Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-09-10
February 5, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is to inform you
of an airworthiness concern on Cessna Models 170, 172, P172D, R172,
FP172, F172, FR172, 175, 177, FR177RG, 180, 182, R182, TR182, T182,
F182, FR182, 185, A185, 205, 206, P206, U206, TP206, TU206, 207, T207,
210, T210, P210, T303, 336, 337, T337, P337, F337, and FP337 airplanes.
Background
When the pilot or copilot seat’s primary latch pin does not properly
engage in the seat rail/track, seat slippage may occur. This could lead
to loss of control of the airplane if the pilot is unable to reach all
of the controls. AD 87-20-03 R2 applies to Cessna Models 150, A150,
F150, FA150, FRA150, 152, A152, FA152, F152, 170, 172, P172D, R172,
FP172, F172, FR172, 175, 177, F177RG, 180, 182, R182, TR182, T182,
F182, FR182, 185, A185, 188, A188, 190, 195, 205, 206, P206, U206,
TP206, TU206, 207, T207, 210, T210, P210, T303, 336, 337, T337, P337,
F337, and FP337 airplanes. However, for the past 20 years since the
issuance of the AD, Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs) and accidents
caused by the seat latch pin not properly engaging continue to be
reported. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database
indicates 20 accidents with 6 fatalities, and the FAA database
indicates 70 SDRs. Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO) 09002, dated
1/27/09, contains additional information regarding the AD.
A secondary seat stop is now available that provides additional safety
in the event the primary latch pin is not properly engaged in the seat
rail/track. Cessna has issued Service Bulletins SEB07-5 R1 and MEB07-1
R1 requiring installation of the secondary seat stop for the pilot seat
and recommending the installation for the copilot seat. Also, it has
been determined that certain secondary seat stop kits included some
part number (P/N) 505590-401 reel assemblies that may not always
operate correctly. Cessna has issued SEB07-8 and MEB07-2 for airplanes
that have the secondary seat stop kits installed requiring inspection
of P/N 505590-401 reel assemblies and replacement if necessary.
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition
that would warrant AD action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Recommendation
The FAA recommends that owners, operators, and maintenance technicians
install secondary seat stops for both pilot and copilot seats, if not
already installed, following Cessna SEB07-5 R1 or MEB07-1 R1. For
airplanes that already have the secondary seat stop installed, the FAA
recommends inspection and replacement, if necessary, of affected P/N
505590-401 reel assembly following Cessna SEB07-8 or MEB07-2.