Passengers and pilots in a series of survivable Boeing 737 crashes may have been injured by approved cabin overhead systems or crew seat belt restraints designed or tested to inadequate levels for an actual crash.
A series of new recommendations from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) call on the US Federal Aviation Administration to modify the design and test requirements related to passenger service units (PSUs) in Next Generation Boeing 737 family aircraft, and to analyse aircraft from other manufacturers for similar problems.
PSUs, which are mounted above each seat on the underside of the overhead bins, include supplemental oxygen generators, oxygen masks and ventilation air vents, and typically weigh about 5.7kg (12.5lb).
