A flight instructor discovers their beech be-76 was missing a plastic spacer that helps in securing ...

Attributes
ACN	783577
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Duchess 76
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	783577
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Recently it was discovered that our BE76 was missing a plastic spacer that helps aid in securing the shoulder strap to the lap belt. I do not know for sure if this piece was missing at the time of my flight; however it is a reminder to always be aware and never complacent when it comes to attention to detail. These small plastic pieces ensure the shoulder strap stays connected; especially in an impact situation and potentially saving your life.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated this is a separate lap belt configuration with a single cross-over type shoulder strap that attaches to the lap belt latching buckle. This buckle has a one quarter inch peg where the shoulder strap attaches to the buckle. The plastic spacer is crucial to securing the shoulder strap during impact situations. Reporter also stated he noticed similar type spacers on other aircraft shoulder to lap belt connections; but doesn't know the manufacturer of the seat belts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DISCOVERS THEIR BEECH BE-76 WAS MISSING A PLASTIC SPACER THAT HELPS IN SECURING THE SHOULDER STRAP TO THE LAP BELT. THIS SPACER ENSURES THE SHOULDER STRAP STAYS CONNECTED IN AN IMPACT SITUATION.

Narrative: RECENTLY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OUR BE76 WAS MISSING A PLASTIC SPACER THAT HELPS AID IN SECURING THE SHOULDER STRAP TO THE LAP BELT. I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS PIECE WAS MISSING AT THE TIME OF MY FLIGHT; HOWEVER IT IS A REMINDER TO ALWAYS BE AWARE AND NEVER COMPLACENT WHEN IT COMES TO ATTENTION TO DETAIL. THESE SMALL PLASTIC PIECES ENSURE THE SHOULDER STRAP STAYS CONNECTED; ESPECIALLY IN AN IMPACT SITUATION AND POTENTIALLY SAVING YOUR LIFE.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THIS IS A SEPARATE LAP BELT CONFIGURATION WITH A SINGLE CROSS-OVER TYPE SHOULDER STRAP THAT ATTACHES TO THE LAP BELT LATCHING BUCKLE. THIS BUCKLE HAS A ONE QUARTER INCH PEG WHERE THE SHOULDER STRAP ATTACHES TO THE BUCKLE. THE PLASTIC SPACER IS CRUCIAL TO SECURING THE SHOULDER STRAP DURING IMPACT SITUATIONS. REPORTER ALSO STATED HE NOTICED SIMILAR TYPE SPACERS ON OTHER ACFT SHOULDER TO LAP BELT CONNECTIONS; BUT DOESN'T KNOW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SEAT BELTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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 flight instructor discovers their beech be-76 was missing a plastic spacer that helps in securing the shoulder strap to the lap belt. This spacer ensures the shoulder strap stays connected in an impact situation.