60 Minutes (Australia) investigation Robinson
 

To be aired on Sunday night 1930

Sixtyminutesv2 - Video Index

I guess the 60 minutes crew are such experts.....

C'mon guys..
 

.. you don't need to be much of an expert to see where lives are being lost un-necessarily.... this b:mad:y issue should have been sorted long ago..

just IMHO of course..

TP

Comeon Talkpedlar - there has not been a Robinson accident for at least a week...

Viewing
 

Is it possible to watch the program online from outside of Oz, say in the UK?

CRAN:)

"The most deadly way to see Australia" says the promo. I'm sure RHC's lawyers will enjoy tackling that one. This isn't news - it's sensationalism and is about getting ratings. How fitting that the online promo is preceeded by a chocolate cake commercial.

Wonder what else they've cooked up?

Jim

In this day and age I m sure that the tv maker's lawyers have been over consulted !!!

Things taking a long time isn't new is it?

FAA to Airbus: Install rudder warning after fatal crash

R44 bladder tanks
 

As previously stated, I believe it irresponsible in the extreme to fly innocent passengers in a machine that hasn't got bladder tanks. We pilots know the risks, they don't.

I love my R44. However, the irrefutable evidence of fatal post-crash fires in otherwise survivable accidents made the case for me and I had it done.

We can all screw up. The heli is very easy to fly but also very unforgiving of mistakes. What we need to avoid is a mistake developing into a horrific disaster.

Just my thoughts...

H

So Hairy Plane, I guess that you wouldn't want to fly in an AS350?

What I don't get is the attitude of some who endless defend those involved in aviation perhaps through some false loyalty. People / companies make errors its how you deal with those errors that count?

SuperF... Seen many 350's burst into flame on impact? Your's run on Avgas do they bro....?

R44 is a decent rocket but they don't have a good track record. A mod that was a long time overdue...

Begs the question, why not fit bladders to AS350s?

Not enough people killed in otherwise survivable accidents?
AS350 cabin frequently collapses trapping those inside.

Wearing a helmet plus using bladders would reduce fatalities.


Mickoebill

Saw a video of an AS350 hitting his sling strop in NZ and the pilots seat broke out of the helicopter.....not much chance of any one surviving a Heli crash if the pilot and his seat is the first thing to break and he exits the aircraft........

AS350
 

Hi SuperF,

I would love a go in one! I'm in Warwickshire. Land at the house, nice lunch guaranteed. we could also nip across to a nearby airstrip for some open-cockpit fun.

My post related specifically to the petrol-driven R44. Apologies if I didn't make that clear.

HP

Hairy, sorry mate, but I'm 24 hrs by 747 from you and I don't have a 350. Would a 204 or 206 do?

Bellfest, havent heard of one running on avgas, although im sure if u asked around someone could do a mod for you. I think the 350 that went down in Switzerland a couple of days ago burnt to the ground, and one a year or so ago in oz did the same, 355 from memory.

My point was solely that lots of people that fly 350's are happy to point at the 44 and say its a death trap as it doesn't have bladders, when other helicopters don't as well.

I would think that the location of the fuel tanks could have something to do with post crash fires. Even if it remains upright, you puncture the tank, there will be trouble. Same situation in most other helicopters leaves a puddle on the ground.

And the guy in the 350 in NZ was doing utility work without a helmet!


Ps I don't fly 350's, they are made of plastic, there are too many blades and they turn the wrong way.

A lot of turbines can run on petrol of one type or another, but the penalties make it non economic as does the cost. It's a get you home feature.
Hughes 300's metal tanks and Bell 47's.

To expand a huge number of Cessna aircraft have metal tanks or wet wings as do virtually all airliners. If it's bladder tanks or nothing we are all going by boat!!!!!!

Well, all helicopters will burn if crashed hard enough even those with crash-worthy,self sealing tanks. There's nothing wrong with the Astar tank system, I've seen some extreme impacts leave the tank undamaged. (Like flying flat out into the side of a hill for example).
When the manufacturer tells operators to change their tanks, maybe the operators should make it a priority.
Not all of it but some of this has been self inflicted.

Does the "new Beetle" have an unprotected fuel tank up front?
 

Some people seem to be missing the point (with comparisons to AS350s, Cessna's, etc)

Fact: the R44 has two aluminum containers filled (to varying degrees) with Avgas. Between these thin walled "cans" is mounted a high speed rotating can opener (flex plate). Any disruption to the drive shaft (TR or MR strike for eg) will almost certainly result in both tanks being sliced open. Below this setup is a reciprocating engine which has 2 (duplicated systems) for reliably creating sparks (magnetos).

Fact: numerous people have burnt to death following accidents in the hover. (More than one person has been seen to have survived the crash and burnt trying to escape the wreckage)

Fact: photos exist of an R44 that went through the "can opener sequence" but no fuel escaped due the bladder tanks fitted.

Carry on.

TLN

Nicely stated TLN...