Mert wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 7:55 pmDoes anyone know if there is a possibility of a waiver or some other method of making it legal to fly while waiting for parts and install??
Maybe try contacting somebody from AmSafe for clarification? I see the following in one of their installation manuals, but I don't know if it applies to the DA40 installation:
AmSafe wrote:NOTE:The EMA, inflator assembly LRU/Inflator cable interface and cable interface assembly are not required equipment for the aircraft. Thus, the inflatable restraint system assem-bly may be used without the EMA, inflator assembly LRU/Inflator cable interface and cable interface assembly. Aircraft owners or operators should follow their procedure to placard the affected components as inoperable and may use SOARS as a restraint. How-ever, all components of SOARS should be made operable as soon as possible.
Mert:
This has been a major issue for DA40 (and other aircraft owners) with AmSafe seatbelt airbag systems. Solutions include either:
1. Having the A&P/IA disconnect the inflator and placard the seatbelt airbags inoperative, while awaiting 4-6 weeks for the AmSafe parts to arrive. Obviously the seat belts still work just fine with inflators inoperative.
OR
2. Replacing the entire AmSafe seatbelt airbag system with new manual belts, thus eliminating the need to wait for parts now, or again in another 7 years. We've done this with many 2007+ DA40s that we've purchased for resale because it's often cheaper than ordering (and waiting for) the AmSafe replacement parts.
However many A&P/IAs are uncomfortable with Option 1, and in the Washington DC/Northern VA area where we live there's an FAA safety inspector located at the FAA Dulles area FSDO who has told at least one maintenance shop at KHEF that Option 2 is not legal -- since the airframe manufacturer hasn't provided a Service Bulletin explaining how to remove the AmSafe system -- even though it was originally added to the DA40 via a Supplemental Type Certificate, and is not tied to Diamond's DA40 aircraft Type Certificate (this first surfaced when trying to replace AmSafe seatbelts on a C172 with an STC). A solution to this may be to go "FSDO shopping" by installing manual seatbelts at a maintenance shop located outside of the Dulles FSDO.
It's a shame that AmSafe replacement parts are so expensive and they never seem to have them in stock.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
I had my Amsafe airbag inflators replaced this week. Attached is the logbook entry, which I believe provides the requisite part numbers. Crazy expensive (~US$5000, total) and not particularly gratifying, but it's completed.
Wayne
Wow Wayne, that cost sounds crazy! A whole new SOARS system retails for $2,580 for both sides. Was that 1,000 for parts and 4,000 for shipping and labor?
smoss wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 11:00 pm
Wow Wayne, that cost sounds crazy! A whole new SOARS system retails for $2,580 for both sides. Was that 1,000 for parts and 4,000 for shipping and labor?
Indeed, crazy expensive. It's only a couple hours labor, so vast majority is parts.
I saw that price last year and balked, and am about to go in for an annual and repeat the same sticker shock most likely. Apparently the old part numbers (that were $280 a pop) are no longer available or installable. Did you consider installing a brand new system instead, if it's cheaper to maintain?
