Maybe 14 people in a PC-12 is legal?

[SteveC]

Received this from AIN (Aviaiton International News):

Was 10-seat PC-12 That Crashed Legal with 14 Aboard?

The Pilatus PC-12 that crashed Sunday afternoon in Butte, Mont., was configured with only 10 seats, but under FAR Part 91 it might have been legal to carry the seven adults and seven children aboard the turboprop single, according to aviation attorney Randy Davis. All 14 died when the airplane “nosed in” while on short approach to Bert Mooney Airport. Davis, the vice president and general counsel at Cartersville, Ga.-based Phoenix Air Group, told AIN that the 10-seat PC-12 could have been legal with seven adults and one lap child under two years old occupying seven seats, and the children ranging in ages from three to nine sharing the remaining three seats. Under FAR 91.107(a)(3) and an FAA chief counsel opinion issued in 1990, “Part 91 operations can and do permit at least two persons in one seat and secured by one safety belt,” Davis said, so long as their combined weight doesn’t exceed 170 pounds and relevant and legal aircraft type limitations are met. The FAA confirmed that the 1990 ruling is still valid and also affirmed the flight was being operated under Part 91. However, FAA counsel is now looking at FAR 91.205(b)(13), an amendment added in September 1992, and any occupant limitations in the aircraft flight manual to determine the legality of such seat sharing. Meanwhile, the NTSB investigation of the crash is ongoing.

 

[Stone Cold]

Received this from AIN (Aviaiton International News):

It was brought up on another site that there is a limitation, I believe in the POH, or AFM, that there is a maximum of 9 passengers plus pilot(s). So, with this in mind, if there is a limitation, that trumps the possibility of there being an allowance for more pax, correct?

 

[HeyEng]

When was the last time you saw 7 adults together that ALL weighed 170 pounds or less? I see a slight W&B problem here. Also, why was an attorney for PAG commenting on this? It wasn't one of their planes was it? I didn't think that they had PC-12s.

 

[OhioStatePilot]

The 170 lbs is referencing the max total weight when you can strap 2 kids into one seat, with one belt.

 

[Minnesota_Flyer]

FAR 91.205(b)(13) (which appears to have come later) trumps the Chief Counsel opinion.


Still no evidence it was causal.

 

[SteveC]

Still no evidence it was causal.

Exactly why I didn't post it in the accident thread. I thought is was an interesting idea that could be discussed on its own merit (or lack thereof).

 

[Xcaliber]

That chief counsel opinion was also about the requirements of 91.14, which doesn't exist anymore.

 

[BobDDuck]

All of the ones I flew had 2 pilot seats, two regular seats, a side facing jumpseat and a stretcher.

But I do seem to remember a placard about the 9 passenger limit.