A gulfstream V after landing and shutdown had the elevator disconnect activated by the pilots seatbe...

Attributes
ACN	551846
Time
Date	200205
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmpr.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gulfstream V
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	551846
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After landing and shutdown the elevator disconnect was inadvertently actuated when the pilot exited his seat. The actuation was a result of the loose end of the seat belt catching under the elevator disconnect cover and actuating the release when the pilots seat was moved aft. Fortunately this occurred on the ground and could be reset. It is possible for this to occur in-flight and create an extremely hazardous situation. The design of the cover provides an open area where the adjusting end of the belt can lodge and catch in the disconnect mechanism. See operating manual page 2A-27-00 enclosed. Note: this system requires a special tool to reset. A simple redesign of the cover could prevent this. I understand that this has happened on other occasions according to a flight instructor. They are teaching how to reset this but it should be prevented. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the inadvertent deployment of the elevator disconnect by the loose end of the pilots seatbelt is our first experience however, the problem is known and briefed by gulfstream 5 flight instructors. The reporter said with the deployment of the elevator disconnect a special tool is required to reset the disconnect device. The reporter stated the design of the disconnect cover is deficient as the seatbelt catches on the inboard surface flipping it open then activating the power disconnect assist trigger deploying the handle separating the left and right elevator systems. The reporter said this could be hazardous to flight if deployed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GULFSTREAM V AFTER LNDG AND SHUTDOWN HAD THE ELEVATOR DISCONNECT ACTIVATED BY THE PLTS SEATBELT OPENING THE DISCONNECT COVER AND ACTUATING THE RELEASE.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG AND SHUTDOWN THE ELEVATOR DISCONNECT WAS INADVERTENTLY ACTUATED WHEN THE PLT EXITED HIS SEAT. THE ACTUATION WAS A RESULT OF THE LOOSE END OF THE SEAT BELT CATCHING UNDER THE ELEVATOR DISCONNECT COVER AND ACTUATING THE RELEASE WHEN THE PLTS SEAT WAS MOVED AFT. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED ON THE GND AND COULD BE RESET. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS TO OCCUR INFLT AND CREATE AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SIT. THE DESIGN OF THE COVER PROVIDES AN OPEN AREA WHERE THE ADJUSTING END OF THE BELT CAN LODGE AND CATCH IN THE DISCONNECT MECHANISM. SEE OPERATING MANUAL PAGE 2A-27-00 ENCLOSED. NOTE: THIS SYSTEM REQUIRES A SPECIAL TOOL TO RESET. A SIMPLE REDESIGN OF THE COVER COULD PREVENT THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER OCCASIONS ACCORDING TO A FLT INSTRUCTOR. THEY ARE TEACHING HOW TO RESET THIS BUT IT SHOULD BE PREVENTED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE ELEVATOR DISCONNECT BY THE LOOSE END OF THE PLTS SEATBELT IS OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN AND BRIEFED BY GULFSTREAM 5 FLT INSTRUCTORS. THE RPTR SAID WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE ELEVATOR DISCONNECT A SPECIAL TOOL IS REQUIRED TO RESET THE DISCONNECT DEVICE. THE RPTR STATED THE DESIGN OF THE DISCONNECT COVER IS DEFICIENT AS THE SEATBELT CATCHES ON THE INBOARD SURFACE FLIPPING IT OPEN THEN ACTIVATING THE POWER DISCONNECT ASSIST TRIGGER DEPLOYING THE HANDLE SEPARATING THE L AND R ELEVATOR SYSTEMS. THE RPTR SAID THIS COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO FLT IF DEPLOYED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A gulfstream V after landing and shutdown had the elevator disconnect activated by the pilots seatbelt opening the disconnect cover and actuating the release.