The Huey in Capetown (including Huey down)

[alwaysinverted]

Rebound, would'nt you just love to know?

I was invited there, had no beer or coffee, and nobody said anything about the Huey Extreme Club. I went there to see the 204 and have a chat with the owner.

What is however amazing, is the fact that this whole Huey business have been blown so much out of proportion by lies, fabrications and other stories which we all know does'nt exist. I mean, your mate the "Chief Engineer" is renowned for talking nonsense, and that in itself makes him a laughing stock in the aviation industry, and gives aviation a bad name. I mean, why can't the guy just be straight? Why all the stories? Everyone in the helicopter industry knows this boy, and like he always says, "I've earned my reputation in the industry". True, by being crooked and all the rest that have been posted here on pprune.

Now I'm still kinda wondering why he would want to invite Rhodie & myself to the Helibase? Maybe you can be the messenger now and tell us, seeing that he's been on vacation and still trying to get the engineering facts.

[Rebound]

Alwaysinverted, next time you come and visit, (if its early then have a coffee, if its late afternoon then have a beer) your welcome!

The said "chief engineer" whom i have not known for too long goes about his business looking after the Hueys (blady fine job he does), keeps customers satisfied by producing the goods and is like the rest of us...has a passion for aviation.

For myself, i cant give a flying hoot about the past, instead focus on the future and try and make aviation a pleasure...

So come on brothers and sista's, enough of the witch hunting..

[B Sousa]

"By the way Bert, had a good look at the 204 and have been told by the engineers that it is one hell of an A/C with a dash 13 and H-model drive system and blades. (Blades cut down by a foot).
"

OK, that means it is the STCd model from SWFA. Just painted up in Army Colors. -13 and that puppy can really hang a load. Blades cut down by a foot seems a bit odd. They may be the blades used on the M model with a wider Chord than the H also shorter. Or if it has an H tailboom then normal blades will be acceptable.
Point of curiosity for sure.

Again the big question is and everyones waiting, the STC is for no PAX. Sort of like when a hooker takes her first trick. Once she does it, shes just another Hooker.

[Couch Potato]

[carnivoruslegallus]

Coach Potato, I could not quite make out the engine details on the data plate. What is it?

I understand that this bird's got the small engine in it. Dash 11 or something. Let us know.

Well, as a Huey fan, I'm glad to see that there's another bird in SA. Although not a proper UH-1H Huey, I think that its great that the war bird enthusiasts are bringing airplanes to SA that we normally just see in the war movies, or read about. Good one!

What is however sad, is the fact that some of the people involved in this whole deal, are messing it up for others. I think enough have been said about the people involved here on pprune and elsewhere, and yeah, maybe "Rebound" is right. Maybe we should forget about the past and look towards the future, although it may be difficult.

It certainly is'nt easy to forget a rip off artist and a bull r like. Just thinking how he ripped off my partner and everyone else a couple of years ago, makes my blood boil. Remember ZS-HLA Mr. F? How you stripped off the components and sold it for cash and left it as an empty shell huh?

Anyway, its probably not going to help harping on that. The man is just one helluva sick puppy, and I will never believe that he's doing the helicopter industry any good.

I rest my case!

[alwaysinverted]

Wow, more than 11 000 people have read this thread to date. Makes you think hey? Someone should vote this into a 5 star rating for gossip, libel & bull t.

Mr. Rebound, I doubt it very much if the Chief Engineer could keep any customer happy. It sounds like the 204 owner is not too happy at this time. I was at the CAA office today and heard a few stories. The SACAA have not yet conducted an "import C of A Inspection" on the heli. Neither has it been issued with an authority to fly. Now surely, if the man was an expert, doing his job right and staying on the right track, why the delay? I also heard that the "Chief Engineer" did not perform any of the paperwork on the helicopter, but that a JHB based engineer, who does have licenses, had to fly down to Cape Town to sign it off. Why? Maybe you can tell us why the "expert" did'nt do it?

When I was in the hangar the other day, I noticed a lot of new faces, and heard a lot of stories. I'm kinda wondering why there are so many people defending the Huey these days. You sound like you're quite close to the lot, so maybe you can enlighten all the Huey enthusiasts as to why the Huey still flies without insurances, (3rd party & pax liability) why an incompetent and unqualified engineer maintains it, why it breaks down so often, why scrappy parts removed from the other 7 Hueys shells parked in the hangar (and lying in the store) are so often fitted to it, why it is flown with patched & timex main and tail rotor blades etc.?

