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Seat belt attach tabs were ground off...

KeithO

KeithO

PATRON
Arizona
Below is a photo of my plane's "amputated" seat belt attachment tabs. Someone before my apparently decided that the tabs were not needed. I can;t find any record in the logs of the tabs being added or cut off. It's a 1982 certificated Supercub.
Can anyone help answer the following questions?

1. Are the tabs original equipment?
2. If they were added, then presumably it would have been under a STC. Is that correct? If so, what is the STC number?
3. I would like to have floor mounted seat belt attachments. What would be the procedure to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

PXL_20240303_230822607.webp
 
F Atlee Dodge. Looks to me like someone welded in a set without paperwork then decided to cut them off and moved the belts back to the seat. I would get the STC from Atlees and put them back in. Biggest issue is they are welded to the tube under the floor. Will take some work and probably fabric patching to get them
Back in.
 
You should have a 337 and STC 02043AK in the logbooks. It is 436 dollars for the STC Then you have to figure out how to weld in new tabs. Try to remove floor or cut and patch fabric. Overall a expensive project best done at next rebuild. Cables like Cubdriver2 has is the route I would recommend at this point for speed and cost of fix. Note the holes in the floor looks like someone had a homemade rear stick cover at one point and somehow they thought saving weight by cutting of to top of the tape would make them a better pilot:rolleyes: It is little stuff like this that would make me question what other crap was done to plane, I would have someone that understands cubs go over it throughly
DENNY
 
DENNY said:
Note the holes in the floor looks like someone had a homemade rear stick cover at one point
DENNY
Click to expand...
Original, this is what Piper put there.

A3310089.jpg
https://www.supercubproject.com/drawings/pdfs/A3310089.pdf
 
Last edited:
Looks to me like there’s a significant “tab” still remaining above the tube but below the floor. I would pull up the floor and weld an extension onto that tab. Might want a doubler on it. Consult 43.13, may have something to say on repair of flat bar. Note the repaired tab in the log. You wouldn’t have to cut/repair fabric.
 
DENNY said:
You should have a 337 and STC 02043AK in the logbooks. It is 436 dollars for the STC Then you have to figure out how to weld in new tabs. Try to remove floor or cut and patch fabric. Overall a expensive project best done at next rebuild. Cables like Cubdriver2 has is the route I would recommend at this point for speed and cost of fix. Note the holes in the floor looks like someone had a homemade rear stick cover at one point and somehow they thought saving weight by cutting of to top of the tape would make them a better pilot:rolleyes: It is little stuff like this that would make me question what other crap was done to plane, I would have someone that understands cubs go over it throughly
DENNY
Click to expand...
The stick setup is stock. I suspected the tape was put there top keep small items from jamming the stick.
No doubt the cover was added for the same reason. I don't have the cover so I don't know. There are a ton of STCs added to this plane. I have almost found them all.
 
Mr. Ed said:
Looks to me like there’s a significant “tab” still remaining above the tube but below the floor. I would pull up the floor and weld an extension onto that tab. Might want a doubler on it. Consult 43.13, may have something to say on repair of flat bar. Note the repaired tab in the log. You wouldn’t have to cut/repair fabric.
Click to expand...
The plane has a metal belly. I haven't checked but I am hoping dropping one of the panels will let me access that area.
 
DENNY said:
You should have a 337 and STC 02043AK in the logbooks. It is 436 dollars for the STC Then you have to figure out how to weld in new tabs. Try to remove floor or cut and patch fabric. Overall a expensive project best done at next rebuild. Cables like Cubdriver2 has is the route I would recommend at this point for speed and cost of fix. Note the holes in the floor looks like someone had a homemade rear stick cover at one point and somehow they thought saving weight by cutting of to top of the tape would make them a better pilot:rolleyes: It is little stuff like this that would make me question what other crap was done to plane, I would have someone that understands cubs go over it throughly
DENNY
Click to expand...
I can't find any evidence of the STC. I'm calling around to folks that have done work on the plane in the past to see if the STC was issued but not logged. Given the aircraft's history it seems strange that there would not be a record since I have been able to track down other "missing" STCs. 1982 to 2023 is a long time though.
 
Update: Mystery solved. I now know at least when and where the tabs were installed (entry was buried in the logbooks with a bunch of other STC'd mods...). There is not associated STC however. The work is signed off however.
 
Looks to be enough material to add the tab right onto the remaining material. I have welded in worse places and tighter areas than that. Like Denny said, what else has been done to that thing if thats been done.
 
If it is a full metal belly it would make fixing the issue much easier. Pull the seat/toque tube/brake masters/rear controls/floor board. Most likely two person job then weld on new tabs and reassemble. It could snow ball if interior panels have to be removed also. Good way to learn about your plane if the IA approves of you doing most of the work.
DENNY
EDIT: If you got lucky you might be able to grind off and replace the tabs from below with the right welder doing the job.
 
The floor is a pia to remove, I would consider enlarging the hole in the wood floor just enough to allow welding to the remaining tab then fabricate a trim plate out of aluminum to cover the hole with a slot where tab sticks thru
 
Oliver said:
The floor is a pia to remove, I would consider enlarging the hole in the wood floor just enough to allow welding to the remaining tab then fabricate a trim plate out of aluminum to cover the hole with a slot where tab sticks thru
Click to expand...
You don't want welding sparks to go under the floorboards.
 
No welding sparks with TIG, or tape off the area if doing MIG, I do this kind of work daily on equipment to airplanes. I agree, open hole slightly on the tight side, weld a new piece onto that remaining part, vacuum out anything that finds its way down there which shouldn't be much once its all masked off.
 
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