# AD 55-04-01: Wheel Skis

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Cessna 180 and Wheel Skis
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Appliance
- Registered aircraft: 1,177 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/5FF8C9DC11AEFAE986256A320069A955.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/55-04-01

## The airworthiness directive

55-04-01 FEDERAL SKIS: Applies to All Cessna Model 180 Aircraft Equipped With Federal Model AWB-2500A Wheel Skis.

Compliance required as soon as possible but no later than next 100 hour inspection.

Instances have been reported of the main skis pitching downward against the forward limiting cables during normal flight causing the airplane to assume a dive attitude with a resulting loss of altitude before recovery. To preclude the possibility of the serious consequences that might result should this condition occur at low altitudes, the following corrective action must be accomplished:

1. Replace the existing mechanical rigger with Federal No. 11G1064-2 mechanical rigger.

2. Install Federal No. 11D1059-5 preloaded bungee assembly in each of forward limiting cables and adjust the cables so that the skis when in the "up" position on the wheel, will be allowed to pitch nose down minus 12 degrees to 14 degrees in flight without extending the bungee units. This angleis measured between the top of the ski channel and the horizontal reference line of the airplane.

(Federal Service bulletin No. 102 covers the same subject.)

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 5A6](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/5A6): Textron Aviation Inc.; names 1 of 11 models: 180

## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs)

Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment.

- Aircraft: 1,177 (1,177 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Cessna 1,177

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180): 1,177 aircraft (airframe model)

All 1 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/55-04-01/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/55-04-01/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC81FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA012), Dec 27, 1980: Cessna 180 (N2222C), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage

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