These are just some of the things I learned during my 45 minutes in the hangar. Very informative. I'm sure the SACAA people would love to see that lot. Not that they really care.

So my question? Who is the Chief Engineer actually keeping happy other than himself? I'm sure if the tourists who fly on the Huey learn about this lot, they wont go near it. I think there are a lot that needs to be rectified, but the big question is, when will that be?

Lastly, your staff need to be schooled in diplomacy. Never in my life have I ever heard defamatory stories about each other being told with so much zest. Train them, or fire them. They're not doing your business any good.

[B Sousa]

Photo of the Data Plate, means that the Bell Plate must be adios and this in fact is the SWFA Aircraft..... That would explain the engine, drive train and blades. All acceptable to the FAA in a restricted category form.....
Another question popped up as I got a call from a couple other owners in the Industry who stated,yes it may be a remanufactured restricted Aircraft, but how did it slip by the U.S. State Department. Usually they (former Military) are not exportable.
Im sure someone out there has the right answer.......or at least another answer that will continue to fuel the flames on this thread.
Even a dummy like me can understand **** *** when the poor guys name is mentioned so many times. This is better than a fifteen round fight with Mike Tyson.
Either way it would be nice to see that Aircraft do a sling load. I bet it can hold a bunch. Anybody have an idea what they certified it for on the hook??

[B Sousa]

Not one to let such a great thread die. Heres an email that I received and am passing it on..... This is a rumor network so Take it as a rumor. If you wish to verify some of it, go to www.google.com or www.copernic.com and download their search engine.
This may upset a few but it should be considered consistent with what has happened in the past...
"Southwest Florda Avaition is owned by Jamie R. Hill and Ronald R. Hill is also somehow involved. SWFA brought a bunch of UH-1Bs into the country from Singapore, rebuilt them to some degree, registered them as Restricted category machines. Several of them crashed due to airframe failures due to corrosion. Caused enough problems to generate an FAA action that forbids previously foreign operated aircraft from being registered here in the USA. He also did a Mod wherin he whacked off two feet from an H Model Blade, moved the trim tabs...but it did not work out well,..lots of cracking problems.
That aircraft in question was registered as N37BA ( http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...12X21080&key=1 ) and was duly exported to SA and de-registered with the FAA. Question remains how he did that export...it requires US Department of State Approval.
The aircraft was manufactured in 1964.
The Charlotte County Sheriffs Department is supposed to have investigated SWFA for having possession of up to 23 helicopter airframes that had been obtained by the Sheriffs office under the Federal Government Excess Personal Property program. ( http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchiv...01/tp2ch19.htm ) ( http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsheadli...=1789&banner=1 )( http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchiv...ry=tp2ch16.htm)
Shady operator at best.... at least one $200,000 lein oustanding in the State of Florida on him and a second lien on what appears to be his wife in the amount of $80,000. both liens filed under the Company name and each of them."

Heres another little tidbit for the smell test on "Business Ethics" ( http://www.njb.uscourts.gov/chambers...erregional.pdf )
So the rest is not necesary..... It explains to me one thing in that the blades used are not as I expected . Also it does not say that the Aircraft in the Cape is one of the above....just implies that based on past practice , chances are good. So much for pretty paint jobs.
I do hope someone from SWFA will post here, using their name of course and tell us all its not true.

[SASless]

More fuel for the fire....

Old saying....."Let the Buyer Beware" springs to mind here.




Helicopter rebuilder questions search

Sheriff left parts, copters behind, says Hill


The State Attorney's Office search of a Punta Gorda helicopter business last week may indeed uncover a "conspiracy," said Ronald Hill, manager of the business, Southwest Florida Aviation Inc.

That's the conspiracy between fellow U.S. military veterans -- to help the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office rebuild Vietnam-era helicopters for public use, said Ronald Hill, manager of Southwest Florida Aviation Inc.

