I have felt it was a good thing, a mandated type of training that prevented accidents, said Kurt Robinson, who took over the company from his father in 2010. It ruled out common mechanical issues, such as engine failure or fuel system problems, but did not come up with an explanation for the sudden loss of control. The CAA left the Airworthiness Directive requiring repetitive inspections in place, however. documents in the last year, 153 This AD applies to the following Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) helicopters, certificated in any category: (1) Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with a tail rotor blade (blade) part number (P/N) C029-3 with serial number (S/N) 9410 through 9909 inclusive, installed; (2) Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with a blade P/N C029-3 with S/N 9910 through 10659 inclusive, installed; and. Santa Maria's purportedly cumbersome licensing process helped seal that decision. A weak dollar was good for exports, which accounted for 80 percent of sales. Robinson produces three models - the two-seat R22, the four-seat R44, both of which use Lycoming piston engines, and the five-seat R66, which uses a turbine engine. You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as PROPIN. The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Two early R22's were in fatal accidents, however, leading to a redesign of rotor blades. This AD requires checking each blade for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. The FAA issued AD 2021-19-08, Amendment 39-21726 (86 FR 49915, September 7, 2021) (AD 2021-19-08), for Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with a blade part number (P/N) C029-3 with serial number (S/N) 9410 through 9909 inclusive, installed. Robinson would also look close to home for key staff. documents in the last year, by the Food and Drug Administration Robinson founded the Robinson Helicopter Company out of his Palos Verdes home in 1973 and developed the first R22 prototype at the Torrance Airport. Unlike almost any other aviation company, Robinson does not analyze the findings of crashes to determine the causes of accident. R44 Clipper II Fixed. TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 12, 2022 Robinson Helicopter Company bid a final farewell to its founder, Frank Robinson.Robinson, 92, passed away peacefully at his . Sixty workers were soon laid off, however, due to a sales slowdown. But theres also a limit. AD 2021-19-08 was prompted by reports of spanwise cracks found along the leading edge of P/N C029-3 blades, S/N 9410 through 9909. I mean, that's somebody just learning how to fly," said Kurt. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked tail rotor blades (blades). Currently, the company only manufactures three different models of helicopters. The top sellers of Robinson Helicopter are the R44 and R66 models. The causes of many helicopter crashes remain a mystery even after the NTSB tasked with scrutinizing every U.S. civil aviation accident finishes its job. Machinist (Former Employee) - Torrance, CA - November 10, 2020. You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: Since its incorporation in 1973, the Torrance based company has delivered thousands of R22, R44, and R66 helicopters to private pilots and commercial operators around the world. The R44 Astro was awarded an FAA Type Certificate in December 1992, with the first deliveries taking place in January 1993. [6], In 1997, a Robinson R44 was piloted by Jennifer Murray for the first helicopter circumnavigation of the world by a woman, covering a distance of 36,000 miles in 97 days. In 2000, he gave $1 million to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to fund a rotary-wing aircraft display at its new Dulles Airport facility. that generated this analysis, visit github.com/datadesk/helicopter-accident-analysis. These tools are designed to help you understand the official document Robinson had 800 employees in 2000. A float-equipped version, dubbed the Mariner, was introduced later in the year and was priced at $94,850. The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. These include, but are in not limited to, induction into the California Aviation Hall of Fame, induction into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a Lifetime Aviation Engineering Award from the Living Legends of Aviation, the Daniel Guggenheim Medal from the American Helicopter Society, and the Howard Hughes Memorial Award from the Southern California Aeronautic Association. This proposed AD would also continue to require, before further flight, removing from service any cracked blade and would prohibit installing the affected blades on any helicopter. I thought, wait a minute, they can continue to make this same part even after they knew? Of the 13,000 helicopters Robinson has sold, 1,200 have crashed. [5], Robinson has carried out ground run testing with an aircraft diesel engine that could replace its Lycoming IO-540 avgas engine. documents in the last year, 37 Besides the recession, product liability was another major factor in slowing sales across the entire U.S. general aviation industry in the early 1980s. are not part of the published document itself. However, he was unable to interest any of his employers in his concept for a small, low-cost consumer helicopter. Global key piston-engined helicopter manufacturers include Robinson Helicopter Company Hlicoptres Guimbal, Enstrom Helicopter Corp. etc. 05/01/2023, 39 Robinson Helicopter Company of Torrance, California, is the world's leading producer of civil helicopters. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. They have recently released an autopilot for helicopters, as well as glass avionics. Many bore signs of mast-bumping, but exact causes could not be determined because there were no survivors or onboard data recorders. james.guo@faa.gov. Robinson helicopters Inc. Is a great work force. Robinson continued to improve its products. to the courts under 44 U.S.C. You are shooting in the dark.. This site displays a prototype of a Web 2.0 version of the daily The company has helped retrain Kiwi pilots, he said. Overtime sometimes on weekends. [10], The R44 was found to be prone to post-accident fires due to damage to the aluminum fuel tanks, allowing fuel to leak out. People who like adventure are attracted to our products, he said. He handled everything as an engineering problem and something to solve.. The four-seat helicopter had barely lifted off from John Wayne Airport when it nosed down, clipped two houses and slammed into a third, killing the pilot and two of his three passengers. that agencies use to create their documents. This AD also requires removing all affected blades . There are more than 400 dealers and service centers that are located throughout the world. These include, but are in not limited to, induction into the California Aviation Hall of Fame, induction into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a Lifetime Aviation Engineering Award from the Living Legends of Aviation, the Daniel Guggenheim Medal from the American Helicopter Society, and the Howard Hughes Memorial Award from the Southern California Aeronautic Association. Start Printed Page 41628 All data presented is for entertainment purposes and should not be used operationally. of the issuing agency. It does not analyze its findings to determine accident causes. Robinson Helicopter Company says the R66 and R44 are its top-selling models. R44 Clipper II Popout. The FAA responded by issuing Special Flight Aviation Regulation 73, which requires extra instruction about mast-bumping risks and low-G conditions, along with specific flight checks for pilots of the R22 and R44. Before jurors began deliberations on punitive damages, the two sides reached a confidential settlement. The Times reviewed all investigation reports issued since the new regulation took effect and identified 10 fatal Robinson crashes in which investigators saw signs of mast-bumping. Since delivering its first helicopter in 1979, Robinson Helicopter has produced over 12,000 aircraft. When I was 9 or 10 I saw a picture in the Seattle newspaper of Igor Sikorsky hovering in a VS-300 prototype, Robinson said in a 2010 lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in England. better and aid in comparing the online edition to the print edition. