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BAS
Shoulder Harness Install Article from ABS Magazine
Read this article for a
very big time saving template design for cutting the headliner! Cutting the
headliner was the most tedious part of the project for me. The template idea in
the ABS article will be a big help to you and your mechanic.
This project can easily be accomplished with a
buddy in a weekend or one long Saturday with time left for some beers to
celebrate!
See
My BAS Install Pics Here (Click thru 9 Pics)
Don't Delay! If you think
you don't need shoulder harnesses, Click
HERE
for this NTSB report. Pilot and Co-Pilot (Pilot was a Beech Lister) die
of massive head injuries suffered in the crash landing while rear seat occupant
walks away from scene with a broken arm!
I recently learned that "Hooker" style shoulder
harnesses were installed in this plane BUT were not being used by the pilot &
co-pilot! The Hooker style harnesses connect to the rear seat belt. There have
been concerns expressed by some for possible spinal compression with these
Hooker types of belts. Unbelievably sad that they were not even using the Hooker
style, probably due to one passenger being in the rear of the plane at the time.
Beech Lister "JB" sprang for the extra bucks to
get the quick release buckles on his BAS shoulder harnesses as seen below.
Very nice choice JB!
Check out this Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety Video
HERE of two Chevy's and see why you might want to have shoulder harnesses in
your Beechcraft. Also, give some thought to finding some headrests if you don't
already have them. Look at the snap back of the dummy's neck in the Malibu. The
dummy in the BelAir didn't even get to have his neck snapped back because the
roof collapsed on him!
Beech Lister John (Weebs) W. recently posted this
situation which might have had a different ending with shoulder harnesses. Read
it and decide for yourself.
Some of you may know that Ron Meyer (SWBS member
was killed this last Saturday at Wiley Post airport) went west. Following is an
excerpt from a SWBS member close to the family and accident. Of particular
interest is the statement in the last paragraph posted below:
Here is the latest information we have on the Ron
& Nam Meyer Bonanza accident
last Saturday:
Everyone around the airport is still in shock and
speculating on what could have
gone wrong. All that is known for sure is that he lost power on a
left downwind
departure from 17L at KPWA and was not able to make it back to the airport. The
accident site is 5,500 feet from the approach end of runway 17L, but the airport
property open area is only about 2,600 feet away. There are almost no other
places on the east side of the airport that are usable as an emergency landing
site.
Ron's body is to be released from the medical
examiner today and viewing will be at Barnes Friederich Funeral Home in Midwest
City tomorrow and Saturday before cremation. Nam should be released from the
hospital today and will be transferred to rehab at the Jim Thorpe Rehab Center
here in OKC.
The family plans a memorial service when she has
recovered sufficiently to attend, so no date has been set. I do not have an
update on the condition of the other passengers other than the passenger riding
in the baggage compartment jump seat was not seriously injured.
The airplane was brought back to KPWA and put in
the hangar Saturday and the FAA and NTSB have completed their investigations. A
Hawker-Beech representative removed the fuel valve and took it back to Wichita
for investigation. The engine was removed and will be shipped to Continental for
analysis. The recovery team removed the wings and trucked it out yesterday, I
assume to ASOD in Dallas.
After seeing the damage to the panel, I am
convinced that Ron's and the right front seat passenger's injuries would have
been much less severe had they been using shoulder belts, however the airplane
was not equipped with them.
Seems once again that installed shoulder
harnesses "may" have prevented a death and more serious injuries. My
condolences to the Meyers family.
BAS 1970 & Earlier Beech Info
HERE 1971 & Later
HERE
My Editorial Opinion follows:
In case you're
thinking about an "Auto Style" three point harness, riddle me this
Batman, why don't we see three-point auto harnesses in the crew seats on jet
aircraft, race cars and the bumper cars at the amusement park? Nuff said! To be
fair, I guess a three-point auto style shoulder harness is better than just lap
belts. But, as owner/PIC, you get to decide these things for yourself.
E-mail
me if you need pics of the BAS install
manual for review w/your mechanic.
The entire kit is
easily installed in <10 hours, even if it's your
first time seeing the instructions.
Do you need a CSOB shoulder harness solution?
Click
HERE to see a DIY bracket design and webbing and an already approved 337 for
the mod.
Front of 337
HERE
Back of 337
HERE
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Do I Really Need Shoulder Harnesses (Yeah, you DO!)