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1. 09:11 AM - Re: Safe Seats (Michael Gibbs)
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Thanks, George. For the most part we have recovered. I still have a knee iss
ue but it seldom interferes with day-to-day life.
Here is what I was referring to. Unfortunately, it still looks like they are
still not available for experimentals.
https://www.amsafe.com/seatbelt-airbag-system/
http://www.aviationconsumer.com/issues/49_6/safety/Airbag-Seatbelts-Pricey-B
ut-Effective_7067-1.html
Here are some posts in the list archives regarding seat reinforcement.
http://www.matronics.com/searching/getmsg_script.cgi?INDEX=23074266?KEYS=
kitfox_iv_seat?LISTNAME=Kitfox?HITNUMBER=1?SERIAL=09073513352?SHOWBUTT
ONS=YES
http://www.matronics.com/searching/getmsg_script.cgi?INDEX=23066622?KEYS=
kitfox_iv_seat?LISTNAME=Kitfox?HITNUMBER=2?SERIAL=09073513352?SHOWBUTT
ONS=YES
Mike G.
Phoenix, AZ
Kitfox Series 7
> On Sep 9, 2018, at 10:59 PM, George Nielsen <genie@swissmail.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear that you and your passenger h
ave suffered injury due to the crash. I hope that you have both fully recove
red.
>
> If you hear about seat belts with airbags please let me know. If you know w
here I can obtain an illustration or information about the straps under the s
eat please let me know as well. I understand that this is important to preve
nt injury to the vertebral column.
>
> George
>
>> On 09-Sep-18 23:22, Michael Gibbs wrote:
>>
>> Hi George,
>>
>> As the old timers on this list are aware, I crashed a model IV Kitfox in A
ugust of 2004. Based on my experience, it's not the seats that you should be
focused on, it's the instrument panel and lap/shoulder restraints. In my ca
se the airplane impacted rough terrain nose first which collapsed the nosewh
eel and caused the fuselage to snap at the firewall. When the firewall-forwa
rd portion bent upwards relative to the rest of the airframe, it caused the i
nstrument panel to move closer to myself and my passenger and the bottom of t
he panel smashed me in the shins, breaking both of my legs below the knee.
>>
>> My passenger suffered a non-displaced fracture of a lumbar vertebrae but I
think that was simply because there isn't much space or structure under the
seats to absorb impact. He recovered fully with bed rest.
>>
>> I think the shoulder straps and lap belt did what they were supposed to d
o in terms of restraining us but since the panel moved closer and downward I
still managed to hit it hard enough to break all of the bones in my face ex
cept for my nose (eye orbitals, cheek bones, jaw, etc.). My face was very sw
ollen and it was several days in the hospital before they noticed on an x-ra
y that the set knob for the altimeter was embedded in my cheek!
>>
>> I am interested in those airbags that are integrated into airplane should
er straps, I think in my case that would have made a lot of difference. Last
I checked they were not available for Kitfox/Avid aircraft but that was qui
te a while ago and it's time to check again.
>>
>> Getting back to your question, though, I do know some builders have used n
ylon straps to provide additional structural support to the bottom of the se
at pans due issues with cracking or failures of the fiberglass (usually due t
o heavy people, not accidents). Several straps running fore/aft can be attac
hed to the bars in front (below the knee) and back (beneath the occupant's b
ottoms) with just enough slack so that, when installed, the bottom of the se
at pan is partially supported by the straps.
>>
>> I hope this was helpful.
>>
>> Mike G.
>> Phoenix, AZ
>> Kitfox Series 7
>>
>>
>> George Nielsen wrote on 9/9/18 9:20 AM:
>>>
>>> As I possess and Avid Flyer and it is similar to a Kitfox I make use of t
his list. At present the seats of my Avid Flyer are out in order to facilita
te the installation of underseat avionics and an antenna. Does anyone know h
ow to improve the crash survivability of my aircraft by either replacing or m
odifying or including any additions to the seats. In my opinion it is necess
ary to have good seats to survive any crash unscathed or with minimal injuri
es. Thank you.
>>>
>>> George Nielsen
>>> Avid Flyer I-6640
>>> The Hague, the Netherlands
>>
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