New -7 R44 blades already have a NZ EAD grounding all R44s
 

DCA/R44/31 Prohibition of Flight - C016-7 Main Rotor Blades

Applicability All Robinson R44 series helicopters fitted with main rotor blades P/N
C016-7.
Requirement: To prevent the possibility of main rotor blade separation and
consequent loss of the helicopter, further flight is prohibited.
Compliance : Before further flight.
Note 1: Aircraft in remote locations may complete one further flight to the
nearest appropriate facility, provided that they are subject to a
detailed visual inspection of the blade skin in the region of the
outboard chord increase.
Continuing Airworthiness Notice CAN 62-003 refers.
Ensure blade is clean and inspect upper and lower surface paying
attention to defects in paint which may signify cracking.
Note 2: This Airworthiness Directive is issued as a result of initial advice from
the investigators conducting the scene investigation into a fatal R44
accident near Queenstown that occurred on 19 Feb 2015. Scene
examination suggests that the aircraft may have experienced an in-
flight main rotor blade failure similar to that reported in CAA
Continuing Airworthiness Notice 62-003. The AD will remain in place

R44 blades
 

not really, "only" those with the -7 blades

As much as I'm convinced that the R44 is a good helicopter, this blade issue is really... :ugh::ugh::ugh:
I'm just glad that I haven't replaced my -5 blades yet. If I had I would be really kind of p***** off by now.

I surely am not defending Robinson, but your headline is misleading. These are not new blades in the sense of truly being new.
They've been out awhile. Although these -7 blades ARE the ones many R44 owners are being required to switch to.
Bottom line:
Robinson cannot make a safe main rotor blade!!!

Makes you wonder about the R66 and R22 blades as well.

Parallel thread "FAA mandates replacement of R22 & R44 main rotorblades"
 

For a more in-depth discussion of the issue in the bigger context also see http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/552...torblades.html.

There are already over 130 posts on the general subject of problem-laden Robinson MR blades.

Looks like the A/D is gone already. Maybe the NZ pilots are asking too much of a light helicopter.

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-st...4-helicopters/