PA28 Interior Questions

[eugegall]

Hello Guys,

I'm recently a new A/C owner and PPL holder. Its in very good condition and i was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction for a few things id like to change!

1) Seat belt. is like black ones that look like car ones?
2) i need two new sun visors? where from?
3) i want to get new seats throughout. is it poss to ut two seperate seats in the back? or just one big one? iand two new front seats?

thats it for now thanks.

Euge

[Duchess_Driver]

IIRC the structure for the rear seats is a bench seat so I would doubt that you could convert this to two separate seats.

The sun visors and inertia reel seatbelts could probably be picked up from Adams Aviation supplies or any other reputable parts supplier - Google Aircraft Parts Suppliers for an endless list.

Best option, consult with the chaps you're going to get to maintain the aeroplane, they will have lists of suppliers and will be in the best position to advise on what you could get away with.

HTH

[BackPacker]

If the aircraft has an CofA, then you are not legally allowed to change seat belts unless you are a flight engineer or something, and the seat belts have to be original or there has to be an STC for it.

As for the sun visors, make sure you get the right ones for the engine type you have. The PA28 left sun visor has a table on it for best power and best economy RPM settings of your engine at various altitudes.

[172driver]

I wouldn't bother much with sunvisors but get Sunguard slap-on ones instead. They stick to the plastic fantastic perspex by static electricity and can be repositioned wherever you want them. Especially handy on long x-countries where the sun sits just below the edge of the built-in visor :cool:

[Zulu Alpha]

I agree about the sun visors, Piper ones will be expensive. However the stick on sheets of darkened plastic can be purchased from Mothercare or similar. They don't have any glue and can be taken off and repositioned easily, even on the side windows.

Re the seats, its unlikely that you can fit anything other than the standard ones. You can get the std ones re upholstered. Leather works out cheapest as any fabric has to be special so that it doesn't burn or produce toxic fumes.

ZA

[A and C]

A Flight Engineer is the guy who works the systems panel on the older airliners (B747-300, DC10, A300 Tristar etc) the guys who maintain aircraft are holders of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence and usualy called "licenced engineers".

[BackPacker]

A and C, sorry. I did not offend you, did I?

[Skylark58]

Under LAMS regulations you can replace both seats and seat belts yourself, as long as the aircraft is on Private Category or Permit to Fly. This may not be the case under EASA.

[tmmorris]

Don't worry, in my experience A and C is offence-proof :-)

Tim

[mixture]

licenced engineers

Actually, according to LAMS, engineers are LAME ! :O

(Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer .... that is )


On a more serious note though, I suggest the original poster downloads LAMS and looks at Appendix 1 ... that specifically lists what a pilot can replace / maintain.

LAMS : http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP520.PDF (http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP520.PDF)

[smarthawke]

It isn't anything to do with LAMS what you can and cannot do, it's the ANO with more explanatory info in CAP520 Light Aircraft Maintenance as Mixture says (see below). I'm not sure that Euge actually wants to do the job himself though, more just wants some work done.

I presume that you want to have the seats recovered rather than actually purchase complete new seats. There are a number of specialist firms which will do the job for you (and recover the sidewalls and fit new carpets). Most will tend to the 'springing' at the same time and repaint the frames. Make sure they are thouroughly inspected for cracks.

These days in EASA land if the seat covering doesn't have a Piper part number on it then it is a mod and drawings have to made for approval etc. Whether many PA28 owners actually go to this extreme and pretty much double the cost of the job, I couldn't possibly comment....

PA28-161 Warriors have a rear bench seat and that is your lot, I'm afraid. Archers and Arrows (and PA28-140s) have individual rear seats but you can't change one for the other. I doubt anyone has done a mod to change the design, just not worth it.

Lap strap seat belts aren't too expensive to buy new (Piper Parts UK are at Shoreham) and are normally made by Am-Safe. The inertia reel shoulder harness are made by Pacific Scientific and their European place is at Maidenhead, Berks. They can overhaul them totally legally for about £100.

Sun visors are also available from Piper (as others have said, there may be mandatory placards on them which must be displayed somewhere in accordance with the Flight Manual). There are after-market sun visors available which if they are an EASA approved STC (mod) then can be fitted.

I strongly recommend that you discuss your wants list with your engineers and let them do the work. You can cause an awful lot of problems with aircraft if you don't know what you are doing. Sun visor, seat and seat belt removal are not long jobs but things like the seats need to be refitted properly....


Air Navigation Order

Section 3, Part 4.12

Pilots maintenance—prescribed repairs or replacements

12. For the purposes of article 16(7)(a), the following repairs or replacements are prescribed—
(a) replacement of landing gear tyres, landing skids or skid shoes;
(b) replacement of elastic shock absorber cord units on landing gear where special tools are
not required;
(c) replacement of defective safety wiring or split pins excluding those in
engine, transmission, flight control and rotor systems;
(d) patch-repairs to fabric not requiring rib stitching or the removal of structural parts or
control surfaces, if the repairs do not cover up structural damage and do not include
repairs to rotor blades;
(e) repairs to upholstery and decorative furnishing of the cabin or cockpit interior when
repair does not require dismantling of any structure or operating system or interfere with
an operating system or affect the structure of the aircraft;
(f) repairs, not requiring welding, to fairings, non-structural cover plates and cowlings;
(g) replacement of side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or with
any operating system;
(h) replacement of safety belts or safety harnesses;
(i) replacement of seats or seat parts not involving dismantling of any structure or of any
operating system;
(j) replacement of bulbs, reflectors, glasses, lenses or lights;
(k) replacement of any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller, rotors or
disconnection of engine or flight controls;
(l) replacement of unserviceable sparking plugs;
(m) replacement of batteries;
(n) replacement of wings and tail surfaces and controls, the attachments of which are
designed to provide for assembly immediately before each flight and dismantling after
each flight;
(o) replacement of main rotor blades that are designed for removal where special tools are
not re(p) replacement of generator and fan belts designed for removal where special tools are not required;
(q) replacement of VHF communication equipment, being equipment which is not combined
with navigation equipment

I've tried for years to offend A&C and not succeeded yet....

[mixture]

I'm not sure that Euge actually wants to do the job himself though

Indeed .... I'm quietly hoping it's a case of him taxying into a hangar, wish list in hand, and telling the LAME to "Pimp my ride !" :ok:

[eugegall]

^^ nail on the head. wish list in hand. bish bash. job done!

[mixture]

Not wishing to give your credit card any ideas, but what's your panel looking like ? I'd be tempted with kit over fabrics, but then that's just me ....

Well done on choosing a PA28 and not joining that club of C word flyers !

[BackPacker]

Don't worry, in my experience A and C is offence-proof :-)

Good. Otherwise I would have sent him one of these:

http://www.aviationmegastore.com/?shopid=LM47eadfc2434b71208594e647cf&action=prodinfo&parent_id=318&art=52160

[146fixer]

BackPacker,that links just made may day.I've ordered one.:ok: