John Bolding
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 281
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 Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:52 am Post subject: Seat belt anchor, 701 |
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George,
It is POSSIBLE that we are dealing with more than one failure mode here and I don't wish to get into a pissing contest with anyone over a well designed airplane that has stood the test of time. What really has blown my skirt up over these failures is the fact that I HAD a crash in an RV3, the restraint system did NOT "give" (as has been suggested by some that this system is designed to do, BS I say) and aside from some world class bruises from the seat belts, I was uninjured. I DIDN'T hit the panel. I demand the same thing from this airplane.
Everything can be improved and this area has shown it can stand some.
MY belief is the tunnel is NOT the place to bet your life,or your daughter's pretty face. It's a piece of 025 alum that does have some shape to it making it more suitable BUT it does not match the "robustness" (is that a word?) that the gear tunnel has and THAT part is VERY close so that's what I'm using.
To answer your question, a larger doubler and bolts improves the situation but to what degree is unknown. Worst case I guess is 2 guys that are each over 200#, that will put a LOT of load on the tunnel and how IT is attached.
I have a test fixture left over from an amphib design project I did a long time ago that I'm rigging up to do some pull tests on a few pieces of 025 in the shape of the tunnel. In the pictures I post showing the results I'll have some various colors of Scotchbrite in the background so everybody feels included and I remain politically correct.
LOW&SLOW John Bolding
If the problem with the tunnel seat belt anchor is that it is pulling out, would bolts work better than rivets to attach the anchor to the tunnel? My current plan is to use a steel anchor, possibly bolted to the tunnel with a doubler (larger than the zenith mod), and with the doubler being larger, it is riveted to the tunnel in addition to being bolted to the anchor. This would spread loads over a greater area on the tunnel and I am thinking the bolts would be less likely to pull out. What say ye, list?
George
N701GM Reserved
Wiring Panel
Milwaukee
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