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority. The R44 flailed briefly, dropped a few feet to the pavement and burst into flames. The Public Inspection page 05/01/2023, 258 What Else Does Robinson Helicopter Company Manufacture? The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal The first production R44 Astro was delivered in February 1993. This AD applies to Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 and R44 II helicopters, certificated in any category, with an Start Printed Page 14413 agricultural spray system installed by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SR00286BO with spray systems serial-numbered 0045 through 0178 inclusive, installed. All escaped just before fire destroyed the helicopter. It's been a really good partnership," said Kurt. He said the company keeps accident reports and other records for only as long as the FAA requires us to and that throwing them away does not impede its commitment to safety. The R44 Newscopter debuted around the same time, outfitted for television news coverage. Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to Robinson Helicopter Company was founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, whose vision was to produce the world's highest quality, most reliable helicopters in the most efficient, cost effective way . The R22 would eventually claim world speed and altitude records for its class. He replaced his living room furniture with drafting tables, set up a workshop in the garage and farmed out parts fabrication to a business partner in Hawaii. Robinson moved to a new 260,000-square-foot plant in July 1994. (202) 493-2251. Six months earlier, an R44 on a sightseeing flight lost power and landed hard on a city street in Sherman Oaks, injuring the pilot and two passengers. The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. This means that they are not agents of Robinson Helicopter Company. R44 helicopters that were manufactured before December of 2010, as well as all R22 helicopters, have fuel tanks that are more susceptible to rupturing than other fuel tanks. The agency issued AD 2021-19-08 to address the unsafe condition on these products. The company president, Kurt Robinson, contested his helicopters place atop The Times accident-rate ranking. Learn more here. https://www.regulations.gov. I believe RHC divests itself of all records in an attempt to have plausible deniability related to responsibility.. The Robinson R44 is a four-seat light helicopter produced by Robinson Helicopter Company since 1992. Hand Delivery: [5], Robinson also produces the Robinson Helipad, a modular helipad designed for light helicopters.[6]. The company recommended that the change should be done as soon as practical, but no later than 31 December 2014. If sending information directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. This service bulletin specifies removing P/N C029-3 blades with S/N 9410 through 9909 from service. Worldwide, there have been 512 deaths since 1982 with a total of 291 Robinson crashes. headings within the legal text of Federal Register documents. Right then and there I decided thats what I want to do.. The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-19-08, which applies to certain Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. In early 2002, a Honda dealer in Santa Ana, California, began installing the first at his auto lot. In this Issue, Documents Open for Comment. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked blades. The company is based in Torrance, California at Zamperini Field. Mast bumping is a dangerous condition helicopters can encounter when load on the helicopter's rotor assembly is temporarily reduced during flight (for example, during a low-g maneuver or turbulent weather). documents in the last year, 1407 This company has posted a revenue of $200 million. The top 3 companies hold a share about 95Percent. The prevailing opinion, at the time, was that helicopter market was for the military only. He was a very determined person who didnt accept no; whenever he was faced with a challenge he found a way to push on, Kurt said. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 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The company delivered 390 new aircraft in 2000 and 328 in 2001, and has total sales exceeding $100 million annually. It was first flown on 31 March 1990 and received FAA certification in December 1992, with the first delivery in February 1993. regulatory information on FederalRegister.gov with the objective of ts1@robinsonheli.com; It does not have established safety programs. This PDF is Tim Tomasik, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman co-founder and partner, proudly represents the widow of the passenger that died in the October 23 helicopter crash, and he is committed to the vigilant pursuit of justice against the Robinson Helicopter Company. This check is an exception to the FAA's standard maintenance regulations. The main problem with these fuel tanks is that in July of 2006, Robinson Helicopter Company released Safety Notice 40, which encouraged pilots and occupants to wear fireproof helmets, gloves, and suits. Robinson was planning to establish a production line for this aircraft in Santa Maria until the city of Torrance offered the company a good rate on a lease of additional land. A pilot may perform this check because it involves visually checking each blade for a crack. Upon his retirement, Frank Robinson was succeeded by his son, Kurt, who is the Chairman and President of the Robinson Helicopter Company. establishing the XML-based Federal Register as an ACFR-sanctioned Full benefits for employee and offered insurance for family. These helicopters are all manufactured, assembled, inspected, and tested at the Torrance, California factory. The week-long course covers maintenance on all three RHC airframes the piston-powered two-place R-22 and four-place R-44, and the turbine-powered five-place R-66. Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. on The prototype was then sold to a flight school, a market he told the Los Angeles Times he had not even considered when he began to develop the aircraft. This repetition of headings to form internal navigation links R44 Cadet with Floats.