FAA advises of potential restraint system failures

The SAIB is directed at owners, operators, and original equipment manufacturers of normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category aircraft, and transport category airplanes, noting concern about the potential failure of the end release buckle on certain AmSafe Inc. restraint system assemblies.

Between November 2010 and November 2015, AmSafe Inc. produced some buckle assemblies with an ejector base not manufactured to design specifications. The flaw can cause inadvertent release of the restraint, the SAIB says.

The FAA recommends complying at the earliest opportunity with AmSafe Service Bulletin 504443-25-02 Issue 10, issued Feb. 10, 2016, on airplanes having any affected part. The service bulletin provides procedures for testing and inspecting the buckle assembly and replacing the ejector base in any defective buckle assembly.