Shaun, Bob and all
Your replies prompted me to have a look at the drawing in the manual, p37-2
dated 17 January 1996. And there to my surprise the drawing shows that the
shoulder straps on each set of seatbelts are placed to go directly over the
top of the headrests to a single bolt behind the headrest compartment!
I thought that this solved the problem but after measuring myself and the
seat back of the cockpit module (& allowing for some padding) I found that
the belts will pass about 3 to 4 inches downward to the top of the headrest
after crossing my shoulders.
Bob Berube's system should work OK but I don't like the idea of the cables
taking up clear space. It seems to me that an addition to the top of the
headrest might overcome the problem. How to do it?
Some Europa pilots might comment on whether the additional few inches of
height (in the form of a cap) should be fixed to the headrest-cum-storage
compartment, or whether it should be attached to the seat belt straps so as
to sit as a cap over the present storage compartment and yet be easily
lifted off with the straps when entering or leaving the cockpit.
JR (Bob) Gowing No 327 in Oz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Berube" <bberube@tampabay.rr.com>
Subject: RE: Seat Belt Attachment Route/Spinal Compression
> Several builders here in Florida are installing hard points in various
> locations aft in the fuselage. You are right in that the present location
> can and has caused spinal compressions. Hard points located against the
> roll over structure or back by the baggage bay bulkhead are good
locations.
> Use a short length of 3/16s aircraft stainless cable with swaged fittings
> for the additional length required. If you know the exact length, you can
> order the cable with the fittings swaged or take them to a sailboat
rigging
> shop and they will gladly do it. The tool is very expensive $4000.00 to
> swage the fork ends but they do look much better than clevis ends.
> Bob Berube A166
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-europa@aztec.houxou.com
> Subject: Seat Belt Attachment Route/Spinal Compression
>
>
> I saw Bob Harrison's message on headrests but has there been any comment
or
> action on the important issue of lifting the direction of the straps over
> the shoulders to avoid compressing the spine in a crash please?
>
> JR (Bob) Gowing 327
>
>
> Shaun Simpkins' A207original posting was:-
> Subject: Seat belt mount points
>
>
> The seat belts wrap over the seat back and attach near the spar. This does
> mount to the strongest point in the airframe, but isn't the best place
> ergonomically, as it can cause spinal compression in a crash. It seems to
> me that running the straps over a guide bar mounted stoutly to the
seatback
> but at the right height to bring them straight back from the shoulders,
> thence to the existing mount points, would improve things. Has anybody
> tried this, or considered this important enough to address?
>
>
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