Great Value
 

Had this MOD done for free last year (in my 172). Dennis Robinson (Cessna parts supplier, Keighley) supplied the kit worth about £500, and although he invoiced it, he never expected me to pay. Once the engineer (Caldwell Aviation, Little Staughton) had installed and filled in the paperwork, Dennis reclaims from Cessna, pays himself, and then refunds the cost of installation (paid by Cessna). Why wouldn't you do it? Cessna kept extending the freebie, so better check with Dennis if still valid. Cessna recommend passenger seat too, but no help with costs, so the the old seat stops are still in place and quite sufficient...........

When I rent a C172, what am I looking for to see if this mod has been done or not? Is there a picture somewhere? Is it just an additional "seat belt" under the seat that will stop the seat from retracting abruptly or are there different mods for different planes?

A seat stop is a good idea. I have this one:

AEROSTOP SEAT LOCKS from Aircraft Spruce

Effective, simple and doesn't hurt the seat track like the thumbscrew types. No holes to drill that weaken the seat track, either. Makes no difference, but I know the folks who make it. Good folks.

The Cessna one may be free, but free isn't always the best option depending on one's own requirements. Just another option to consider.

Looks like this or this

Inertia reel may be mounted in the centre as pictured or left / right rear of the seat frame depending on Cessna Model. Note it is not applicable to the restart models (1996 & On) due to better seat track and locking pin design.

Applies to 1948 C170 thru to P210R all models except 188 and 305.

The purpose of the secondary seat stop should be that "when", not "if", the seat unexpectedly unlatches, the pilots seat will not move far enough back that you can't still apply full travel to all the flight and engine controls.

The problem with the fixed seat track stops is that to get the seat far enough back so that you can actually get in, you will usually be so far back that you can't apply full rudder or sometimes even reach the throttle. This is easy to test as you simply sit in the airplane and try to move all the controls with the seat at the seat position.

The beauty of the Cessna supplied system is it has an initial reel so that you can slide the seat all the way back to get in and then when you slide the seat up the reel retracts which means the seat can't slide very far back from the normal flight position.

Personally I will not fly in any Cessna SEP that does not have this mod. I also wonder at the attention to maintenance the owner of an airplane which does not have this mod, has applied to the upkeep of the aircraft. If he/she could not be arsed to get a free safety upgrade, what else are they not doing.....