EASA AD No.: 2012-0038 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/3 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2012-0038 

Date: 12 March 2012 

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with 

Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and 

of the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that 

Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate 

an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency 

[EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

SICMA AERO SEAT

Type/Model designation(s) : 

Passenger seat series 9140, 9166, 9173, 9174, 9184, 

9188, 9196, 91B7, 91B8, 91C0, 91C2, 91C4, 91C5, 

91C9, 9301, 9501

ETSO (JTSO) Authorisations: EASA 21O.251; DGAC France QAC 54010/SFACT/TC, 

 QAC 53854/SFACT/TC, QAC 944322/SFACT/N, 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure: This AD supersedes DGAC France AD 2001-605(AB), dated 12 December 2001. 

ATA 25 Equipment & Furnishings – Passenger Seat Backrest Link – 

Inspection / Replacement 

Manufacturer(s): Sicma Aero Seat (part of Zodiac Aerospace) 

Applicability: Passenger seat series 9140, 9166, 9173, 9174, 9184, 9188, 9196, 91B7, 

91B8, 91C0, 91C2, 91C4, 91C5, 91C9, 9301 and 9501, as identified in Annex 

1 issue 3 of Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin (SB) 90-25-012 issue 6. 

The affected passenger seats are known to be installed on, but no limited to, 

Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 777 aeroplanes. 

Reason: On in-service passenger seats, some cracks were found on seat backrest link 

with part number (P/N) 90-000200-104-1 and 90-000200-104-2. 

These cracks could significantly affect the structural integrity of the seat 

backrests. Failures of the seat backrests could result in injury to passengers 

or crew members during an emergency landing. 

To prevent this condition, a life limit was introduced on the affected backrest 

links and their mandatory replacement was required by DGAC France 

AD 2001-605(AB). 

Since that AD was issued, the seat manufacturer introduced new seat 

backrest links of similar design with P/N 90-000202-104-1 and P/N 

90-000202-104-2 for passenger seat series 91B7, 91B8 and 91C5. 

Further analysis showed that also the new seat backrest links are potentially 

affected by similar cracks to those identified on the backrest links with the 

previous design. 
EASA AD No.: 2012-0038 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/3 

For the reasons described above, this AD, which supersedes DGAC France 

AD 2001-605(AB), requires visual inspections of the seat backrest links, the 

accomplishment of the applicable corrective actions as well as the 

replacement of the backrests links before reaching their life limit. 

Effective Date: 26 March 2012 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) Inspect the seat backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1, 

P/N 90-000200-104-2, P/N 90-000202-104-1 and P/N 90-000202-104-2 

in accordance with the accomplishment instructions of Sicma Aero Seat 

SB 90-25-012 issue 6 within: 

(A) 6 000 seat operating hours or 2 years, whichever occurs later, from 

the seat manufacturing date or from the backrest link replacement, 

or 

(B) 900 seat operating hours after the effective date of this AD, but no 

later than 5 months after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later between (A) and (B). 

Note: For the purpose of this AD, seat operating hours are considered to 

be equivalent to flight hours. 

(2) Depending on the results of the inspection required by paragraph (1) of 

this AD, do the actions required by Table 1 of this AD, within the 

applicable compliance time(s) indicated, in accordance with the 

accomplishment instructions of Sicma Aero Seat SB 90-25-012 issue 6: 

INSPECTION RESULTS ACTION 

The links are not cracked Repeat the inspection at intervals 

not to exceed 900 seat operating 

hours or 5 months since the last 

inspection, whichever occurs later 

The link(s) has (have) crack(s) 

whose length does not exceed the 

lock-out pin-hole (see applicable 

figures on Sicma Aero Seat 

SB 90-25-012 issue 6) 

Replace the cracked link(s) within 

600 operating hours or 3 months, 

whichever occurs later, after 

crack identification 

The link(s) has (have) crack(s) 

whose length exceeds the 

lock-out pin-hole (see applicable 

figures on Sicma Aero Seat 

SB 90-25-012 issue 6) 

Replace the cracked link(s) before 

the next flight 

Table 1 

(3) In any case after accomplishment of the requirements of paragraphs (1) 

and (2) of this AD, replace all seat backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1, 

P/N 90-000200-104-2, P/N 90-000202-104-1 and P/N 90-000202-104-2 

in accordance with the accomplishment instructions of Sicma Aero Seat 

SB 90-25-012 issue 6 within: 

(C) 12 000 seat operating hours or 4 years, whichever occurs later, from 

the seat manufacturing date or from the backrest link replacement, 
EASA AD No.: 2012-0038 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/3 

or 

(D) 3 500 seat operating hours after the effective date of this AD, but no 

later than 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later between (C) and (D). 

Ref. Publications: Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin 90-25-012 issue 6, dated 25 January 2012. 

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD. 

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. This AD was posted on 07 February 2012 as PAD 12-009 for consultation 

until 06 March 2012. No comments were received during the consultation 

period. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

Section, Executive Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu. 

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact: 

Sicma Aero Seat 

Z.I. la Limoise rue Robert Maréchal Sénior 

36100 Issoudun – France 

Telephone: +33 (0)2 54 03 39 39 ; Fax: +33 (0)2 54 03 39 00 

E-mail: guillaume.baron@zodiacaerospace.com and/or 

quentin.govindapoulle@zodiacaerospace.com.