And two months before that, an R44 suddenly lost power and crashed on a golf course maintenance yard in Santa Barbara, seriously injuring the pilot and two passengers, a young couple on a sightseeing tour. provide legal notice to the public or judicial notice to the courts. Wells, then 57, broke more than 60 bones and spent six weeks in a coma. Robinson moved to a new 260,000-square-foot plant in July 1994. Robinson Helicopter Company is a manufacturer of helicopters. He served as president of the Torrance-based company until he retired in 2010 at age 80 and passed the reins to his son Kurt Robinson. Predictably, as Robinson continues to operate in this manner, tragedy continues to strike. Still, safety issues have dogged the Torrance manufacturer over its 45-year history, The Times found, and both the company and the FAA have been slow to address design features and operating characteristics that have caused or contributed to accidents. Between 2006 and 2016, Robinson R44s alone were involved in 42 deadly helicopter crashes. An owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate may perform this proposed check and would have to enter compliance with the applicable paragraph of this proposed AD in the helicopter maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). R44 Clipper II Popout. on If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. [23][24][25], Data from Robinson R44 Raven II Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA approved rotorcraft flight manual, dated 13 June 2005, and new Robinson R44 Raven II specifications. Until the ACFR grants it official status, the XML The company delivered 390 new aircraft in 2000 and 328 in 2001, and has total sales exceeding $100 million annually. What Else Does Robinson Helicopter Company Manufacture? 1503 & 1507. In early 2002, a Honda dealer in Santa Ana, California, began installing the first at his auto lot. 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. Robinson founded the Robinson Helicopter company in 1973 where he defied the opinions of aviation leaders and opened a previously untapped market for private ownership through his signature R22, R44 and R66 model helicopters. documents in the last year, 153 To maintain the highest quality standards, the company carries out most of the . by searching for and locating Docket No. Call our Chicago aviation injury lawyers today at 312-605-8800 to arrange a free consultation. This PDF is It's been a really good partnership," said Kurt. Since 1982, 600 people have died in Robinson helicopter crashes. https://robinsonheli.com/. 14K Followers, 100 Following, 183 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Robinson Helicopter Company (@robinsonheli) The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. To reduce the risk of injury in a post-crash fire, it is strongly recommended that a fire-retardant Nomex flight suit, gloves and hood or helmet be worn by all occupants, said Robinson Safety Notice 40. Death rate (Fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours). Monday thru Friday. The Robinson R44 is a four-seat light helicopter produced by Robinson Helicopter Company since 1992. In July 2002, Robinson introduced the Raven II featuring a more powerful, fuel-injected engine and wider blades, allowing a higher gross weight and improved altitude performance. 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. headings within the legal text of Federal Register documents. Unique in the multi-tiered aerospace industry, Robinson builds most of its own components. Revenues reached $23.5 million in 1988, when the company sold 204 units. documents in the last year, 24 However, it was the military, beginning with the Korean War, which made the most use of helicopters. "We're on our mission and we will keep going forward. In 1957, he earned a BSME degree from the University of Washington and later attended graduate school at the University of Wichita. If you are using public inspection listings for legal research, you America's . After making eight aircraft in 1979, Robinson produced 78 units in 1980 and 176 the next year. A year later, it offered them as a voluntary retrofit for helicopters already in service at owners expense of about $6,800 for parts, plus labor. For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505, United States; phone: (310) 539-0508; email: (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to James Guo, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone (562) 627-5357; email Clara covers LAUSD for the LA Daily News in addition to writing about housing policy, homelessness and mental health. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced controllability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Robinson was not the first person who aspired to create an affordable helicopter for personal use. Aviation was in his blood.. The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. They put people in the air who otherwise would not be able to afford to fly helicopters or buy helicopters, said Ilyas Akbari, a Los Angeles aviation attorney whose firm has brought about a dozen lawsuits alleging that design defects make Robinsons unforgiving of pilot mistakes and inherently unsafe. The company had sales of $50 million in 1991, when it shipped a record 402 helicopters. Frank Robinson made large donations to two aviation history projects. They were in the air for 90 seconds when it shook to the point where I felt that the aircraft was about to come apart, pilot Scott Quist told the NTSB. From a numbers standpoint, it worked. 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. The R44 also boasted low operating costs and required less frequent servicing than typical helicopters. There was a two-year investigation performed by 60 Minutes (Australia) where they uncovered that 78 people died in the past decade due to crashes from these helicopters. As a result, not all operators are familiar with the phenomenon, as the accident operator was not, the agency noted. In Robinsons, it has been catastrophic: Rotor systems break off or the blades cut into cockpits or tail booms, according to aviation experts and incident reports by U.S. and foreign accident investigators. 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). Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. Tragically, those who were in the helicopter now fall among the nearly 600 people that have died in Robinson helicopter crashes since 1982. The year 1996 saw the introduction of the R22 Beta II, which had a new engine and offered improved hover performance for a base price of $135,000. electronic version on GPOs govinfo.gov. But the following year, at age 80, Robinson did retire from the iconic helicopter company he founded in 1973, turning control over to his son, Kurt. The company was founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, a former employee of Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopters. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. documents in the last year, 84 Several government agencies there have since banned the use of Robinsons by their employees. The CAA left the Airworthiness Directive requiring repetitive inspections in place, however. To date it has delivered more than13,000 helicopters and shows no sign of stopping. "If you asked Frank who he is, the first thing he would tell you is he's an engineer," said Kurt. In 2009, the company began installing bladder-type fuel tanks in all new R44 helicopters. [21], On 19 February 2015, the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority issued an Airworthiness Directive grounding 80 of the country's R44 helicopters after two people were killed in an accident traced to a particular type of main rotor blade, the P/N C016-7 or Dash 7, which a preliminary investigation determined had failed in flight. for better understanding how a document is structured but The company currently has over 1,000 employees in its Torrance headquarters. The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by August 29, 2022. Ten years later they introduced the R44 Raven II, which had an advanced engine, as well as an improved 28-volt electrical system. Then on June 29, 1992, near Richmond, Calif., another R22 broke up, killing the pilot and his flight student. Even using the companys estimated flight hours nearly 40% more than the FAAs the R44 still had the highest rate at 1.17 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours. You've disabled cookies in your web browser. Robinson had projected sales of 500 units a year by 1982, reported American Metal Markets, but did not meet the figure due to a recession. After completing the CAPTCHA below, you will immediately regain access to the site again. Include Docket No. R44 Raven I. R44 Clipper I. R44 Cadet. (2) If there is any crack, before further flight, remove the blade from service. Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. In the mid-1980s, Robinson began development on the four-seat piston-powered R44 helicopter, which hit the market in 1993 and eventually outsold the R22. 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 possible. This action may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR43.9(a) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). Currently, the company only manufactures three different models of helicopters. He really loved living here and weve been part of the community for over 40 years. You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. As a result of the investigation, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounded all R44 helicopters that didnt have improved and upgraded fuel tanks as of the first of May 2013. AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each blade for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. Using a Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft engine, the R66 includes a 300-pound (136-kilogram)-capacity baggage compartment. by the Securities and Exchange Commission Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington in 1930. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action. Initial financing was in the $2 to $3 million range. The company reported 1 million flight hours for its R66 Turbine fleet in autumn 2019, and it delivered R66 serial number 1000 in summer 2020. I look at that today and I just say oh my god., Nobody could show him how to do it, he just had to do it.. You may examine the AD docket at documents in the last year, 9 It eventually surfaced in a lawsuit stemming from the deaths of two Canadian men whose new R44 broke up in flight near Desert Center, Calif. Nobody had ever mentioned to me in any safety course, no Robinson helicopter pilot, no communique, no nothing had ever mentioned to me a vibration problem with the R44, Wells testified in a deposition. 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. Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. In 1957, he earned a BSME degree from the University of Washington and later attended graduate school at the University of Wichita. "He really did have a true love of the industry. None were wearing fire-resistant gear. Robinson ' s two-seat R22 and four-seat R44 helicopters offer public and private . abnormal vibrations during flight; subsequent investigation determined that the blade was cracked. ", "Nobody could show him how to do it, he just had to do it.". The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type designs. The Public Inspection page may also Only official editions of the The diesel could provide better altitude performance, a fuel burn reduced from 16 to 12USgal (61 to 45L) per hour and better fuel availability. He also argued that the vast majority of Robinson accidents are the fault of pilots not the machine and that many are students or hobbyists with little time at the controls. 