Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-11-02
October 5, 2010
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin informs you of an
airworthiness concern on all Sky Arrow 600 Sport airplanes, serial
numbers (S/N) LSA001 to LSA021, that have been issued a special
airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category (S-LSA).
Background
Sky Arrow 600 Sport S-LSA have been manufactured and granted
airworthiness approval with a 3-point seat restraint system
installation. This 3-point seat restraint system raises a concern for
the safety of occupants during emergency landing conditions. This
concern was specifically raised during investigation of an accident
involving a Sky Arrow 600 Sport on October 7, 2008. ASTM International
Standard Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport
Airplane (i.e., ASTM F2245) specifies design requirements to protect
each occupant during emergency landing conditions through seat belts or
harnesses, or both.
While there is no specific definition for what constitutes an
acceptable “seat belt” in the ASTM standard, the generally accepted
description of seat belts for aircraft and automobiles includes a lap
belt that provides pelvic restraint. FAA Technical Standard Order
TSO-C22g for safety belts requires a safety belt restraint system that
provides pelvic restraint. Also, 49 CFR § 571.209 defines a Type 1
seat belt assembly as having, “a lap belt for pelvic restraint” and a
Type 2 seat belt assembly as having, “a combination of pelvic and upper
torso restraints.” Despite this common interpretation of what
constitutes an acceptable seat belt system for aircraft and
automobiles, the Sky Arrow originally was delivered without a lap belt
to provide pelvic restraint.
After some consideration, the manufacturer of the Sky Arrow SLSA,
Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3i) issued NOTIFICATION SA 3i
LSA – 01/10, dated 03-September-2010, for optional replacement of the
3-point seat restraint system with a 5-point seat restraint system,
which includes a lap belt. The S-LSA manufacturer 3i will also be
installing the 5-point seat restraint system on all new Sky Arrow 600
Sport S-LSA beginning with S/N LSA022 and subsequent. These efforts
reduce the potential exposure to this safety concern. However, there is
some remaining concern for the Sky Arrow 600 serial numbers delivered
with the original 3-point restraint system.
Recommendations
To enhance the protection of the occupants in the Sky Arrow 600 Sport
S-LSA during emergency landing conditions, the FAA recommends that the
optional 5-point seat restraint system to include a lap belt be
installed in the aircraft. This installation should be done in
accordance with the manufacturer’s notification instructions.
For Further Information Contact
Terry L. Chasteen, Light-Sport Aircraft Program Manager, Programs &
Procedures, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO
64106; phone: (816) 329-4147; fax: (816) 329-4090; e-mail:
terry.chasteen@faa.gov.
For Related Service Information Contact
Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3i)
Tel.: +39.06.90085545;
Fax: +39.06.90085537;
e-mail: sales@skyarrow.com
Via Leonardo da Vinci, 19/23
00015 Monterotondo Scalo (Roma) – Italy
In the USA contact:
Hansen Air Group
Tel: 770-427-6311
Fax: 770-427-6311
e-mail: info@hansenairgroup.com
2600 Cessna Lane
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144