Hill's father, Jamie Hill, owns the Southwest Florida Aviation business, located across the street from the sheriff's hangar at the Charlotte County Airport. The business has been rebuilding Bell "Huey" helicopters and exporting them since 1982.

The State Attorney's Office searched the business for two days last week looking for evidence that proved Jamie Hill engaged in a scheme with former Sheriff's Capt. Robert Carr.

According to State Attorney Investigator Ralph Cunningham, the scheme was for Carr to embezzle helicopters from the Sheriff's Office and sell them or their parts in Third World countries.

Both Carr and Ronald Hill have denied the allegations. Jamie Hill was out of the country on business and couldn't be reached for comment.

Jamie Hill served in the U.S. Army for five years in Vietnam as a U.S. Army helicopter crew chief. All of Southwest's floor technicians are also U.S. military veterans, staffers said. Carr also served in the army as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

In fact, one of the helicopters Carr flew in Vietnam, the Huey "Five-Oh-Deuce," is one of the helicopters that Southwest helped the Sheriff's Office rebuild.

For the past three years, Southwest has provided technical advice, tools, manuals, materials, parts, storage space for junk and skilled mechanical services -- often free of charge -- to the Sheriff's Office, Ronald Hill said.

"You're talking about veterans helping out other veterans over there," said Hill. "We were trying to assist our fellow man."

Southwest's floor supervisor Mark Fry said he spent 21 years in the U.S. Marines. He said he and another U.S. veteran/technician volunteered to work weekends to install an engine, transmission and main rotor hub into the sheriff's 502.

"I just put all the major parts in it," Fry said. "(Carr) asked me to do it; he's my friend."

"You've got to be nice to them," added Southwest technician Anthony Laurenti, also a U.S. veteran. "I mean they're the sheriff's department."

Most of the sheriff's aviation unit's staffers were also veterans, at least until recently. Those veterans had included Carr, who resigned from the Sheriff's Office in January, former U.S. Army pilot Carl Burgerhoff, who resigned in August, and former U.S. Army mechanic Denis Mintze, who was suspended in June.

Southwest's staffers say they were hurt to hear Cunningham claim, in newspaper interviews, that stolen parts exported by Southwest could be winding up in the hands of "terrorists and drug dealers."

"I don't know how you could be more insulted than that," said Laurenti.

Jamie Hill founded Southwest in Fort Myers in 1982. In 1986, he moved the business to Punta Gorda.

Ron Hill pointed out that all exports of de-militarized military surplus aircraft must be approved by the U.S. Customs and the State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls. The export forms require Southwest to declare the name of the customer and the country receiving the aircraft must approve of the import.

If Southwest violated the law, they'd soon be put out of business, he pointed out.

According to a search warrant, State Attorney Investigator J.S. Purdy told Circuit Judge Donald Pellecchia he had probable cause to believe that Southwest's property contained materials that had been "stolen or embezzled."

The judge granted permission to search specifically for evidence that Hill's father, Jamie, committed grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft and making illegal modifications to aircraft identification numbers. The warrant listed serial numbers for nine helicopters that Cunningham said were "missing from the sheriff's inventory."

The investigators seized seven helicopter hulks and crates of parts and records.

Hill, however, said the Sheriff's Office asked for permission to store its helicopter hulks at Southwest's lot. He also said the sheriff's aviation staff has dropped off and retrieved aircrafts several times.

Southwest has never transported sheriff's helicopters to its lot, he said.

He also said some of the parts seized in the search may belong to the Sheriff's Office. However, he said many of those parts were brought to Southwest by the sheriff's aviation staff for technical inspections -- and then never retrieved.

Many of those parts were deemed to be junk, Hill said. He pointed out that many parts had reached their limit for hours of operation or were missing "data tags." Without data tags, which allow mechanics to track maintenance history, many components can never legally be installed again.

"At no time did we ever receive records on any of the sheriff's aircraft," Hill said. "At no time did we ever receive flight logs, maintenance records, component records."

"There must be a misunderstanding," he added. "If there's no misunderstanding, than this search is just a ruse."

He suggested that corporate espionage was a possibility.

He pointed out a Bell helicopter official accompanied investigators, apparently to help them identify helicopters without data tags by the serial numbers on other components.

