Houman Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 I was wondering if it is possible to add a 3rd seat belt on the back bench and if so how, so that I can have 3 kids on the back bench in my Mooney. Want to make sure it would be legal and feasible, since w&b will not be an issue, Thanks !!! Quote
kerry Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 When my kids were small I did it all the time. I only used the 2 seat belts for the 3 kids on the back bench. Legally you can use one seat belt for two people as long as their combined weight is less than 160 lbs. Might be 170 lbs (it's been awhile since I looked it up). Quote
Guest Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 I'm not sure it would be legal without an STC. The type certificate shows 4 seats and list the plane as a 4 seater, your insurance is for 4 seats. There is an STC for a fifth seat and seat belt in the Piper Comanche, but I've never seen one for a Mooney. Clarence Quote
carusoam Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 There is another thread that may have some answers... There was a couple of Os delivered with extra seat belts for three across. Of course, Os often don't have a bench in back to facilitate the third position... There was a rule that allowed for seat belt sharing. The people had to have a maximum total weight. The people also needed to be similar in size. The shared seat belt rule may have been removed. It is often better than nothing, but not by much, with no science or actual crash testing to support it... Back in the day...The C used to carry three across the back this way... Best regards, -a- Quote
Yooper Rocketman Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 I was wondering if it is possible to add a 3rd seat belt on the back bench and if so how, so that I can have 3 kids on the back bench in my Mooney. Want to make sure it would be legal and feasible, since w&b will not be an issue, Thanks !!! When my kids were small I did it all the time. I only used the 2 seat belts for the 3 kids on the back bench. Legally you can use one seat belt for two people as long as their combined weight is less than 160 lbs. Might be 170 lbs (it's been awhile since I looked it up). As Kerry said, I too did it all the time when my kids were younger. I have a daughter that is 12 years older than my first son, and my second son is 10 months younger than the first son (yes, we had a private room in the hospital ). Many years ago we landed in Buffalo for a fuel stop on our way to Cape Cod and who's on the ramp but Governor Pataki and his entourage coming off a jet. At the time I wasn't sure it was legal so made my daughter and one son stay in the plane until the rest of us were in the FBO, hoping no one would notice 5 people getting out of a 4 seat airplane. Did some research afterwards and found we were perfectly legal. Still do it today with Young Eagles on our annual airport day. On long flights, when the air is smooth, we always let the back seat passengers unbuckle until landing. Forgot to mention, I don't even have a bench seat, have the two separate seats with a gap between them. We always laid a rolled up blanket in the gap, and another blanket across the whole area the 2 would be sitting. They needed a little boost anyway to see out the window. Quote
M20S Driver Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 This is from upgrades list at Mooney's website: (Bench Seat 940091-501)---- Install rear bench seat with seat belts for 3 children M20M 27-0181, 27-0184 & on, M20R 29-0001 & on, M20S 30-0001 & on I am not sure about price, availability, or STC requirements. Driver Quote
Guest Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 This is from upgrades list at Mooney's website: (Bench Seat 940091-501)---- Install rear bench seat with seat belts for 3 children M20M 27-0181, 27-0184 & on, M20R 29-0001 & on, M20S 30-0001 & on I am not sure about price, availability, or STC requirements. Driver Well there you go, I learned something else today on Mooney Space. Thanks! Clarence Quote
Houman Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Posted April 18, 2015 yep, but since my seats are being redone next week, I think it is a bit too late, but will call and see about the stc Thanks to alll Quote
kmyfm20s Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 I posted it before but might as well put it here also. Quote
Houman Posted April 19, 2015 Author Report Posted April 19, 2015 image.jpg I posted it before but might as well put it here also. Wow, amazing look, is that the STC bench ? Quote
kmyfm20s Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 Wow, amazing look, is that the STC bench ? Yes. Quote
teethdoc Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 We put 2 in 1 and did it all the time. Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 I used to skydive and I have seen C182s with one seat and 5 seat belts on one bolt on the rear bulkhead. They claim it makes them legal. Quote
takair Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 Basic TCDS is 4 people, as stated above, however I found this in another forum. FAA Interpretation 1990-14 regarding FAR 91.14(a)(3) [which is now FAR 91:107(a)©]: "As long as approved safety belts are carried aboard the aircraft for all occupants, and the structural strength requirements for the seats are not exceeded, the seating of two persons whose combined weights does not exceed 170 pounds under one safety belt where the belt can be properly secured around both persons would not be a violation of the regulations for an operation under Part 91." AOPA's subject report, Traveling with Children and Family, is available on AOPA Online. I would still wonder what would happen to the occupants of a single belt. The geometry of the belt stretching would tend to put both in the same place.... Quote
xcrmckenna Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 I wonder what the significance of 170lbs is? There are plenty of pilots and passengers that weigh over 170lbs yet the belts are strong enough for them. Why would one body that is 250lbs be okay but not two at 200lbs? Quote
Hank Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 Probably because the FAA standard adult passenger weight has been 170 lbs for the last several decades. 1 Quote
Will W Posted October 8, 2015 Report Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) I know this is brining to light an old thread but I found the POH/AFM Supplement for this bench seat on Mooney's website. It looks like the benefits will not last forever since the limitations don't allow for a normal sized adult. AFMS Bench Seat.pdf Edited October 8, 2015 by dimondan Quote
ryoder Posted October 8, 2015 Report Posted October 8, 2015 Marauder daisy chains both rear seat belts for his second best girlfriend and snugs up close to the one up front. Quote
Houman Posted October 9, 2015 Author Report Posted October 9, 2015 I know this is brining to light an old thread but I found the POH/AFM Supplement for this bench seat on Mooney's website. It looks like the benefits will not last forever since the limitations don't allow for a normal sized adult. AFMS Bench Seat.pdf I talked to Steve Rue and someone else at Mooney, it seems that there is no possibility of a 3 bench seat for the K model. What Steve was supprised with was the fact that I have already a bench in the back ( I guess some have 2 seat cushions ), but I have a full bench, but no way of adding a 3rd seatbelt legally. that is a big bummer, since it seems very easy to do to add a 3rd seat belts to the same middel fix points for the existing seat belt fixtures. Too bad... Quote
Flyphilly Posted October 17, 2020 Report Posted October 17, 2020 On 4/18/2015 at 7:58 PM, kmyfm20s said: I posted it before but might as well put it here also. curious about this: Does the plane have a third set of audio jacks in the back for a third headset? Quote
carusoam Posted October 17, 2020 Report Posted October 17, 2020 12 minutes ago, Flyphilly said: curious about this: Does the plane have a third set of audio jacks in the back for a third headset? It’s either there already... or you can add as many as you’d like... Best regards, -a- Quote
Flyphilly Posted October 17, 2020 Report Posted October 17, 2020 2 minutes ago, carusoam said: It’s either there already... or you can add as many as you’d like... Best regards, -a- Good point. Quote
LANCECASPER Posted October 19, 2020 Report Posted October 19, 2020 On 10/16/2020 at 8:58 PM, Flyphilly said: curious about this: Does the plane have a third set of audio jacks in the back for a third headset? https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/avcommaccesadap5.php?clickkey=4791 Quote
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