The FAA is investigating overload failures of Cessna 120 and 140 aluminum seat belt mounting brackets. After a fatal accident in 2014, the FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-15-13, which recommended that owners, operators and maintenance personnel of the affected airplanes replace aluminum brackets with steel brackets following Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB-25-03. Since then, a second fatal accident occurred where the aluminum seat belt mounting bracket failed.
The Wichita ACO Branch recently issued an Airworthiness Concern Sheet (ACS) to address failures of aluminum seat belt mounting brackets of Cessna 120 and 140 airplanes. The FAA is requesting information on damage or known failures observed on the seat belt mounting brackets common to Cessna 120 and 140 airplanes, including description of damage, available photos, airplane serial number, type of seat belt installed, and details of failure discovery.
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2020/Dec/Cessna_Seat_Belt_Mounting_Bracket_ACS.pdf
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2020/Dec/SEB-25-03.pdf
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2020/Dec/SAIB_CE-15-13.pdf
If you have any questions or comments, contact the Wichita ACO Branch at:
Bobbie Kroetch
1801 Airport Rd
Wichita, KS 67209
(316) 946-4155
