The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

This came through my email today from faasafety.gov. I was surprised someone else hadn't posted already. I happened to be at the hangar with a magnet when I saw it and confirmed that my plane has a steel bracket.

Seat Belt Bracket Failures on Cessna 120/140 Airplanes
Notice Number: NOTC1613

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 ... et_ACS.pdf
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices ... -25-03.pdf
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices ... -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

Most of us replaced the bracket with the steel part several years back. It would be "nice" to believe that "all" would have been...but, that's unrealistic. The original brackets haven't been manufactured for some time...only the (now) steel part that supersedes. I have actually recently seen one of the aluminum ones for sale on Ebay -- talk about "buyer beware"!. Thanks for bringing it up & it's good that it's being publicized again. ...shouldn't have to evolve into an AD, but it well may be with an indication that there may yet be a number out there needing the replacement(?). Mac

tonycondon wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:54 pm I was surprised someone else hadn't posted already.

Your post came 7 minutes before I received the email!

I'll be checking my bracket!

My bracket is either magical non-ferrous steel or aluminum. Does anyone know where I can get a steel one for a reasonable amount? Texas Air Salvage wants $250 for a used one.

Might try David Lowe.

Yingling Aviation ( www.cessnadirect.com ) indicates that they have it...new...for $70.90. Mac

From their website:
RESULTS FOR 0425132
-sort by-
0425132 BRACKET
SKU: 0425132
Regular price: $78.78 | Our price: $70.90

* Prices and availability subject to change without notice.
1 Quantity (EA)

Best I think to go with new for something like this because of the possibility that a used part could have come from a wrecked airplane and have been over stressed.
The increased weight of a 21st Century average pilot may have something to do with them failing as well.

How do the aftermarket belts attach to these brackets? Is an adapter used?

a64pilot wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:18 am Best I think to go with new for something like this because of the possibility that a used part could have come from a wrecked airplane and have been over stressed.
The increased weight of a 21st Century average pilot may have something to do with them failing as well.

How do the aftermarket belts attach to these brackets? Is an adapter used?

Fortunately, they're made so that the belt will slip into the new bracket before fastening...at least the Hooker Harness belts will.

Do you have a picture?
This is what I have now, there were a bunch of them were I worked, went on some kind of Aero Commander aircraft so I put them in the 140 as the ones in it were old as Methuselah a who knows how weak they were.
they are standard aircraft seat belts with a 1500 lb rating.
These are the Hookers I have that came off of a new Thrush, some idiot wanted the Amsafe airbag belts. Ag aircraft are required to be fitted with a 5,000 belt and the pilot is required to wear a helmet. So these and I assume other Hookers are 5,000 belts.
The Amsafe air bag belts are not 5,000 belts, the FSDO that approved the Amsafe belts was unaware of the 5,000 lb requirement


Anyway take a 250 lb pilot and restrain him with a 1500 lb belt, he will equal that in a 6 G crash which isn’t a big number in a crash.
But after sitting in the sun for 10 years or longer, what is the strength now?

So I’d like to put in at least the Hooker belt I have but don’t know how to attach it.