Removal of hat shelf from PA24-250

[John Johnson]

I'm redoing the interior on our 1963 Comanche 250, and would like to permanently remove the hat shelf. It blocks access to the baggage compartment in flight, potentially denies the occupants a second escape route in an emergency, and it requires a long space-wasting 3 1/2" scat tube from the shelf through the baggage compartment then through the baggage compartment floor to the cabin air exhaust on the belly. However, the hat self's aft edge supports the vertical brace to which the two upholstery panels isolating the tail cone attach. I have several questions:
(1) Can I cut the aluminum shelf just forward of the aft edge and continue to use that edge as a brace?
(2) Does removal of the hat shelf require an STC or 337?
(3) Is there a better way to do it, and have any of you had any experience with hat shelf removal?
(4) Anyone have any general comments about this proposal?

Thanks in advance for any advice you might offer!
John J

[9089P]

Well my comment is that clearly it has been done in the past as there are a number of 250's that have been modified to the 260B configuration which would by necessity call for the removal of the 250 style shelf. I believe there is also a mod out there where the 250 seat back was split in 1/2 so that each side could fold down independent of the other. Again I believe the shelf was removed. So I think it has been done.

Good luck, Don

[John Johnson]

Here's the answer my IA has come up with: He's going to fashion a horizontal support out of aluminum T-bar (or 2 L bars) to take the place of the hat shelf's aft edge where the baggage compartment aft panels attach, and while he's at it he's going to reinforce the vertical support with an additional L channel to further strengthen the baggage compartment aft wall. That way the hat shelf remains intact and can always be reinstalled if desired. Sounds like a good idea to me, so we're going for it...