Robinson R44 overhaul options Europe

[Pytlak]

I am looking for a competent company located in Europe that would be able to offer R44 Raven II overhaul after 12yrs/2200hrs. Already have an offer directly from RHS but wonder whether there might be local company where I could fly the helicopter and thus save the work and time with disassembly, crating, shipping and the same process when it arrives back from the US. The basic requirement here is a competent company, very close to RHS with lots of experience and the quality of work comparable to RHS. Any suggestions?

[John R81]

I can’t see where you are based.

Try the Robinson website dealer & service Centre locator map, if you haven’t already. Then call the ones in range for a quote.

https://robinsonheli.com/dealer-and-service-center-locator-map/

Just enter “Europe” if you want all European dealers

[helicopter-redeye]

I can’t see where you are based

I'm going to take a wild guess at the Czech Republic

Pytlak, good question.

Not sure you would see a big cost difference between providers because the kit comes from Robinson in USD $. Therefore it's worth computing the dollar to local currency of the provider conversion and then back to you in Euroland. The bigger leverage may come from Euro to another currency where you get a conversion rate in your favour. This may involve creating and shipping outside the EU.

At the moment the GBP favours exports because you get more £ for your € but will not affect the $ rate which is still the same. You may be better asking a banker .....

If you are looking for sites then in the UK, Aero Maintenance at Walton Wood due overhauls. So do Sloane, Heliair and HQ (google for contacts). There was a recent video on the Heliyorks Facebook page of a 44 being stripped for overhaul which may be of interest and give you another name.

Summary:

1. Dollar rate conversion to country of overhaul
2. Country to Czech (€) rate for labour
3. Labour rate of supplier and conversion to your cash in €
4. Cost of shipping v cost of flying to site

[Pytlak]

Yes, I am based in Czech Republic as my registration correctly shows at each post. I would never speculate about currency conversions, you typically lose money on each conversion as far as I know. I also know about the map of Robinson dealers but my qestion has different reasoning. First, there is significant work with dissasembly, assembly and both way shipping. I think that the savings might come from this as flying practically anywhere in Europe comes at the cost of AVGAS at this stage (nearing 12 years with more than 500hrs left to 2200hrs). And it is fun (crating and shiping is not). That is the reason I am looking for European workshop. On the other side, overhauling a helicopter is a very delicate task and I would like to make sure that the quality of work is very close to RHS. And that is why I ask here as I might get a recommendation helping me to discover, which of those many European RHS dealers is able to deliver top quality work and has enough experience. That is something you do not find on the map. Another advantage might be time to overhaul as the shipping takes time, which can be saved.
So far I tried to contact three companies. I have got one reaction only and am still waiting for the quote (so far one week). the other company did not react at all and the third company was able to find my email after I gave them a call but that is about it. So it seems that I still have not found the right one. I assume that if you have a working business with plenty of experience (let us say tens of helicopters overhauled), it should be pretty easy to react to such a quote enquiry. The helicopter in question is pretty easy - eligible for first overhaul, in pretty good shape, mostly flown by one pilot, all bulletins done, bladder tanks installed, no upgrades needed or required.

It starts looking that there is probably no one doing the overhauls here in Europe and everyone sending the machines back to US. That is quite strange with so many units sold. One would believe that there is market big enough to make a decent living for two or three good European shops doing overhauls.
The problem might be in RHS. Maybe the overhaul kit price versus overhaul done by RHS is strongly in favor of RHS (i.e. not enough margin for any serious shop to engage in this business when you need to compete with the manufacturer).

So, please, if you know about any EU shop that does R44 overhauls (let us say more than three or five per year), I would be grateful for a tip.

[Flying Foxhunter]

I had my own Astro R44 overhauled and with an hydraulic conversion undertaken by Heliair at High Wycombe. I was very pleased with what they did on that aircraft. I have also bought a factory overhauled heli direct from Robinson, and the engine had to go back to the US for warranty repairs with less than 100 hrs on it from memory..... a long time ago.

[homonculus]

I had a 12 year inspection also with Heliair as they were the only organisation to come back with a firm price and time. They only came up with 3 minor additional issues following inspection costing a few hundred pounds, and kept to their timings. No issues with quality or reliability. Happy to recommend

[Pytlak]

Heliair is actually the only company that reacted to my quote request and where I am waiting for a quote. Good to hear positive recommendations. I am looking forward for the quote.

[muermel]

Check with Helitec in Kassel EDVK or Air Lloyd in Sankt Augustin EDKB both in Gerrmany. :ok:

[Pytlak]

I checked both Helitec and Air Lloyd online and it seems to me that both of those companies are oriented more on turbine helicopters of other brands than Robinson. I have a feeling that they might take Robinson’s as a “weed” that is good only when there is nothing better to work on. I am looking for a company, which specializes on Robinsons and treat them as real helicopters with enough respect. But as I say, this is just a feeling based on their web presentation. Do you have your own, different experience Muermel?

[matt82]

You can check out these guys, they have a lot Robinson Experience:
https://ams-mannheim.de

[HillerBee]

S.P. Helicopter Service in Dattenberg. They have done quite a few.

[muermel]

I checked both Helitec and Air Lloyd online and it seems to me that both of those companies are oriented more on turbine helicopters of other brands than Robinson. I have a feeling that they might take Robinson’s as a “weed” that is good only when there is nothing better to work on. I am looking for a company, which specializes on Robinsons and treat them as real helicopters with enough respect. But as I say, this is just a feeling based on their web presentation. Do you have your own, different experience Muermel?

Helitec in Kassel maintains my bosse's R44 and they maintain 8-10 R44s for Air Lloyd which fly a lot of hours on pipeline and powerline control flights so they know their way around 44s. They've rebuilt quite a few. The 2 companies are somehow connected, don't know how exactly.

[SFCC]

GB Engineering in the UK.
Google will send you the right way.

Well recommended :ok:

[Pytlak]

Just a quick update on this topic - our R44 was handed over to S.P. Helicopter Service for overhaul. I will keep you updated on the progress. So far everything seems to be aligned well and I hope we get a good value for the money invested and much less hassle than taking the heli apart and crating for shipping to the US. Helicopters should fly, not travel in boxes. It was quite uneventful flight, two legs two hours each...