106(g), 40113, 44701. a. It is a glaring problem, but nobody wants to fix it.. AD 2021-19-08 also requires removing all affected blades from service and prohibits installing any affected blade on any helicopter. This time was different: The student was carrying a cassette recorder to capture her flight lesson on tape, which revealed no warning of trouble. Removing Airworthiness Directive AD 2021-19-08, Amendment 39-21726 ( 86 FR 49915, September 7, 2021); and. On key safety issues dogging the R44, the FAA has taken a more hands-off approach than its foreign counterparts. Since the issuance of 2021-19-08, the FAA received one comment from Robinson requesting that the FAA correct an inaccurate statement in the background section of the preamble text. In early 1995, the NTSB asked the FAA to ground Robinson helicopters to allow for further research and testing. documents in the last year, 204 Nov. 13TORRANCE Aviation visionary and South Bay legend Frank Robinson has died at 92. leaving behind six children, a company of over 1,000 employees and a forever changed helicopter industry. and services, go to 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. An overflowing order book called for a major expansion of the Torrance plant. Robinson is one of the first aviation companies in North America to achieve ISO 9001 certification for helicopter design, production and service. Nothing in my training prepared me for this condition, he told investigators. It was so popular that he went on to build a specialized newscopter version as well as a police helicopter. The company continued to grow in the late 1990s. These helicopters are all manufactured, assembled, inspected, and tested at the Torrance, California factory. Robinson continued to improve its products. Production fell from 390 aircraft in 2000 to 328 in 2001; Robinson still out-produced Eurocopter, its closest volume rival, which saw output rise fifteen percent to 280 units. The company president, Kurt Robinson, contested his helicopters place atop The Times accident-rate ranking. Mail: 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 Sales plunged to just 64 units in 1983. Employment would soon pass 400 workers. "Not the president of Robinson Helicopter, not the founder, he was an engineer. America's deadliest helicopters. The President of the United States issues other types of documents, including but not limited to; memoranda, notices, determinations, letters, messages, and orders. Nor does it retain detailed records of accidents or incidents, compile statistical data to track recurring issues or tally how many people have been killed or injured in its helicopters. This AD replaces AD 2021-19-08, Amendment 39-21726 (86 FR 49915, September 7, 2021) (AD 2021-19-08). It does not retain records related to helicopter accidents or other types of incidents. Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington in 1930. Privacy Policy, Brown, David A., "Piston-Powered R44 Offers Low-Cost Flight,", Del Valle, Christina, and Larry Armstrong, "33 Crashes: Design Flaw or Pilot Error? 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 first production R44 Astro was delivered in February 1993. This proposed AD would require the same actions as AD 2021-19-08 and would add certain Robinson Model R66 helicopters to the applicability and add additional part-numbered and serial-numbered blades to the applicability. of the issuing agency. Robinson Helicopter Company opened shop in 1973. In Southern California, three R44s have crashed since January 2017, killing three people and injuring six others, NTSB records show. documents in the last year, 19 When the answer is, We dont keep databases because every time something goes wrong we fix it, that doesnt answer the question of just what is the story, what is going on here? said Hart, the former NTSB chairman. james.guo@faa.gov. Spidertacks and Black Widow Helicopters Announce Partnership, MD Helicopters Announces Supplier Agreements Bolstering Parts Availability, Could Surveillance Drones Save the Army Chopper? The NTSB concluded that mast-rocking was the cause of Quists accident and took Robinson to task for not sounding alarms about the potential danger. You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed. Robinson was also a visionary and a veritable aviation rock star, who racked up accolades over the course of his five-decade career. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Oh, man, were they lucky.. documents in the last year, 1008 This AD was prompted by reports of cracked tail rotor blades (blades). Radio stations, which used helicopters to report on traffic conditions, were another important early market. learn how over 7,000 companies got started! Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Frank Robinson, founder of Torrances Robinson Helicopter Company, dies at 92, Mourners concur at Mass for former Mayor Richard Riordan: He loved LA, Jerry Springer, politician-turned-TV ringmaster, dies at 79, Dancing With the Stars judge Len Goodman dies at 78, After devastating Northridge Earthquake, Richard Riordans response was a shining moment, Homecoming, burial set Monday for LA soldier among 9 killed in Kentucky chopper crash, California fire chief: Prepare now for height of fire season delayed by record precipitation, Gov. The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. include documents scheduled for later issues, at the request These affected blades were factory-installed or shipped as spares between March and December 2019. Frank Robinson had begun to work on a design for a four-seat helicopter in the mid-1980s. Robinson participates in NTSB investigations involving its helicopters and submits its findings to federal authorities. You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: Having been produced since 1990, Robinson have produced over 6,500 R44s to date, making it the most . This means that they are not agents of Robinson Helicopter Company. 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. In the early 1970s, Robinson designed the Robinson R22 helicopter, a popular, light, two-place civilian aircraft, which later . Fax: That lack of historical data is troubling to aviation safety experts. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-19-08, two additional cracked blades were discovered; these blades also exhibited stress corrosion cracking, however they were not part of the lot of affected blades that are included in AD 2021-19-08. This proposed AD would continue to require, before further flight and thereafter before each flight, checking each affected blade for any crack along the leading edge of the blade. https://www.regulations.gov Though the federal government does not track the flight hours of pilots across the board, it does log the experience level of those involved in accidents. Robinson noted that U.S. fatal R44 crashes declined to two in 2017, which he said reflected the companys efforts to reduce the accident rate.
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