However, Bell is a direct competitor of Southwest. Bell offers a kit for about $150,000 to beef up civilian Hueys with military-sized engines, Hill said. Southwest provides the kit -- and installs it -- for $125,000, he said.

Southwest, which is one of only five Type Certificate holders in the U.S. that rebuild military surplus Hueys, also competes by providing rebuilt utility helicopters at one-fifth the cost of Bell's new civilian utility helicopters.

"Bell and the FAA have been trying to do away with everything for these Hueys for years," Hill said.

He also challenged the State Attorney's claim Southwest illegally altered identification plates on the aircrafts. He pointed out that Southwest holds a Type Certificate license from the FAA. That authorizes Southwest to remove "data plates," which are aircraft identification plates, to rebuild aircraft.

After the aircraft is rebuilt, it is inspected by the FAA. If approved, Southwest is authorized to remove the data plate and affix its own stating Southwest is responsible for the re-manufacturing, he said.

Hill said investigators seized old data plates from a Southwest cabinet that Southwest had removed from aircraft that were scheduled to be remanufactured.

Hill also cited several documents indicating that more than half the helicopters seized had no "data plates" when they arrived.

Those documents include a Sept. 1, 1999 letter from Carr to Chris Butterworth, then-director of the state's Bureau of Federal Property Assistance. The letter states that the four helicopters, the same ones investigators were searching for, had been "cannibalized."

"The UH-1H helicopters were received without data plates and many components were removed prior to our accepting this aircraft at Marion County Sheriff's Office," Carr wrote. "We have completed the cannibalization process and need direction to turn in these helicopters. These airframes have no salvageable parts."

Hill doesn't possess any followup correspondence. However, that should be in the possession of the Sheriff's Office, officials have indicated.

Hill also cited documents showing that a fifth helicopter seized by the investigators wasn't stolen. It was officially released to Southwest after Carr turned it in to the U.S. General Services Administration as an unusable hulk.

That helicopter was then bought at an auction on Aug. 25, 1999 by Donald D. Hunt of Roseburg, Ore., according to a U.S. General Services Administration document. Hunt then signed another document releasing that helicopter to Hill.

"This item is in scrap condition, no data plates, no records, no avionics or parts," the GSA states in its document. "Scrap value only."

Hill said the sheriff's trucking contractor dropped off four helicopter hulks at Southwest's yard in 1999. None had data plates. Sheriff's staffers asked Southwest to remove all the major parts, Hill said.

But, it wasn't a secret operation. Southwest listed the parts to be removed in an April 12, 1999 letter to Carr, records show. "All items removed will be returned to you," the document states.

Hill said the parts were delivered to the sheriff's hangar, but many of them were brought back to Southwest for technical inspections. Some of those parts were then deemed to be junk and were never retrieved by the Sheriff's Office, he said.

Southwest staffers say within weeks after Sheriff Bill Clement took office in January, sheriff's aviation staffers rushed to cart off four helicopter hulks. Those hulks had data plates, according to Hill.

Which helicopters are which? Investigators will have trouble figuring that out, said Hill.

Fry pointed to a large canister on the tarmac. He said it contained a rusted transmission that Mintze had asked Southwest to inspect. When Fry saw it had no "data tag" and was rusty, he deemed it to be junk.

"I told Denis to come over here a year ago and get this thing," Fry said. "It's still sitting here."

Hill pointed to two main rotor hubs sitting outside on the tarmac. He said sheriff's staffers left the hubs after inspections deemed them to be junk.

"They're 'boat anchors,'" Hill said. "I haven't tried to sell their stuff. I've had three years to sell those parts."

Fry said the investigators seized several tail rudder grips from Southwest's hangar. The grips are melon-sized, yoke-shaped parts made of either aluminum or steel. The grips must be discarded when they reach a certain limit for hours of operation.

The investigators seized grips that had been removed from sheriff's helicopters -- and replaced with good used ones by Southwest, Fry said.

"I can't use 'em; they're out of hours," said Fry. "They're scrap."

Hill cited a document showing other property that was seized in the search. He said the property included several rotor blades for Bell 205 and UH-1B helicopters.

Those blades don't fit any of the UH-1 helicopters listed in the search warrant, Hill said.

Carr declined comment for this story.

Purdy also declined comment, citing the fact the investigation remains open.

