviously makes a big difference in the useful load. Also, the post 1980 birds with trailing link landing gear are heavier.

Robert

The useful range I have seen 1950 to 2350 LBS.

The empty weight is impacted by paint or painting over old paint without stripping off the old paint. Robertson kits, old heavy avionics and heavy leather interiors with extra insulation add weight. I think a flushing potty adds about 70 pounds.

My 1980 421C is original light weight paint, new lighter avionics.
UL is 2324 with VG’s

Thanks, everyone for the replies!