Replacing side interior panels in the back
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 11:17 pm
Hello, everyone!
I just want to share my experience with replacing side interior panels where the rear seats are.
My DA40 is a 2007. By now the side panels looked pretty worn, so I have asked an upholstery shop to have them re-upholstered. Without looking too closely, I thought it was going to be a simple, straight forward operation - remove panels, have them done, place them back, and be happy.
Very quickly I had a suspicion that I needed to remove many more things in the back. My email to Diamond has confirmed that I needed to remove:
- front seat torsions for the front seat belts (peanuts)
- compartment where the tow-bar is stowed behind rear seats (peanuts)
- rear seat belts (not quite peanuts)
- the whole baggage compartment (peanuts)
- the rear seat assembly (major pain in the neck)
However, while it made me (who mostly watched) and a mechanic (who did all this) sweat a lot (it was above 90F), I need to say that this is a testament to how well the aircraft is build. The tolerances are very tight, each part interlocks with another, making a rigid structure. Bottom line is that I like the airplane a lot!
Now I will have my panels back on Thursday and the whole operation will need to be repeated.
I just want to share my experience with replacing side interior panels where the rear seats are.
My DA40 is a 2007. By now the side panels looked pretty worn, so I have asked an upholstery shop to have them re-upholstered. Without looking too closely, I thought it was going to be a simple, straight forward operation - remove panels, have them done, place them back, and be happy.
Very quickly I had a suspicion that I needed to remove many more things in the back. My email to Diamond has confirmed that I needed to remove:
- front seat torsions for the front seat belts (peanuts)
- compartment where the tow-bar is stowed behind rear seats (peanuts)
- rear seat belts (not quite peanuts)
- the whole baggage compartment (peanuts)
- the rear seat assembly (major pain in the neck)
However, while it made me (who mostly watched) and a mechanic (who did all this) sweat a lot (it was above 90F), I need to say that this is a testament to how well the aircraft is build. The tolerances are very tight, each part interlocks with another, making a rigid structure. Bottom line is that I like the airplane a lot!
Now I will have my panels back on Thursday and the whole operation will need to be repeated.