A load adaptive lift assist assembly (100, 300) for a pivoting stowage bin, the assembly comprising: a. an assembly housing having an interior and a pair of opposing end fittings (124, 128, 324, 328); b. a piston rod (132, 330) disposed within the interior of the housing and operatively coupled to one of the end fittings (124, 324), the piston rod (132, 330) configured to move between extended and retracted positions based on the movement of the pivoting stowage bin; c. a spring retainer (140, 320) coupled to at least one lift assist spring (150, 350); and d. a latch mechanism (170, 370, 704, 904) including at least one feature for retaining the spring retainer (140, 320) and preventing release of the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350) until a predetermined load in the stowage bin has been exceeded, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a body retaining a poppet retainer, and a retainer spring for biasing the poppet retainer in a predetermined position, wherein the latch mechanism body is cylindrical and has profiled slots, the at least one feature of the latch mechanism further including pins, that are disposed in the profiled slots and in which axial movement of the poppet retainer causes the pins to move within the profiled slots; and e. a load measurement spring that is deflected only when the predetermined load has been received in the pivoting stowage bin, and in which the deflection of the load measurement spring causes the latch mechanism (170, 370) to release the spring retainer (140, 320) and the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350), and wherein the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904) automatically latches and remains in a latched state that prevents release of the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350) until the load measurement spring is deflected due to the predetermined load, and the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904) automatically remains unlatched until the load measurement spring is no longer deflected, and wherein the piston rod is configured to move between the extended and retracted positions irrespective of the state of the spring retainer relative to the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904). a. an assembly housing having an interior and a pair of opposing end fittings (124, 128, 324, 328); b. a piston rod (132, 330) disposed within the interior of the housing and operatively coupled to one of the end fittings (124, 324), the piston rod (132, 330) configured to move between extended and retracted positions based on the movement of the pivoting stowage bin; c. a spring retainer (140, 320) coupled to at least one lift assist spring (150, 350); and d. a latch mechanism (170, 370, 704, 904) including at least one feature for retaining the spring retainer (140, 320) and preventing release of the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350) until a predetermined load in the stowage bin has been exceeded, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a body retaining a poppet retainer, and a retainer spring for biasing the poppet retainer in a predetermined position, wherein the latch mechanism body is cylindrical and has profiled slots, the at least one feature of the latch mechanism further including pins, that are disposed in the profiled slots and in which axial movement of the poppet retainer causes the pins to move within the profiled slots; and e. a load measurement spring that is deflected only when the predetermined load has been received in the pivoting stowage bin, and in which the deflection of the load measurement spring causes the latch mechanism (170, 370) to release the spring retainer (140, 320) and the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350), and wherein the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904) automatically latches and remains in a latched state that prevents release of the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350) until the load measurement spring is deflected due to the predetermined load, and the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904) automatically remains unlatched until the load measurement spring is no longer deflected, and wherein the piston rod is configured to move between the extended and retracted positions irrespective of the state of the spring retainer relative to the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904). wherein the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904) automatically latches and remains in a latched state that prevents release of the at least one lift assist spring (150, 350) until the load measurement spring is deflected due to the predetermined load, and the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904) automatically remains unlatched until the load measurement spring is no longer deflected, and wherein the piston rod is configured to move between the extended and retracted positions irrespective of the state of the spring retainer relative to the latch mechanism (370, 704, 904).