You can e-mail Greg Martin at [email protected]


By GREG MARTIN

Staff Writer

[alwaysinverted]

Very Interesting!

The SACAA should look into this lot.

Maybe the UH-1B that arrived here was destined for the scrap heap. I remember someone saying that it was put together for the purpose of a static display for some museum. Well, if it is a museum piece, it probably does'nt have any servicable parts on it. Maybe the paperwork should be thoroughly inspected, rather than just taken for granted.

If its true about the Hill's, then a lot of this whole thing with Mr. Chief Engineer who's name we can't mention, makes a lot of sense. Two peas in a pod.

[Gunship]

Maybe I miss a crucial line somewhere (and if I do I seriously appologise), but if you guys are talking about the first HUEY and it's partners - they all came from The Ethiopian Airforce.

Sorry if it is a "newer story and later heli's" - I just could not pick it up if it is.

Cheers

Gunss

PS: Beautiful day in the Cape - Huey should make a (nearly said killing) lot of money today.

[B Sousa]

Guns too many tassies. This is about the New mess....er I mean UH-1B.......

[Gunship]

Oh ok thanks - over and out.

[bladestrap]

Gunnzzzz, where you been bro?

I guess the Huey thread will always remain alive due to the controversy that surrounds the Cape Huey.

A Gauteng based operator imported a UH-1B with the help of the Cape Huey guys, and this helicopter was assembled by the Huey people in their hangar at Helibase the way I understand it. So from there the association, and that lot just continued on this thread.

The new import (UH-1B) is still parked at the Helibase awaiting an inspection by the CAA before it can be flown away. I understand that the owner is quite keen to get it up north, as he has informed a number of operators up there that his machine is going to take their contracts away. Watch out fire fighters, gold couriers etc. Man, this is going to be interesting.

The most important thing though, is to see how the SACAA will certify this machine. (C of A & restrictions) That in itself, will prove to be interesting as it may just open the door for other appropriately licenced, commercial operators, to do as they please, without the necessary certification. Watch this space. Its gonna get real interesting.

[INJECTOR]

It is becoming apparent that Bladestrap, Carnivoriouslegallus and Clipboard, even though they are the same person and with the help of Mr. Sousa are only interested in criticism and controversy.

It also appears that "alwaysinverted" is the same person referred to above. I would be very interested if you could provide proof of the allegations you make on as I can only find rumours and no concrete evidence such as court convictions or court proceedings on any of your allegations. I do not know how this classifies as information in the public domain and is allowed to be printed on the prune by the moderators unless it is just a slur campaign against Mr. Fox because you are in the process of being exposed.

Seeing as any information in the public domain is fair game maybe Mr. Sousa and his pen pal who now goes under 4 different pseudonyms can explain this article that appeared in the August edition of the well-known AIRNEWS magazine:

PILOT JAILED

" FIVE YEARS imprisonment without the option of a fine was the sentence imposed recently by the Regional Court in Pretoria on a South African agricultural pilot, Francois Marais, who was found guilty on a charge of falsifying a pilot's license with intend to defraud.

The court found that Marais had falsified a United States FAA Private Pilot's License to make it appear to be a Commercial Pilot's Licence. He had then requested the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to validate the FAA license.

A CAA inspector suspected the license to be falsified and contacted the FAA which confirmed that no commercial license had ever been issued to Marais.

Commenting on the outcome of the case and sentence, the Chief Director of the CAA, Rennie van Zyl, said that a proper example had been made of Marais and that the industry should take note that the CAA would pursue cases where irresponsible individuals jeopardised flight safety.

Van Zyl said it was the duty of the CAA, being a signatory to the Chicago Convention, to ensure safe skies and a properly regulated environment for aviation."

END


I am now beginning to understand why our colourful multi identity friend mentioned above is so angry with the CAA and aviation in general.

Maybe BladeStrap, carnivorouslegallus, Clipboard, alwaysinverted and who ever else you claim to be should pack up your Bull...t in your little white Citi golf and head north of the Limpopo where your fraudulent licences may help you.

By the way where did you do your chopper license or did you just pay your mate at the CAA? No school has a record of your PPL except NAC Cape Town where you did 27hrs and ran away without paying and before completing the PPL course.

