Equipment / Furnishings — Seat Belt Restraint System — Inspection / Modification
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of Sonaca S2 aeroplanes must perform an initial inspection of the seat belt restraint assemblies within specified flight hour or calendar month limits, then continue inspections every 2,000 flight hours or 10 years. If thimbles are missing, they must modify the assemblies by installing them according to the Sonaca service bulletin. Additionally, a rear fuselage inspection hatch must be installed before or at the time of the initial inspection. Repairs or replacements must be done immediately if worn or damaged components are found.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0235 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Sonaca Aircraft S.A. S2 aeroplanes, specifically models S200 and S201. It addresses the seat belt restraint system, focusing on the inspection and modification of seat belt assemblies with part numbers A-RF-ASE-001-L and A-RF-ASE-001-R. The directive mandates inspections and modifications to ensure the presence of thimbles in the seat belt upper restraint system to prevent cable wear and potential failure.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0235 introduces a requirement for a one-time inspection and repetitive inspections of the seat belt shoulder restraint cables and fittings on affected Sonaca S2 aeroplanes. It mandates modification by installing thimbles if they are missing and requires installation of a rear fuselage inspection hatch before or concurrent with the initial inspection. This is a new directive addressing a previously unregulated design error in the seat belt assemblies.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a safety risk related to seat belt restraint system integrity, which could lead to occupant injury during emergency landings. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and passenger safety. The directive also impacts parts installation procedures and ongoing maintenance schedules for affected aircraft.
More for Sonaca Aircraft S2
All 4- EASA AD 2023-0126Electrical Power — Equipment Power Distribution / Main Power Supply Wiring — InspectionJun 23, 2023
- EASA AD 2022-0164Power Plant — Engine Mount Bolts — Inspection; Fuselage — Centre Fuselage Main Spar Bolts — InspectionAug 9, 2022
- EASA AD 2022-0109Flight Controls — Elevator Long Pushrod — Inspection / ReplacementJun 15, 2022
Get the next one by email
New ADs and bulletins for Sonaca Aircraft S2, Aircraft S.A. S2 S200 and Aircraft S.A. S2 S201, summarized like this page, every Monday.