B737 captain reported a seating configuration that did not allow the emergency over wing exit to be ...

Attributes
ACN	1446498
Time
Date	201704
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Engineer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 11000 Flight Crew Type 4400
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

The problem is with the emergency exit row seating. This aircraft is a B737 with 148 seats. This aircraft has a single emergency exit row window in the mid cabin. The seating has been changed to accommodate 148 passengers. When the lopa (engineering diagram) was set up the company installed a row of 3 seats at the emergency exit. These seats have the back lock in the upright position. There is no way to open the emergency window in the unlikely event of an emergency that required the evacuation of passengers. Not sure how the inspection department of could sign this off. This aircraft does not comply with part 121.585 for the emergency exit row. When brought up to the head office they come back and say it's legal. Have picture of the aircraft and not sure how to forward the picture for proof.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported a seating configuration that did not allow the emergency over wing exit to be opened. When contacted; the reporter stated the problem had been corrected.

Narrative: The problem is with the emergency exit row seating. This aircraft is a B737 with 148 seats. This aircraft has a single emergency exit row window in the mid cabin. The seating has been changed to accommodate 148 passengers. When the LOPA (engineering diagram) was set up the company installed a row of 3 seats at the emergency exit. These seats have the back lock in the upright position. There is no way to open the emergency window in the unlikely event of an emergency that required the evacuation of passengers. Not sure how the inspection department of could sign this off. This aircraft does not comply with Part 121.585 for the emergency exit row. When brought up to the head office they come back and say it's legal. Have picture of the aircraft and not sure how to forward the picture for proof.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

B737 captain reported a seating configuration that did not allow the emergency over wing exit to be opened. When contacted; the reporter stated the problem had been corrected.