Slowrotor
I'd be very interested in hearing more about those six out of six rotor blades on R22s being found to be debonded. Have to say I haven't heard anything about that.
You aren't getting it mixed up with the R44 which had two blades debond earlier this year are you?
There has not been any mention of any R22 blades debonding here that I know about.
Headsethair
Mr. Zuckerman needs to be taken with a large grain of salt. This debate about WD-40 reared its head in discussion about those above-mentioned R44 blades when they debonded.
Someone mentioned WD-40 and Mr. Z had the stuff hung, drawn and quartered even before I had time to state that I knew the owner and the machine and the pilot and all swore that WD-40 had never been near the machine. The blades were fairly new and hadn't had the paint worn off enough to need corrosion prevention.
Further he stated categorically that RHC had list of forbidden chemicals that were not allowed near the blades and WD-40 was on that list.
I wrote to RHC (cos I was very worried now because I use it on my blades because we have a high humidity and and are next to the ocean - high salt etc environment) and I voluntarily grounded my machine till I got an answer). Pat Cox wrote back to me stating the RHC did not and never did have such a list but said they were happy for me to keep using WD-40 so long as it was not sprayed near the non metal parts of the head.
He stated that other waxes etc could also be used but could affect re-paint causing fish-eye in paint if not cleaned off properly. Then he he mentioned not using power sanding tools to sand back paint - due to heat above 175 degrees (I think that was the temp) causing problems with the bond.
I posted Mr. Cox's email to me on the discussion.
In another mind-boggling episode of conclusion jumping Mr. Z. stated he once (in Iran) measured the surface temp of a plane wing in the sun and it was 160 degrees therefore as it gets hot in northern australia this was obviously the cause of the blades de-bonding. No doubt about it!
Too bad the facts would spoil a good story.
We never get the temps he was talking about in this part of the world.
This all happened on the one R44 and all the other R22s and R44s in this part of the world, in all that same heat, have not debonded blades.
All the above stuff (including my post of Pat Cox's reply to me on WD-40) is on previous postings if you want to find it.
Mr. Z. caused me a lot personal worry and anguish with his ill-informed comments hidden behind a blustering of qualifications. Take what is said as worthy of consideration but ask people who actually know to detirmne the truth. RHC are very approachable and always have answered my emails with useful information.
And one more tirade
Quote L.Z.:
"Here is their response: the FAA has not approved WD-40 for any use"
I don't know how to interpret this response.
Here in OZ CASA (our version of FAA) don't actually approve or disapprove of such things, they open end their statements by saying such things as "in a manner approved by the Authority" which when you delve deeper means in a "manner the manufacturer dictates".
Do the FAA approve or not approve things for use on aircraft or is it up to the manufacturers of the "thing" and the aircraft to approve it's use?
Is the lack of FAA approval because they have tested it and found it a risk or is it because they don't actually get involved in the business of approving such things?