SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT BOLT CAME UNDONE.

Narrative

THE PLT'S SEAT BELTS IN THE TWIN CESSNAS BOLT INTO THE FLOOR; WHEREAS PAX BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEATS. AS THE SEATS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER (FOR AND AFT); THE PAX SITTING BEHIND THE PLT'S SEATS OFTEN PUT THEIR FEET ON THE BELTS; PRIOR TO WHERE THE BELT ATTACHES. THEY USUALLY DON'T NOTICE THIS AND YOU HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE TO MOVE THEIR FEET IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM BEING SQUEEZED IN TWO! I AM SO ACCUSTOMED TO THIS; THAT I USUALLY JUST LIFE THE BELT UP FROM UNDERNEATH THE OFFENDING FOOT AND THE PERSON GETS THE MESSAGE. ON THIS DAY; I GRABBED THE R HALF OF THE BELT WITH MY R HAND; BUT RIGHT AWAY I FELT THE BELT GO SLACK. I QUICKLY LOOKED AT THE BUCKLE; BUT IT WAS SECURELY LATCHED. WITH A SICK FEELING; I REALIZED THE BELT WAS DANGLING IN MY R HAND. I HAD ALWAYS ASSUMED THAT THE BELTS WERE BOLTED INTO THE FLOOR. ON INSPECTION; HOWEVER; I DISCOVERED THAT THE BELT END IS A BOLT SCREW WHICH IS SCREWED INTO A SPOT IN THE FLOOR. AFTER POKING AROUND IN THE CARPET; I FOUND THE HOLE; SCREWED THE BELT BACK IN; TUGGED ON IT FOR SECURITY; AND PROCEEDED TO CHK THE ENDS OF THE OTHER BELTS. THEY ALL WERE SEVERAL TURNS LOOSE. FACTORS: OVER TIME; WITH PAX KICKING THE BELTS AND CREWMEMBERS DROPPING THEM ON THE FLOOR; PICKING THEM UP AGAIN AND TWISTING THEM BACK INTO PROPER POS; THE BELTS CAN WORK THEMSELVES OUT OF THEIR SECURED PLACE. PERIODIC PREFLT INSPECTIONS ON THEIR SECURITY CAN ALLEVIATE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROB.