He said that some New Zealand pilots had been practicing maneuvers known as cyclic pushovers, which can cause mast-bumping and are prohibited by Robinson operator handbooks. He was flying home from a business meeting near Temecula when he stopped to refuel at Corona Municipal Airport. In 2015, Robinson produces one R22, four or five R44s, and one or two R66s per week, and has contracted with Rolls-Royce to supply 100 RR300 turbines per year for 10 years for the R66. All rights reserved. Safety board records detail many such low-impact R44 crashes in which dozens of occupants died or suffered serious burns when the all-aluminum fuel tanks which sit behind the cabin exploded in otherwise survivable accidents. There are a few reasons this might happen: To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page. Register documents. On top of being the best-selling civilian helicopter in the world, the R44 is also the most lethal. R44 Clipper II Popout. by searching for and locating Docket No. (202) 493-2251. TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 12, 2022 Robinson Helicopter Company bid a final farewell to its founder, Frank Robinson.Robinson, 92, passed away peacefully at his . Finally, this proposed AD would revise the applicability by adding blades with P/N C029-3 with S/N 9910 through 10659 inclusive to the applicability for Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters and would also expand the applicability by adding Robinson Model R66 helicopters with blade P/N F-029-1 with S/N 2410 through 2589 inclusive installed. [4] Production in 2014 dropped to 329 aircraft. The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 432 helicopters of U.S. registry. Robinson released its first model, the R22, in the late 1970s, and it released the R44 in 1993. Information about this document as published in the Federal Register. And if we branch out from the R44 model, the statistics are even worse. documents in the last year, 125 Many bore signs of mast-bumping, but exact causes could not be determined because there were no survivors or onboard data recorders. The incident was actually discovered when the ground crew noticed an abnormal noise during a shipboard landing. This site displays a prototype of a Web 2.0 version of the daily (1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Radio stations, which used helicopters to report on traffic conditions, were another important early market. to the courts under 44 U.S.C. Currently, the company only manufactures three different models of helicopters. Document page views are updated periodically throughout the day and are cumulative counts for this document. Without data, you are at a loss. Aviation consultant William Lawrence, a retired Marine Corps colonel and helicopter test pilot and instructor who has testified as a paid expert against Robinson Helicopter Co. in a dozen lawsuits, contends the company willfully ignores safety issues to avoid liability. Employment would soon pass 400 workers. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type designs. The agency issued AD 2021-19-08 to address the unsafe condition on these products. Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: 1. https://www.regulations.gov But the following year, at age 80, Robinson did retire from the iconic helicopter company he founded in 1973, turning control over to his son, Kurt. Robinson spent 16 years trying to convince his aerospace employers that such a market even existed. It is also a popular choice for law enforcement agencies. The company delivered 390 new aircraft in 2000 and 328 in 2001, and has total sales exceeding $100 million annually. Learn more here. AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each blade for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. "That's just amazing to me. Robinson Helicopter is one of best known helicopter manufacturers, despite only producing three models. [1][2] Robinson helicopter will celebrate 50 years in business in June 2023.[3]. Unique in the multi-tiered aerospace industry, Robinson builds most of its own components. (3) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2021-19-08 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding requirements in paragraph (g) of this AD. The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. Robinson Helicopter Company opened shop in 1973. FAA-2022-0872; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. At least 65 wrongful-death and product liability lawsuits have been filed across the country since then, accusing Robinson of concealing or willfully ignoring safety issues and dodging accountability allegations the company denies. (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. He said the FAA flight-hour totals used to calculate the accident rate are a guesstimate.. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. That image stuck with Robinson and drove the course of his career and life. During this time, the R44--more versatile with its four seats--became the world's top-selling helicopter. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: Robinson Helicopter Company: 05/01/2023, 858 Designed during the 1980s by Frank Robinson and his staff of engineers, the R44 first flew on 31 March 1990. Now that Robinson Helicopter had a great engine in place to use, they were able to develop their five-place turbine helicopter. Against the advice of colleagues, Robinson struck out on his own in June 1973. In an interview, Kurt Robinson described the vibration as a red herring that was more of an annoyance than a safety issue and said the company addressed it years ago by changing to firmer rubber gearbox mounts. The FAA reviewed Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service Bulletin SB-119, and Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Service Bulletin SB-111, each dated February 23, 2022. [11] The TAIC report noted "Helicopters with semirigid, two-bladed main rotor systems, as used on Robinson helicopters, are particularly susceptible to mast bumping in "low-G" conditions". The FAA rejected that claim. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed regulation: (1) Is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and. 650 were here. If you or a member of your family have suffered injuries or wrongful death in a Robinson helicopter crash or another type of aviation accident, our lawyers can work with you to identify the liable parties and pursue financial compensation. The factory can produce up to 1,000 helicopters per year. Since the turn of the century, 165 people have been killed in the United States when they were involved in crashes with Robinson helicopters. The R22's simple design, easy maintenance and low acquisition learn how over 7,000 companies got started! Robinson founded the Robinson Helicopter Company out of his Palos Verdes home in 1973 and developed the first R22 prototype at the Torrance Airport. In 1975, Robinson had a working prototype of the first model, the R22, which had been constructed in a tin hangar at the Torrance Airport in southern California. Checking a blade for any crack would take about 0.25 work-hour for an estimated cost of up to $44 per helicopter (up to two affected blades per helicopter) and up to $19,008 for the U.S. fleet per check. He planned to commute to work in his R44. Robinson was also a visionary and a veritable aviation rock star, who racked up accolades over the course of his five-decade career. Six months earlier, an R44 on a sightseeing flight lost power and landed hard on a city street in Sherman Oaks, injuring the pilot and two passengers. Robinson would also look close to home for key staff. