FAA Recommends Replacing Hook And Loop ELT Fasteners

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has determined that hook-and-loop (Velcro-style) fasteners for ELT units are prone to failure in accidents, even if properly installed, due to stretching, loosening, or contamination; these straps were banned for new ELT manufacturing in 2012.
Despite the safety concern, the FAA will not issue an airworthiness directive because manufacturers are already revising or have revised their ELT designs.
The agency recommends that aircraft owners and operators with existing ELTs using these fasteners voluntarily replace them with metal strap restraint methods.

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The FAA has found that hook-and-loop Velcro-style fasteners for ELT units are subject to failure in an accident, but the agency said on Tuesday it has decided against issuing an airworthiness directive that would address the problem because manufacturers have already either revised or are in the process of revising those designs. The FAA did recommend that any aircraft owners or operators who have already installed ELT units with hook-and-loop fasteners should voluntarily switch to a metal strap restraint method.

The FAA said it conducted a study of the hook-and-loop fasteners and found they failed to retain the ELT securely if they were improperly installed, and there was no good way to determine if the installation was correct. They also found that even if the fasteners were properly installed, they could stretch or loosen over time. The fasteners also are subject to contamination from debris. In 2012, the FAA banned the use of the straps in manufacturing new ELTs, but left open the possibility of whether it would issue a directive requiring a retrofit for ELTs already installed.