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Adding fifth point for seat belt

oaklandaviator

Well Known Member
Does anyone know how to add the crotch strap attach point to an airplane that wasn't built with one? We're thinking about the Simpson six point system instead, but want to see how difficult doing the standard five point would be.

Thanks
 
5th point

Not horrible. Basically it's two brackets that fit between a set if seat ribs.
Worst part is drilling holes with a 90 adapter. Then just set a bunch of pop rivets.
It's important to have the correct spacer between the two brackets and use something to set them square and perpendicular plus a faux seat floor to get them positioned correctly.
 
I doubt that Van's will have anything off the shelf to fit the RV 3. Some builders have added a 5th point mount to the F 304 bulkhead (which forms part of the control mixer support structure), this puts it further forward than is ideal and could, (I think), lessen it's effectiveness. The RV 3 also has a shorter seat rib right on the center line of the airframe so any sort between the seat ribs fixture would have the mount point slightly off center.

The plans also have the seat pan permanently fixed with blind rivets so unless the builder installed nutplates/screws instead you would need to drill those out to gain access to the seat ribs.

A 5th point belt mount is doable but you will most likely have to put your ingenuity to work.

Russell
 
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