FAA Proposes AD on Koito Seats
The FAA has issued an NPRM calling for additional testing and possible removal of

The FAA has issued an NPRM calling for additional testing and possible removal of seats manufactured by Japan’s Koito Industries following a review by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) that uncovered further falsification of testing data.

In January 2009, the JCAB advised the FAA that Koito used materials in its production seats that differed from those used in the seats subjected to flammability testing. At the time the FAA determined that the discrepancy didn’t present a so-called safety-of-flight issue, and thus chose not to issue an AD. However, a subsequent review of all in-service seats by the JCAB prompted Koito to disclose more discrepancies, including the falsification of static, dynamic and flammability testing on delivered seats.