The twin Cessna 400 series lower door is held up by two cables and two hinges. The right hinge is prone to cracking. I think this is because right handed people pull on the right cable stepping on the steps while hunching over to board, and eventually one of the cable steel strands breaks, making that side slightly lower and putting more strain on the hinge. Average weight of an American male in 2023 probably doesn't help, and when light on fuel the height of the first step at least on a 441 is relatively high. I don't know if the 340 has these issues but we have not seen any apart from replacing the cables preemptively. I've also seen some poorly rigged doors that are too tight on the right side and you have to push to close.

The kit to fix it is expensive and probably overengineered. It comes with a stack of drawings. To me it looks like a doubler plate.

What’s a 400 series for those who might not know? (Me)

Chip-

Twin Cessna 400 series (414, 421, 425, 441, etc.).

The shop that looked at my 340 on its first annual had a knowledgeable tech who pulled back the RH cable sheath. Sure enough, we found broken strands. We replaced it and the hinge was solid and square during my ownership.

Ahhhh right, duh.

Chip-

Wow this is a huge speculative scenario that I never could've imagined the OP actually considering. This is hocus-pocus imaginary kind of stuff. Maybe it will happen once in a few of our lifetimes. I feel like we are getting way out in left field here.

Wow this is a huge speculative scenario that I never could've imagined the OP actually considering. This is hocus-pocus imaginary kind of stuff. Maybe it will happen once in a few of our lifetimes. I feel like we are getting way out in left field here.

Saw this on Facebook and couldn’t resist!

CLIENT – How much will it cost to do this job?
CONTRACTOR - $2,800 dollars.

CLIENT – That’s too expensive for this job!
CONTRACTOR – How much do you think it should cost?

CLIENT – $800 max! It’s a simple job!
CONTRACTOR – I can’t do the job for so little.

CLIENT – People in your line of work wants to make a huge profit!
CONTRACTOR – I’m sorry you feel this way. Why don’t you do the job?

CLIENT – But, but, I don’t know how to do any of that.
CONTRACTOR – For $900, I can teach you everything you need to know to do the job. You can then use $800 to do the job, and you’re still saving $1,100. Also, you will obtain all the knowledge and the experience for the next time you need to do this job.

CLIENT – Deal!
CONTRACTOR – Great! To start, you need to buy tools. You will need a chipping hammer, a nail gun, a laser, a drill, a mixer machine, PPE, and some other things.

CLIENT – But, I don’t have any of those tools and I can’t buy all that for just one job!
CONTRACTOR – Ok. I can rent you my tools for another $300. You’re still saving $800.

CLIENT – That’s cutting my savings, but I will rent your tools.
CONTRACTOR – Perfect! I’ll be back Saturday and we can start.

CLIENT – Wait! I can’t Saturday. I only have time today.
CONTRACTOR – I’m sorry, I only teach others on Saturdays. I have to prioritize my time and my tools needs to be in other jobs I have during the week.

CLIENT – Ok then. I will sacrifice my family’s plans on Saturday.
CONTRACTOR – Right, me too! Oh, I forgot. If you’re going to do the job yourself, you need to buy the materials. There’s a high demand nowadays, so your best bet is to get a truck and be at the hardware store by 6am before other contractors get there.

CLIENT – AT SIX IN THE MORNING? On Saturday? That’s too early for me. I don’t even have a truck!
CONTRACTOR – I guess you’ll have to rent one. By the way, do you have some helpers to help you load the truck?

CLIENT – You know what? I’ve been thinking. Probably is better for you to do the job. It’s better to pay you to do the job right and not having to go through all that hassle.
CONTRACTOR – Good thinking. Sign here and let me get to work.

This is the truth.

People are not just paying for a job, they are paying for knowledge, experience, tools, time, family sacrifices, and other things you bring to the table.

Don’t let others dictate your worth.

~Unknown Author

That's why it's beyond intolerable when you pay for the big shop to do the work and it's done incorrectly, items are overlooked or completed unsatisfactory the first time, or pure incompetence is displayed, and you're overcharged the whole time!

i.e., showing up to pickup your plane on a bring-back rigging job, and seeing this on the ramp

"No sir, we didn't just set the parking brake, we chocked the plane, that's our standard procedure, scouts honor!"

Dang!!

Not only that but I find it extremely hard to belive there are many shops that work on light jets that have no liability insurance at all. Pretty much all the mom and pop 1 or 2 man light GA shops that work on skyhawks and cherokees have liability insurance.

I have seen what it costs to get a plumber out to fix a leak in the house. The aviation mechanics and shops at every level are waaaaaaaaay undercharging.

That's why it's beyond intolerable when you pay for the big shop to do the work and it's done incorrectly, items are overlooked or completed unsatisfactory the first time, or pure incompetence is displayed, and you're overcharged the whole time!

i.e., showing up to pickup your plane on a bring-back rigging job, and seeing this on the ramp

"No sir, we didn't just set the parking brake, we chocked the plane, that's our standard procedure, scouts honor!"

Seriously, no joke.

I have a large placard which I put into the window. If my brakes are off (typical), it says "OK TO TOW" on a green background. If my brakes are set (rare), it says "DO NOT TOW" on a red background.

It is part of my post flight process to always put that card in the window.

I don't know where you buy one of these, it came with the airplane and is starting to get ratty, so I need a new one.

Mike C.

They didn’t tow it, they did high power run ups in that location while holding the brakes only, and no chocks, which is incredible because I’ve done run ups with some power before after the fact (because they never got the rigging correct) and we didn’t have any issues with dragging the mains

I was very concerned that the tires would have flat spots and be out of balance or wear prematurely

“Gold plated shop”