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Old 15th Oct 2017, 12:34
  #70 (permalink)  
aa777888
 
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While I agree that four of the citations were probably not applicable, the remaining citations are all the exact sort of thing that would send Robbie haters into paroxysms of Robbie bashing.

Catastrophic, unexplained failures happen to all sorts of helicopters, not just Robinsons, as do catastrophic failures due to design and quality assurance errors on the part of the manufacturer. Hence the old joke: a million parts whirling around an oil leak, waiting for metal fatigue to set in.

Some might say all of the citations below are exceptions, not the rule. And Robinson's have a history, of that let there be no doubt. But at the current state of evolution of the designs, and SFAR 73, it would seem that, for the past two years anyway, performance and safety are comparable to other helicopters when operated in a manner consistent with lightweight, low inertia characteristics. At least based on US data. Outside of the US it would seem things are not so rosy. (Disclaimer: said conclusions admittedly based only on number of accidents and number of aircraft operating, no data on total fleet hours available.)


https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...relim&IType=FA Bell 407

This accident is exactly the type of thing anyone would complain about with a Robinson. A sudden, unexplained, catastrophic failure.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA 206L1

Blade spar failure and latent manufacturing defects in the blade, again, exactly the sort of thing complained about with Robinsons.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA Bell 222

Catastrophic failure due to hydrogen embrittlement of an "unknown source". If this happened on a Robinson, there would be endless discussion about the usual suspects: Robinson quality control, etc.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA 214

Another "mystery failure" of a critical flight control.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA Bell 222

Poor manufacturing QA on the part of Bell.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA Bell 212

Mast bumping due to unknown causes.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA Bell 407

Loss of control for reasons undetermined, with evidence of tail boom blade strikes.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=GA Bell 206L1

Bell's inadequate SB inspection interval with respect to detecting tail boom fatigue cracks.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA Bell UH-1B

Main rotor mast fatigue fracture, well within life limits.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...Final&IType=FA Bell 212

Mast bumping for undetermined reasons.
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