Equipment / Furnishings — Seat Belt Comfort Clips Adverse Effect on Occupant Restraint
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Bell helicopter models must inspect crew and passenger shoulder harnesses within 25 flight hours or 10 days from June 28, 2018, to check for comfort clips. If clips are installed, they must be removed within 100 flight hours or 30 days from the effective date. Additionally, inspect the harnesses for damage and replace any that exceed allowable limits before further flight. Installation of comfort clips is prohibited from the effective date onward.
Summary
Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2018-16 addresses the safety issue related to seat belt comfort clips installed on Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTCL) models 206, 222, 230, 407, 427, 429, and 430 helicopters. The directive identifies that these comfort clips can interfere with the shoulder harness inertia reel, potentially preventing proper locking and increasing injury risk during emergency landings. It mandates removal of these clips and prohibits their installation to ensure occupant restraint effectiveness.
What changed
CF-2018-16 introduces a new safety requirement prohibiting the installation of shoulder harness seat belt comfort clips on specified BHTCL helicopter models. It requires inspection within 25 flight hours or 10 days to identify installed clips and mandates removal within 100 flight hours or 30 days if clips are found. Additionally, it requires inspection of the shoulder harness for damage and replacement if necessary.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals to maintain occupant safety by ensuring shoulder harnesses function correctly during emergencies. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to avoid potential injury risks caused by compromised restraint systems. Compliance teams need to track inspection and removal deadlines to meet regulatory requirements and maintain airworthiness.
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