[Rebound]

Alwaysinverted, yes i am close to the Huey guys which is where i got the following infomation. Have seen it with my own eyes.

Mr Injector mentions that Bladestrap, Carnivorus, Clipboard etc are all the same person....i agree with him.

Bladestrap is also a member of cupid@adultfriendfinder and guess what????? friendfinder sends mail to [email protected] This is the email address (which is now directed to my mates pc) that Francois used when he was part of the Huey club. He joined cupid@friendfinder and used his company email address....and now it has come back to bite him in the butt.

Is this a coincidence or what? I have proof of this and if anyone wants me to foward the CUPID emails for a little gander just ask.

[Rhodie]

Hmmm...

Well, seeing as Injector and Rebound think every user is the same person - I think Injector and Rebound are the same.... since Mr. F** is "Injector" and always likes to say he is "on the rebound", makes sence now, dunnit...?

And Now...!!! Bert hopes have been answered... suddenly, a new post from none other than SWFA

Now, just a question - but when did "Southwest Florida Aviation" relocate to Johannesburg...? Funny this - a quick company search reveals NO such trading name registered in SA, no telephone numbers listed, no address, no..... But - they have a "co.za" e-mail address...

Just a thought...

R

[Deanw]

carnivoruslegallus:

Plate says T53L11D.

I was told that it had the -13 fitted.

[alwaysinverted]

Interesting to see the post from SWFA.

I'll bet my last bottom dollar that Mr. F** contacted them, they provided him with the information, and he posted it for them on pprune for the benefit of B.Sousa. Also interesting to note that SWFA uses Mweb. Mr. F**'s business card lists an mweb email address. Very co-incidental I would say!

No one in South Africa, other than Mr. F** and the person who imported the UH-1B have had any contact with SWFA, and SWFA have up to now, never had any representation in SA. Mr. F** is their representative now, as he has stated in conversations many times. He underwent his "factory training" with them. Makes sense for him to represent them under the said email address.

The only thing I'm interested in is to see the UH-1B fly, and to see under what category and with what restrictions, if any, the SACAA will isssue the C of A. This thread have been closely monitored by a number of commercial operators who are keen to see which way the SACAA are going to jump. Whats good for the one, is good for the other, so lets see where this heads to.

DeanW, thanks for the engine info. You are not the only person that were told it's equipped with a Dash 13 engine. Now you will understand why people have an issue with this guy. Either its an engine as per the data plate, or it is'nt. If it is'nt a Dash 11 engine, then the data plate should be removed or the facts rectified on the data plate. All the stories makes it rather confusing.

[B Sousa]

Injector writes."It is becoming apparent that Bladestrap, Carnivoriouslegallus and Clipboard, even though they are the same person and with the help of Mr. Sousa are only interested in criticism and controversy."

Sorry, that dog wont hunt. In this case we should say "criticism and contoversy" could be changed to "safety of flight." I dont believe I know any of the above, at least nobody has let me know that they use those names. As to Francois, if he has problems, take it up with him. None were critical of him until he left that mess in the Cape, now you jump on him as its all his fault.
After Kennel Keeper peaked my interest, I made sure that what was out there got to all that are interested. As I said the first mess is still a continuing mess.
As for those who clog this thread trying to figure out who is who, I could care less. I dont have any pen pals albeit I know some of those here.
At least SWFA came out to dispell the items floating throughout the media, whether true or not they certainly hang a cloud over the issue. NTSB accident report must have something based on facts at hand. The rest as to who stole what is only conjecture unless proven in court......(Based on another post, SWFA, may not be SWFA....whats up with that)
I was also involved in the surplus program at one time and went head to head with the DLA (defense logistics agency) over where items were going. They were a major pain in the ass and actually are responsible for the destruction of millions of taxpayer dollars. One thing kept them off of my agency and that was direct accountability for everything we had. There were, on the other hand, some that thought they could do whatever they pleased with the items and I now understand DLA's concern. Those concerns were posted on this site previously and I personally believe, bring questions as to this particular aircraft.
Having said that, if the FAA registered it, The U.S. State Department allowed its export, the South African Government allowed its import, I do believe it may soon be flying. Thats how it is supposed to work.
If someone digs up something other than that, its a different ballgame.