FAA · Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO)
SAFO 09002: In-flight slippage of pilot and co-pilot seats on Cessna models 303, 336 and 337; and all legacy (pre-1986) single-engine Cessna models 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190, 195, 205, 206, 207 and 210
In Brief
What It Addresses
This SAFO is issued to remind inspectors, operators, owners and maintenance technicians of the mandatory requirement to comply with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 87-20-03 R2. This AD requires periodic inspections of the seat tracks, and repair or replacement of the tracks as necessary.
Why It Matters
Service Difficulty Reports (SDR) and accidents increased from nearly 2 per year (prior to 1996) to over 5 per year after 1996. The number of accidents statistically increased from 1 every 3 years (prior to 1996) to 1 every 20 weeks since 1996.
Recommended Action
Recommend pilots and operators become familiar with the requirements and intervals of AD 87-20-03 R2 due to the significant operational safety concern it addresses. Also recommend pilots and operators confirm their maintenance provider’s knowledge and accomplishment of this AD to eliminate incidents and accidents due to in-flight seat slippage of pilot and co-pilot seats.
From the Document: selected source passages, quoted as written, for a quick overview.
SAFOSafety Alert for Operators
U.S. Department SAFO 09002
of Transportation DATE: 1/27/09
Federal Aviation
Administration Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO.
Subject: In-flight slippage of pilot and co-pilot seats on Cessna models 303, 336 and 337; and all legacy (pre-1986) single-engine Cessna models 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190, 195, 205, 206, 207 and 210
Purpose: This SAFO is issued to remind inspectors, operators, owners and maintenance technicians of the mandatory requirement to comply with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 87-20-03 R2. This AD requires periodic inspections of the seat tracks, and repair or replacement of the tracks as necessary.
Background: Service Difficulty Reports (SDR) and accidents increased from nearly 2 per year (prior to 1996) to over 5 per year after 1996. The number of accidents statistically increased from 1 every 3 years (prior to 1996) to 1 every 20 weeks since 1996. In the past 20 years, 6 fatalities are known and 70 SDRs reported. These results indicate compliance to AD 87-20-03 R2 is not being accomplished for a significant number of airplanes.
Discussion: Full compliance to AD 87-20-03 R2 must be achieved.
Recommended Action: Recommend pilots and operators become familiar with the requirements and intervals of AD 87-20-03 R2 due to the significant operational safety concern it addresses. Also recommend pilots and operators confirm their maintenance provider’s knowledge and accomplishment of this AD to eliminate incidents and accidents due to in-flight seat slippage of pilot and co-pilot seats.
Questions: Contact Hieu Nguyen, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, by phone at (316) 946-4129 (phone) or by fax at (316) 946-4107 for more information.
Approved by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-800
Source: Federal Aviation Administration — www.faa.gov. Reproduced from the published record; FlightPush adds formatting only.
SAFO 09002