I've never flown a Robinson, as pilot or passenger and if I am honest, I never want to. They may be perfectly safe, the best helicopter ever made, but having read and heard so much bad publicity about them from this forum and other sources, I'll pass on the opportunity thanks.
My pension beckons, and I intend to be drawing it for a long, long time.

Fly safely,
Chopperman.

The blade has separated alright, but did that occur before or after the machine hit the ground?

The tip of the separated blade looks like it has contacted dirt.

Would a clean separation of a blade (in flight) cause it to bend like that?

(Just asking)

Just my thoughts, im not saying this is what happened.

Perhaps if the blade did come off in flight, and seeing the position of the fusalage, maybe the the blade was flung into the fence, which would possibly explain why it is dented, also it would have hit the ground at some rate of knots.

Glad to hear pilot is ok.

Hughesy

Thanks for the help HP.

I am really suprised that this incident has not been commented on further.
To me this is one of the worst problems that the R22 has ever experienced...in fact it may be the worst problem any machine ever has experienced.
What sort of chance does a pilot have when the machine seems to be flawed? The accidents in Australia were the result of abuse - chronic abuse. These blades were only 700hrs old.
Its one thing to go out and kill yourself by your own hand. It will be a sad last few seconds when you realise that the blade departed the aircraft and you have no chance at all.
Thank the good lord that I am out of the R22 market.

Steve76,

my reading of the latest ATSB report on the failures indicates that the latest one may not come apart from "chronic abuse" as you indicate.

The report can be found ATSB Report .

My reading indicates that corrosion started the process of fatigue and then use of the blade accelerated it. The report also says that when the ATSB tested other blades they found the same problem that may have started the failure process in the accident.

The ATSB then issued a recommendation (over a year ago) and it appears that the results found in the US may have been similar.

The report also indicates that there was a failure of a blade in flight in Israel.

The question one must ask is how many cattle and how much abuse did the blades on the Israeli helo cop? Not much me thinks....

If this failure in NZ is anything similar to the one that the ATSB are investigating then there may be some very serious repercussions for the entire fleet coming from this.

Kicker....

How long ?
 

Personally I can't believe that these incidents keep happening and happening.
How many other machines have re-occuring problems that cost lives and injure people ?
How hard can it be to fix these problems once and for all ?

Bearing in mnid nothing can stop operators from exceeding times on lifed parts.

'Be gentle'

Loachboy

Thanks for the correction Tinkicker.
Not all the accidents are obviously the result of unrecorded hours but I was thinking of the Sydney acccident when I wrote that.

So, it emphasises that this is a major issue that continues to reappear every 6 months or less. I think it is an issue that more pilots need to hear about. I worked for a major Robinson dealer in Canada recently and never heard a word about this problem.

A 700hrs blade is not even half life.

R22 The weakest link
 

What,apart from the rotor system, do you consider to be the weakest link on your R22. Which component do you pay special attention to on you pre flight check.

The nut on the end of the cyclic? :E

YEP! It's the pilot... and their skills/understanding of the machine and it's limits.

Or rather the lack of...

PW

Robinson: Tech Q's (Merged)
 

Im going to nominate the flex coupling next to the m/r gearbox. Coupling fails. Engine rpm increase. all power transferred to tail for slit second. Shaft with large pulley on flails around, takes tanks out and all your electrics.

Tools in R22
 

I do a fair bit of flying in isolated queensland and wanting to make up a small tool roll to put under the seat, already have some tools but wanting to know your opinion on what tools and size spanners are worth carrying to suit the R22.

I would recommend a large flat bladed screwdriver and an even bigger hammer....;)

:ok:

Guess it depends on what your 'authority' allows/permits with regards to pilot maintance...

PW

my outback toolkit
 

Having operated off a trailer all over the western USA, this is a subject dear to my heart! The toolkit is still evolving, but so far:

spanners (5/8 & 11/16? I forget), funnel, and pint of MR/TR gearbox oil for when you want to pull the chip detector all by yourself on an island in the middle of a flooded river 50 miles from cellphone coverage!

magnetic-bit multi-screwdriver (spare bits to replace those lost in the sand, please). AND tiny right-angle ratcheting slot and crosshead drivers, else you'll never be able to twiddle with engine cooling baffles.

at least all sizes sockets from 1/4" (clutch switch adjustment) to deep 7/8" (spark plugs). 7/32 and 11/32 will be vital for the 999+ engine baffle screws. 1/4" drive setup will take up less space & weight than 3/8; so you can carry ratchets, T-bars, various extensions, and universals in that size. And a Dictionary of Blasphemy.

Open-end & box-end in normal sizes weigh more, try for super-cheap pressed steel (they only have to function for a few minutes?)

Tiny open-end & box-end 1/4" through 7/16" are well worth having.

Needle-nose & plumber's pliers. Tiny wire cutters. Safety wire. Small tube of Silicone seal. Small tube of grease.

Tube of torque striping (consider matching color of the squiggles on nut heads emplaced by Officially Recognized Service Organizations).

Hacksaw (blade only?). Duct tape. Electrical tape.

You DO carry spare in-line fuses for the clutch wiring harness, no? Blowing your only fuse on above-mentioned island can ruin your day.

If you don't regularly compare your arm muscles to torque wrench values, carry one. IF you know the official torques!

How to carry: I put most of these in a couple of small plastic screw-top bottles left over from groceries. Light-weight, transparent, puncture-proof, waterproof, rustproof, unbreakable, instantly recognizeable. Properly loaded, they even float (remember the flooded river?).

OK, gang, what have I forgotten?

Thank you very much.

and don't put it under your seat,:(

To add to the comprehensive tool kit, in view of past experience, you will need a pretty good hammer, this helps unstick a sticking starter motor, plus it has allsorts of other use's!


PeterR-B
Vfr :cool:

Plus some chewing gum, so you consider what you are about to do before you do it.

A good first aid kit for running repairs when the scredriver slips " ......... aaaiiiiiiiiii! *&$$*** hell."


And monkey chow ... What for? The monkeys.


:E

Now lets see,


Heli + Pilot + Tools+ say can you refuel a few more time on the way!!!:O