AWB 25-008 Issue: 1  Date: 21 October 2005

1. Applicability
Pacific Scientific Inertial reels, identified in Pacific Scientific Alert Service Bulletin A25-1124A, fitted to a wide range of aeroplanes and helicopters including transport category and various light aircraft.

2. Purpose
To alert aircraft operators and maintainers to the possibility of in-service failures of certain Pacific Scientific shoulder harness retraction reels.

3. Background
A defect report detailed a badly worn shoulder harness retraction reel shaft. The shaft was so badly worn, that it broke during reel refurbishment. This shaft carries the loads of the upper torso, and could have failed to provide the intended restraint for the occupant under emergency conditions.
The manufacturer has issued Alert Service Bulletin A25-1124A, which requires inspection of all shoulder strap harnesses that were manufactured before June 1992. Shoulder harness reels, which were manufactured by Pacific Scientific prior to June 1992, contain an aluminium take-up shaft in the inertia reel that could, after extensive use, experience excessive wear or breaking. Harness reels manufactured after this date contained a stainless steel shaft, and some reels have been fitted with the stainless steel shaft at refurbishment. This corrected the problem.

4. Recommendation
Action in accordance with Pacific Scientific Alert Service Bulletin A25-1124A, which includes removing affected harnesses from service for refurbishment. A copy of the Alert Service Bulletin A25-1124A, is attached.

FMI: AirworthinessBulletin@casa.gov.au, http://casa.gov.au/airworth/awb/25/008.pdf