Armrest Dropped

[hnorber]

On a short flight with my family this weekend, I noticed that the armrest between the 2 front seats 'collapsed' so that it no longer locks parallel to the floor when pushed down - but rather continues down to about 150 degrees (from perpendicular to the floor).  At one point, it even interfered with the trim wheel.  I think my 13 year old son put a little too much weight on it as we were prepping to start the engine. 

Does anyone know if there's a quick fix for this?

 

Thanks a bunch - and a general thanks for all the great advise that I've gotten from this forum in the 10 months since I've been a Mooney owner!

Very much hoping to be in a position to pay it forward one day.

 

 

-Howard

 

 

[rgpilot]

This happened to mine years ago. I had to open up the back of the seat to get to the bolts holding the armrest in place. I removed it and found that a pin of about 1/4 inch diameter had pulled out of the place it was pressed into. I was able to repair it. You can remove the armrest by removing the pop out on the side and using a socket. You will have to open up the pilot's seat back to get to everything you will need to work on.

I eventually had the seats recovered and removed the arm rest and the headrests and made the seat back higher as in modern autos.

[Marauder]

This happened to mine years ago. I had to open up the back of the seat to get to the bolts holding the armrest in place. I removed it and found that a pin of about 1/4 inch diameter had pulled out of the place it was pressed into. I was able to repair it. You can remove the armrest by removing the pop out on the side and using a socket. You will have to open up the pilot's seat back to get to everything you will need to work on.

I eventually had the seats recovered and removed the arm rest and the headrests and made the seat back higher as in modern autos.

I never knew they put armrests in a Mooney. Got a picture?

[hnorber]

I'll take a picture and post next time I'm at the plane (hopefully Thursday or Friday).

 

Thanks for the response, rgpilot.

[jpjp]

It is most likely the pressed pin that has come loose and is out of the hole.  Be careful when removing the armrest as the pin may be rolling around in the mechanism and you can re-use it.  The other issue that I have seen is the stop assembly that bolts/rivets onto the backrest is loose.  I replaced mine with a Mooney part 140299-011.

[hnorber]

Thanks!