Please find attached a Foreign State of Design Advisory document, endorsed by EASA.
This advisory document is also online at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/NM-17-07 .
Should you have any questions, please contact the Agency by e-mail at
[email protected] or by fax,
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[email protected]
EASA Website
(Attachment is in Acrobat PDF format)
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European Aviation Safety Agency.
FAA SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
Aviation Safety INFORMATION BULLETIN
SAIB: NM-17-07
SUBJ: Equipment/Furnishings Date: January 26, 2017
This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is to advise owners and operators, and original
equipment manufacturers of Normal, Utility, Acrobatic and Commuter Category Aircraft, and
Transport Category Airplanes of the potential for failure of the end release buckle on certain
AmSafe, Inc., restraint system assemblies installed on the passenger seats.
At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness
directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
Between November 2010 and November 2015, AmSafe, Inc., produced certain buckle assemblies
with an ejector base that was not manufactured to design specifications. Due to this manufacturing
defect, the end release buckle in the ejector base can cause inadvertent release of the restraint when
under load. This condition could cause loss of restraint during a turbulence event and result in injuries
to passengers.
AmSafe, Inc., has issued AmSafe Service Bulletin 504443-25-02 Issue 10, dated February 10, 2016,
to provide operators with procedures for inspecting and testing the buckle assembly for any defect,
and replacing the ejector base if the buckle assembly is defective. Note that on Page 7 of the service
information, the third and fourth sentences in paragraph 2.B.1. specify the following: “Figure 1 below
shows a Buckle where the Connector is fully engaged. Figure 2 shows a Buckle where the Connector
is not fully engaged.” However, incorrect numbers were used to identify the figures in those
sentences. The correct numbers are as follows: “Figure 3 below shows a Buckle where the Connector
is fully engaged. Figure 4 shows a Buckle where the Connector is not fully engaged.”
Recommendations
The FAA recommends accomplishing the procedures outlined in AmSafe Service Bulletin 504443-
25-02 Issue 10, dated February 10, 2016, on airplanes having any affected part, at the earliest
opportunity.
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For Further Information Contact
Patrick Farina, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150L,
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5344; fax (562) 627-5210.; email
[email protected].
For Related Service Information Contact
AmSafe Inc., 1043 North 47th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85043; telephone (602) 850-2850;
fax (602) 850-2812.
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