Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

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mhoran
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by mhoran »

dmloftus wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 3:09 pm How did they placard it? Mine is a 2008 and Glenn had it disconnected and placarded AMSAFE Inop as I didn’t want to pay the $3K. Reading more Mike Busch books, and while 10 year is recommended, it doesn’t seem like it is mandatory for Part 91 operators. Anyone have an opinion on not servicing and leaving it operational? The biggest danger would be an accidental deployment. If that danger is minimal, seems like leaving it operational after the recommended 10 years could prove beneficial if deployed in case of an accident.
Mine is placarded and the EMA was removed as per the ICA. I believe the interval in this case is mandatory because it is part of the airworthiness limitations of the ICA for the STC. See the ICA for the model originally installed in the DA40 here: viewtopic.php?t=6029. This looks to be significantly different than the airworthiness limitations for the SOARS system in that there are none for the latter, yet our system requires the inspection and replacement intervals.
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by Davestation »

The inflators are good for 12 years...
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by MarkA »

Has anyone gone through the process recently of removing the front AmSafe airbag restraints in a DA40 and replacing them with standard inertial reel restraints?

Before beginning to research what's involved to do this, I'd like to leverage the parts list, part sources and related experience anyone has had in doing this recently.

Thanks!
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mhoran
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by mhoran »

I asked SouthTec for a quote last year. Parts and labor in 2022 dollars came to $1,500. Parts availability was a few weeks. I've put this off again this year but will probably do it next year. Perhaps Chris at SouthTec will share with you the parts list.
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by smoss »

Anyone pull the trigger yet on removing the AmSafe stuff to replace with standard belts?
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by dmloftus »

smoss wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 2:47 pm Anyone pull the trigger yet on removing the AmSafe stuff to replace with standard belts?
I'm curious, why you would pay to remove and replace them? I left my inop belts in place, is there any danger or inconvenience of leaving the original airbag belts in place?
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by smoss »

a little bit of weight savings, a bit of added comfort from removing the rigid buckle receptacle and getting rid of the airbag belt on your lap.
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by Johnrschaefer »

dmloftus wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:04 am
smoss wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 2:47 pm Anyone pull the trigger yet on removing the AmSafe stuff to replace with standard belts?
I'm curious, why you would pay to remove and replace them? I left my inop belts in place, is there any danger or inconvenience of leaving the original airbag belts in place?
I had mine removed/replaced during annual a couple of years ago when the A&P/IA was reluctant to sign off on the aircraft with the continued INOP. Maybe could have convinced him otherwise, but I had considered doing so anyway, so I went with it.
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by smoss »

John, curious to know about what the parts cost back then, and what you did with the old parts / inflators?
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Re: Mandatory 10 year AmSafe bottle replacement

Post by Johnrschaefer »

smoss wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 4:40 pm John, curious to know about what the parts cost back then, and what you did with the old parts / inflators?
I'll try to dig up that invoice. The cost was definitely cheaper than the AmSafe service, and without the wait. Shop has the old parts/inflators.
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