FAA to Planes: Fix Those Shady Seatbelt Screws or Add Warning Signs!
Published Date: 2/11/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating safety rules for airplanes with certain Pacific Scientific buckles that have faulty screws. This means more planes are affected, and some seats might need a warning sign or repairs before they can be used again. If you own or operate these planes, get ready to act by March 28, 2025, to keep everyone safe without breaking the bank.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory inspections and fixes for affected buckles
If you own or operate airplanes with Pacific Scientific buckle P/N 1111475 (all dash numbers) or P/N 1111548-01 manufactured January 2012 through April 2013, or with an unknown date of manufacture, you must inspect each buckle within 12 months after the AD's effective date. If any screw head is cracked, loose, or missing you must replace the buckle before further flight; if screw heads are intact you must inspect for Torx-head screws and, if any Torx-head screws are found, replace all four with hex-head screws and reidentify the buckle as "MOD. A" before further flight; if none are Torx, reidentify as "INS. A."
Spare parts cannot be installed unless reidentified
As of the AD's effective date, you may not install a buckle P/N 1111475 (all dash numbers) or P/N 1111548-01 on any airplane unless the buckle is marked "MOD. A" or "INS. A." Spare buckles that have not been inspected or repaired are considered unairworthy and must not be installed.
Applicability expanded—more buckles affected
The FAA expanded the affected date range after discovering an additional affected screw lot (Lot 358764-A), increasing the date-of-manufacture range to January 2012 through April 2013 inclusive (or unknown DOM). The FAA estimates 21,313 affected buckles installed worldwide.
Optional seat placarding to take seats out of service
As an option within 12 months after the AD's effective date, you may remove the male side of the lap restraint and install a placard reading "USE OF THIS SEAT IS PROHIBITED" (letters at least 1/8 inch) to make that crewmember or passenger seat inoperative until the buckle is inspected and reinstalled. The FAA estimates this optional action will take about 1.5 work-hours (nominal labor cost $128).
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