Service difficulty report · Tab · Boeing 7878

Difficulty date
October 29, 2015
Submitted
October 30, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N801AC
Make and model
Boeing 7878
Aircraft serial
801A
Aircraft time
2,021 hours, 416 cycles
System (JASC)
2561 · Life Jacket
Part
Tab
Condition
Missing
Location
Access Panel
Component
Seat
Component part number
UNKNOWN
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

ON FIRST CLASS AND BUSINESS CLASS, SEATS LAY FLAT, SEAT POSITIONED, THE OPENING OF THE LIFE VEST COMPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE A PULL CLIP/TAB AVAILABLE TO OPEN THE LIFE VEST COMPARTMENT TO EXTRACT THE LIFE VEST FOR USE DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE PULL CLIP/TAB IS MISSING FROM THE ACCESS PANEL AFTER BEING KNOCKED OFF DURING FLIGHT BY PASSENGERS, DURING CLEANING PROCESSES, OR OTHER LIGHT DUTY ABUSE, AS WAS FOUND DURING AN A CHECK ON SEVERAL LAY FLAT SEAT POD ASSEMBLIES. THE DESIGN OF SAID CLIPS IS VERY FLIMSY AND IT'S FORM, FIT AND FUNCTION IS SUSPECT. THE LACK OF A PULL OPEN CLIP/TAB PROHIBITS THE LIFE VEST FROM BEING ACCESSED DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT INSPECTION OF VESTS CAN ALSO RESULT IN THE TAB BEING PULLED OFF OF THE PANEL. THERE ARE POTENTIALLY NUMEROUS MISSING TABS WITHIN THE ENTIRE FLEET OPERATED AT THE AIRLINE.

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