Commercial Fixed Wing
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
While preparing seats for removal from aircraft during an S1 check; the life vests were being removed and were found to have the wrong safety seals installed. The seals installed were a much heavier style that required cutting to get the life vest removed from [the] pouch. In an actual emergency event the vests would be inaccessible. This is the third aircraft accepted into ZZZ heavy maintenance were this has been found. Aircraft X was the Aircraft prior to Y which had the same problem.The origin of where the seals where installed is unknown and it would be very difficult to trace down this fact. The wrong seals may be mixed with or replaced by mistake at one of the maintenance stations stocking facilities.Suggestions: The stock stations need to check existing inventory and verify the correct seals are stocked and a reminder needs to be issued to have Maintenance personnel look to verify [the] correct seal [is] installed on the life vests at every RON maintenance station.
Technician reported that during the removal of seats from Aircraft X; it was noted the life vests had the wrong safety seals installed. Reportedly; the same issue has been found on three other aircraft during heavy maintenance work.