Thank you for reply, apologies for tardy response ...had jotted down p/w somewhere "safe"....
The saga continues ..had booked a/c for a week with promise of X amount of flying hours subject to MET, 50% paid in advance via card.
My understanding is a/c shall be classed unserviceable with P1 harness inop,
indeed it is entered in "service" log couple of days before as faulty.
Upon preflight the system was activated and tested and the inertia system checked perhaps 6 or 8 times and found to function as expected, the POH proclaims if fitted must be fastened.
Early start....Upon takeoff the diagonal unclipped and wound in ...and would not pull out to allow refastening........ so did circuit & returned....much pulling and messing the thing is locked and fully wound in the inertia system.
The aerodrome is un attended and no reply to phone calls so parked up & called it a day.
Operator believes I should forfeit the 50% paid as it was my decision to abort and they had turned down other bookings over the period....(allegedly)
I maintain the a/c had intermittent unserviceability issues and should have been withdrawn when fault first entered (simple ...withdrawn i.e take keys off the hook & prevent use, or place message on P1 seat as is custom & practice)
I do not agree to forfeit any sum the a/c went tech....end
I am I unjust in this stance?