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. It produces a greater number of civil helicopters per year than any other manufacturer, and 80 percent of those made in the United States. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. documents in the last year, 204 14K Followers, 100 Following, 183 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Robinson Helicopter Company (@robinsonheli) documents in the last year, 1008 From a numbers standpoint, it worked. It is the worlds best-selling civilian helicopter, a top choice among flight schools, sightseeing companies, police departments and recreational pilots. Robinson brought out a special police-oriented variant of the R44 in mid-1997. Ten years later they introduced the R44 Raven II, which had an advanced engine, as well as an improved 28-volt electrical system. the Federal Register. The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 29, 2022. Founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, Robinson Helicopter has since produced more than 12,000 aircraft. 9-ANM-LAACO-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. The company has helped retrain Kiwi pilots, he said. We have a record of success in cases involving aviation disasters and injuries related to planes and helicopters. Robinson said some R44s with all-aluminum tanks continue to fly, despite his companys best efforts to urge owners to retrofit them. Robinson was not the first person who aspired to create an affordable helicopter for personal use. AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each tail rotor blade (blade) for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. Based on the company's two-seat Robinson R22, the R44 features hydraulically assisted flight controls.It was first flown on 31 March 1990 and received FAA certification in December 1992, with the first delivery in February 1993.. R44 helicopters that were manufactured before December of 2010, as well as all R22 helicopters, have fuel tanks that are more susceptible to rupturing than other fuel tanks. There is absolutely nothing to do with our hub or rotor system that affects or causes it, he said. "He really loved living here and we've been part of the community for over 40 years. Principal Competitors: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.; Enstrom Helicopter Corporation; Eurocopter Group; Schweizer Aircraft Corp. The year 1996 saw the introduction of the R22 Beta II, which had a new engine and offered improved hover performance for a base price of $135,000. Robinson introduced its first helicopter, the 2-place piston powered R22 in 1979. Go to The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced controllability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked tail rotor blades (blades). Mast bumping is a dangerous condition helicopters can encounter when load on the helicopter's rotor assembly is temporarily reduced during flight (for example, during a low-g maneuver or turbulent weather). R44 Raven I. R44 Clipper I. R44 Cadet. documents in the last year, 1471 [20]:7, Although the data did not consider which type of fuel tanks were fitted, the report mentioned four fatal accidents to the R44 fitted with bladder-type tanks, but as far as they knew, did not involve a post-accident fire. In July 2015, a federal jury in Mississippi awarded Wells $2.8 million for his injuries and economic damages, along with $700,000 to Farmers widow. It was the second failure or partial failure in two months. The CAA left the Airworthiness Directive requiring repetitive inspections in place, however. on To maintain the highest quality standards, the company carries out most of the . His left arm was partly paralyzed and he now walks with a limp. As a result of the investigation, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounded all R44 helicopters that didnt have improved and upgraded fuel tanks as of the first of May 2013. Monday thru Friday. His wife Barbara became marketing director, and three of the couple's six children would also eventually work for the company. He went on to work in engineering at the Cessna Aircraft Company, McCulloch Motor Company, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopter Company. They havent figured it out, former NTSB chairman Christopher Hart told The Times late last year. AD 2021-19-08 also requires removing all affected blades . on NARA's archives.gov. The R44 is a single-engined helicopter with a semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and a skid landing gear. Production fell from 390 aircraft in 2000 to 328 in 2001; Robinson still out-produced Eurocopter, its closest volume rival, which saw output rise fifteen percent to 280 units. Docket No. A year later, it offered them as a voluntary retrofit for helicopters already in service at owners expense of about $6,800 for parts, plus labor. It provides parts and accessories, helicopter and engine overhauls, helicopter repairs, and educational courses for pilots and maintenance technicians. The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. America's . of the issuing agency. 49 U.S.C. He said the company keeps accident reports and other records for only as long as the FAA requires us to and that throwing them away does not impede its commitment to safety. He was a very determined person who didnt accept no; whenever he was faced with a challenge he found a way to push on, Kurt said. Neither was making the helicopter for the masses that he envisioned. The rotorcraft were quite popular with cattle ranchers Down Under. Robinson founded the Robinson Helicopter company in 1973 where he defied the opinions of aviation leaders and opened a previously untapped market for private ownership through his signature R22, R44 and R66 model helicopters. Concept Tested With Sikorskys Black Hawk, CTs Sikorsky and Parent Lockheed Say They Will No Longer Protest Loss of Army Helicopter Contract, Air Tourism Center Would Create New Home for Rainbow Air. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority. AD 2021-19-08 also requires removing all affected blades from service and prohibits installing any affected blade on any helicopter. Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505, United States; phone: (310) 539-0508; email: Machinist (Former Employee) - Torrance, CA - November 10, 2020. Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. There are more than 400 dealers and service centers that are located throughout the world. I wanted to design a very simple with an emphasis on simple low-cost helicopter that could be produced efficiently and sold to the public at a price that many people could afford, Robinson said in his lecture.
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