Ejection seat failure...

[JakesF14]

was it due to lack of service??

http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/ ... ZU-BEX.pdf

[specter177]

Did they discover whether the safety pins were in or not?

[JakesF14]

Did they discover whether the safety pins were in or not?

I don't know--I am trying to get more info.. but its not easy 

[expat]

Did they discover whether the safety pins were in or not?

That would have been in the report as it would not have been a small insignificant matter. I would have though that it is more likely to be linked to the seat servicing extension(s) and that the initiation cartridges appear to be out of date. Sadly though, from time to time a seat regardless of age or how modern it is does not go bang at the right time.

Matt

[JakesF14]

Thanks Matt, that is true. As long as the seat don't go BANG before the time!

[expat]

Thanks Matt, that is true. As long as the seat don't go BANG before the time!

That has happened before too.

Test Pilot Taylor Scott RNR

Last flight

It is though that the seat drogue self initiated and dragged him out og the aircraft

Matt

[Bruce448]

I was a seat maintainer for 25 years on MB mk8, 10 and 12's. Both the 10 and 12's  seats have what is called Manual Firing handle which is used if the Seat Pan Firing Handle fails for any reason, normally the pilot when ejecting will have the left hand on the Seat pan handle and the right hand on the Manual Firing Handle as a belt and braces manouver, as for the mk8 and earlier, I refused to ride an any aircraft due to the reliability and fatality rate, if you got your weight clocked in wrong by 2lb the seat would do it's own thing (a manual means of adjusting the direction that the rocket pack on the underside of the seat pan would point used in twin seated aircraft to prevent the seats from colliding into each other, i.e. port seat to port ), because it's C of G was then wrong.

As for pins still being fitted, as an experienced pilot I doubt it, and secondly the pin holder is in a position where they can be seen by both the ground crew and pilot as a departure pre-requosite. Belt and braces once again.


The MOD Form 700 is still in use by the British Military today, and the extension to the servicing is not unheard of, unless the fitted service life of the power cartrigdes and Survival equipment expires, which ever is the earliest. There is normally only two extensions granted.

Bruce