MIDDLEFIELD, OH, USA
N4649M
CESSNA 152
THE STUDENT PLT'S SEAT SLID BACK DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, FOLLOWING A TOUCH-AND-GO LDG. THE STUDENT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE SEAT ASSY BY A MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE SEAT LATCH ASSY TENSION SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE MECHANIC NOTED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE LATCH PIN OR THE SEAT TRACK THAT IT ENGAGES. THE PIN IS ATTACHED TO A HANDLE OPERATED BY THE PLT. DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE LOWERS THE PIN INTO ONE OF THE SEAT TRACK HOLES AND SECURES THE SEAT IN PLACE. THE SPRING ACTS TO ASSIST THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE AND PIN. THE CESSNA 152 PLT OPER HANDBOOK STATES THAT THE PLT SHOULD CONFIRM THAT THE SEAT IS LOCKED IN PLACE AFTER RELEASING THE HANDLE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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