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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2007 - 0256 

Date: 19 September 2007 

No person may operate an aircraft to which an Airworthiness Directive applies, except in accordance with the 

requirements of that Airworthiness Directive unless otherwise agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name: 

Pacific Scientific Company, 

HTL/KIN-TECH Division 

Type/Model designations: 

Restraint Systems: 2000029, 2000067, 

2000115 

TSOA Number: various 

ETSOA Number: various, e.g. CAA UK Approval Number AR01193, AR0197, AR01199. 

Foreign AD: None 

Supersedure: None 

 

ATA 25 Equipment and Furnishing - Seat Restraint System Plastic Rotary 

Buckle Handle - Inspection/Replacement 

 

Manufacturer: Pacific Scientific Company 

Applicability: All the Pacific Scientific rotary buckles p/n’s 1111430-XX and 1111475-XX 

used on restraint systems p/n’s: 

2000029-01 2000067-01 2000115-101 

2000029-03 2000115-121 

2000029-101 

2000029-121 

manufactured from November 2004 through May 2007 inclusive. 

These p/n’s are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter a/c 

models AS 350, AS 355, EC120, EC 130, EC 155. 

The applicability of this AD is limited to rotorcraft only and is not intended for 

aeroplanes. 

Reason: Pacific Scientific has received field reports of several instances of cracking on 

the guarded rotary buckle assembly plastic handle part numbers 1111430-XX 

and 1111475-XX with a date of manufacture from November 2004 through 

May 2007 inclusive. 

Preliminary testing performed by Pacific Scientific on buckle assemblies with 

cracked plastic handles indicates that in some circumstances when a load is 
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placed on the restraint system, the straps may not release as intended when 

the buckle is rotated. 

These circumstances are: 

 • a passenger who weights more than 50 kg and 

 • an aircraft upside down. 

This could therefore result in a potential unsafe condition in event of an 

emergency landing or when the occupant is bearing on the buckle. 

The above is considered possible to take place for helicopters only and not for 

large aeroplanes. 

This AD requires identification of all affected buckles, an inspection for cracks 

and ultimate replacement of the entire batch of suspect buckles. 

Effective Date: 03 October 2007 

Compliance: Required as follows, unless already accomplished, in accordance with the 

instructions of Pacific Scientific SB 25-1111432 original issue dated May 22, 

2007: 

1. within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect the seat 

restraint systems, installed on seats or held as spare, to identify if 

the buckles part numbers are those affected by this AD; if yes, 

check the buckles for integrity. 

2. Immediately replace any cracked buckle with an airworthy part or 

mark the seat as “un-operative”. 

3. In the 6 months following the effective date of this AD repeat 

inspection of the buckles affected by this AD before any flight and 

immediately replace them with an airworthy part if any start of 

cracking is detected or mark the seat as “un-operative”. Not later 

than 6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace all rotary 

buckles, as identified in the Applicability section of this AD, with an 

airworthy part. 

4. After 6 months from the effective date of this AD, no person may 

install on any aircraft as a replacement part any spare rotary buckle 

having P/N 1111430-XX or 1111475-XX with a manufacturing date 

from November 2004 through May 2007 inclusive, or install any 

spare restraint system having the above mentioned buckle part 

numbers and manufacturing date. 

Ref. Publications: Pacific Scientific SB 25-1111432 issue dated May 22, 2007. 

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

Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. This AD was posted on 03 August 2007 as PAD 07-134 for consultation until 

07 September 2007. The Comment Response Document can be found at 

http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ . 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the AD Focal Point - 

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

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

AD, please contact: 

Pacific Scientific Aviation Services

11700 N.W. 102nd Rd. # 6 

Miami, Florida 33178 

United States 

Ph: 305-477-4711 

Fax: 305-477-9799 
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Contact: Edel Mena 

www.pacscimiami.com

Pacific Scientific UK Ltd.

Howarth Road, Maidenhead 

Berkshire SL6 1AP 

United Kingdom 

Ph: 44-1628 68-2200 

Fax: 44-1628-68 2250 

Contact: Ross Hamilton 

Pacific Scientific Germany

Unit 6 Hagen Park 

Miramstrasse 74 

34123 Kassel 

Germany 

Tel: + 49 (0) 561 57981 0 

Fax: + 49 (0) 561 57981 25 

Contact: Michael Hippe