Fluffed up belt
I found the webbing on an old belt on a Bell 206 was fluffed up so much that it jammed in the adjustment mechanism and so was not possible to adjust it whilst it was across ones lap.
On speaking to the manufacturer of the belt they said it was many years beyond what they consider to be its useful life, but that it was not illegal to keep a belt beyond the manufacturers "use by" date as it was a "on inspection" item on Bells.
Not wishing to spend $125 on a replacement the company suggested that ironing the synthetic belt would compress the fluff!
To be legal a belt must be easily adjusted once it is clasped across ones lap, so in THAT respect it was not airworthy and replaced.
Are there other parts of a helicopter where "on inspection" can overide manufacturer's gaurantees or advice?
Mickjoebill
Last edited by mickjoebill; 6th Mar 2013 at 00:27.