AD/CESSNA 185/4 - Tail Wheel Assembly - CANCELLED

What this does: This document officially scraps an old aircraft safety rule that is no longer needed.

The backstory: In 1963, Australia’s aviation safety authority ordered owners of Cessna 185 series aeroplanes to modify the tail wheel assembly. The original rule (issued as Airworthiness Directive 4 for the Cessna 185) required fixing the locking mechanism on the tail wheel to prevent failures, following guidance from the manufacturer (Cessna service letter SE 62-73). Owners had to complete the work within 500 flight hours after March 1963.

Why it’s cancelled: Because that deadline passed more than 40 years ago, every affected aircraft has already been modified. The rule is now redundant. This document formally cancels the old directive as of 3 July 2008, removing it from the books.