Safety Recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority review the adequacy of the continuing
airworthiness requirements for seat belts and shoulder harnesses to
ensure that they maintain applicable design standards throughout
their service life, when installed in Australian registered
aircraft and helicopters.
The Authority advises that it is unable to give the
Recommendation full consideration and provide a response to the
Bureau within the time period set out in our MOU. CASA needs to
undertake extensive research and consultation on this issue. CASA
anticipates being able to develop relevant advisory material and
provide a response to the Bureau by end January 2003. The Authority
seeks your concurrence to an extension of time for a response.
The ATSB would be pleased to provide the requested extension and
looks forward to hearing from CASA by the end of January 2003.
The Authority acknowledges the intent of the Recommendation.
After consideration, the Authority believes that the circumstances
relating to the failed seat belt reported in the Occurrence Report
are inconclusive and do not allow the determination the specific
cause of the loss of webbing strength. However, it is agreed that
the seriousness of deterioration of seat belt strength needs to be
highlighted to aircraft operators and maintenance organisations.
The Authority proposes to raise an Airworthiness Bulletin which
will be distributed via the Authority's website. Subsequently,
advisory material will be prepared for publication in Flight Safety
Australia.
ATSB Note: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued
Airworthiness Bulletin 25-2, Issue 1, titled "Inspection and
replacement of seat belts and harnesses" on 4 April 2003.
I refer to Air Safety Occurrence Report 200104604 on the
accident involving Bell Jetranger 206B helicopter VH-SVW which
occurred 5km west of Kurrajong Heights, NSW on 24 September
2001.
The Report included Recommendation R20020030.
In its response to the Recommendation, dated 4 February 2003, the
Authority proposed to raise an Airworthiness Bulletin, which would
be distributed via the Authority's website, and to publish advisory
material in Flight Safety Australia.
An Airworthiness Bulletin, AWB 25-2 Issue 1, was issued on 4 April
2003. Advisory material was published in the March-April 2003
edition of Flight Safety Australia. Copies are attached for your
information.
The Authority believes that this closes the actions on this
Recommendation.
