Fingers smashed between seat and frame

[dramsey]

I wanted to share a problem I had that could be very serious. Granted most of you would not be as stupid as I was. I had just finished an engine run after fine tuning the fuel servo mixture. My mind was distracted as I analyzed the data. I shut down and was going to exit the plane. I normally grab the overhead structure with my left hand and and use my right hand to release the seat pin to slide back. But my distracted mind reached under the seat with my left hand like I was adjusting my truck seat slide. Then when I came to reality that I was not in my truck, rather than remove my left hand which was curled under the bottom front of the seat frame, I just released the seat pin with my right hand and my fat ass went flying back to the seat stop and I had an excruciating pain in my left hand. Now most of you after reading this will conclude that there is no way I can fit my fingers in that gap. Let me assure you if you weigh 240 lbs and have inertia of fast moving seat slide, your fingers can and will fit the size of that gap. I was trapped. My neighbors had been witnessing my engine run and came when I screamed. They to push the seat forward but my screams said that was the wrong move. I moved to the copilot seat to get weight off and while that helped it still was incredibly painful. I tried and tried to pull my fingers out and succeeded in pulling two out but that made it seemingly worse for the finger left which was my middle finger. A neighbor grabbed. screw driver and i pried the seat frame with all my might to free the middle finger. It was less than half its normal thickness. Good news is I dont think the damage is permanent. Now imagine doing this out in the middle of nowhere with noone around…

Just wanted to share so others dont repeat my stupid mistake.

[jaredyates]

That sounds terrible, thank you for sharing so that others can be aware!

[fairchild1934]

Maybe we need to build in something to make that min. gap a little bigger ------ ?

[huntaero]

We mounted a spring that helps move the seat forward so when you pull the seat adjustment the spring pressure moves the seat forward. Due to the design of the seat and rails its hard to get the seat to move forward especially when you are sitting in it. There is no need to get your hands on the seat frame to help move it, just grab the diagonal tube to help move yourself fwd above the instrument panel and use the other hand to release the adjustment handle and the spring will assist in moving the seat fwd. The spring is mounted to the aircraft cross tube at the forward end with an Adel clamp and at the aft end there is a penny washer the size of the inner dia of the loop of the spring and a bushing to space it out mounted to an Adel clamp on the rear seat bottom tube that slips over the loop so it is easily installed or removed without tools when in the relaxed position and the seat is at the most fwd position. I will post pics when i get home.