Proposed AD Affects 7,000 Cessna Taildraggers - Cessna_185_Skywagon_flying.jpg

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/...-taildraggers/

The FAA is proposing an AD on some Cessna taildraggers requiring an inspection
of the tail cones and horizontal stabilizers. Almost 7,000 180s, 1802s and 185s
are affected and comments are open until June 29. Textron issued a mandatory
service letter in 2017 and the AD basically follows its directives but instead
of applying to only aircraft with more than 3,000 hours or 10 years in service,
the AD will apply to all of the listed models. Cracks in the tail of a 185
prompted a further look and 29 aircraft were found to have similar damage.

The extra loads endured by taildraggers during landing are presumed to be behind
the cracking and the inspection, which will take about two hours, is
comprehensive and follows the service letter “procedures for inspecting the
stabilizer hinge brackets, tailcone reinforcement angles, corner reinforcements,
stabilizer hinge reinforcement channel, stabilizer hinge assemblies, stabilizer
aft spar reinforcement, and the lower half of the stabilizer aft spar.”



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