PLT RPT; DC9 ENRTE TO HARTFORD; THE WT OF A 400 LB MAN BROKE 2 SEATS AND SEAT BACKS. VIOLATION OF FARS OF PAX SEATING FOR LNDG.
Synopsis
PLT RPT; DC9 ENRTE TO HARTFORD; THE WT OF A 400 LB MAN BROKE 2 SEATS AND SEAT BACKS. VIOLATION OF FARS OF PAX SEATING FOR LNDG.
Narrative
A 400 LB PAX BROKE 2 SEAT BACKS COMPLETELY DOWN AND BROKE THE SEAT FRAME WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RECLINE HIS SEAT. THE ACFT WAS COMPLETELY FULL (IE; ALL SEATS OCCUPIED). FOR THE APCH AND LNDG INTO BDL; I MOVED THE 400 LB MAN INTO A SEAT IN THE LAST ROW OF COACH CLASS CABIN. THE MUCH SMALLER MAN THAT HAD BEEN OCCUPYING THAT SEAT WAS PUT ON THE AFT FLT ATTENDANT JUMP SEAT WITH ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT. THERE WERE SEATBELTS AND SHOULDER STRAPS FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS. THE 400 LBS MAN'S WIFE WAS PUT IN A SEAT ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED BY A 2 YR OLD CHILD. THE FATHER OF THE CHILD HELD THE CHILD IN HIS LAP FOR APCH AND LNDG; WHICH WERE UNEVENTFUL. I AM FILLING OUT THIS RPT ON THE ADVICE OF MY SUPVR; WHO AGREED I DID THE RIGHT THING (NOT MUCH CHOICE) BY PUTTING A PAX IN THE UNOCCUPIED FLT ATTENDANT'S JUMP SEAT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE 6 FT 6 IN 400 LB MAN WHO BROKE THE TWO SEATS AND SEAT BACKS WITH HIS WEIGHT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BACKS WOULD HURT THE PEOPLE BEHIND HIM. THE CAPT'S MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT THE WT OF THE MAN DISLODGED THE TWO SEATS OFF THE TRACK ON THE FLOOR. THE CAPT FELT THAT THIS WAS A REAL DESIGN DEFECT. HE TALKED TO ONE OF HIS MECHS AFTER THE FLT ABOUT THIS FACT; AND THE MECH REPLIED; 'THESE SEATS ARE A BUNCH OF JUNK; ANYWAY.' THE CAPT SAID THAT HE HAD NO ALTERNATIVE IN BREAKING THE FARS ON SEATING OF PAX; EG; THE MAN IN THE FLT ATTENDANT'S JUMP SEAT; BECAUSE THEY HAD A FULL FLT AND TWO UNUSABLE SEATS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.