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On October 23, 2019, a Robinson R44 crashed after departing from the North Las Vegas Airport. The R22 was introduced in 1979, and thanks to its low cost and easy maintenance, it quickly became a favorite at flight schools and with private owners. of the issuing agency. The Public Inspection page Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. It has an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers. The President of the United States manages the operations of the Executive branch of Government through Executive orders. In 1973, Frank D. Robinson, a former helicopter engineer for Cessna, McCulloch Aircraft and Bell Helicopters, resigned his position at Hughes Helicopters to pursue his dream of starting his own helicopter manufacturing company. These tools are designed to help you understand the official document Today, Robinson Helicopter Company are famous for producing some of the most popular helicopters ever. Ours are being flown much, much more at the entry point of the market.. Aviation was in his blood.. Two early R22's were in fatal accidents, however, leading to a redesign of rotor blades. 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. He developed his fascination with helicopters at the tender age of 9 when he saw a photo in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of Igor Sikorsky hovering his VS300 Prototype helicopter. AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each tail rotor blade (blade) for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. 07/12/2022 at 8:45 am. Ladd Sanger, the Slack Davis Sanger aviation attorney was interviewed during this investigation. AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each blade for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. The factory can produce up to 1,000 helicopters per year. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering and then spent 16 years working for aircraft manufacturers, including major helicopter makers Bell and Hughes. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. Gail Bechler, whose husband, Jim, died in a fiery 2012 accident that investigators concluded was his fault, said she was shocked to find out that his R44s fuel tanks had split like a Coke can in a relatively low-impact crash and that there had been many others like it. Robinson Helicopter Company says the R66 and R44 are its top-selling models. In 2010, the company once again expanded its line with the five-seat turbine-powered R66 helicopter. Robinson was generally successful in winning lawsuits, having them dismissed, or settling them for reasonable amounts. In contrast, the Bell Jet Ranger, a five-seat, turbine-powered helicopter, cost $600,000. Just two years later he took the two-seat, piston powered helicopter on its first flight with a mere 60 hours of flight experience behind him. Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington in 1930. This prototype edition of the documents in the last year, 29 "He really did have a true love of the industry. It also issued Service Bulletin SB-78 on 20 December 2010, requiring R44 helicopters with all-aluminum fuel tanks to be retrofitted with bladder-type tanks to "improve the R44's fuel system's resistance to a post-accident fuel leak." Robinson brought out a special police-oriented variant of the R44 in mid-1997. 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. documents in the last year, 669 05/01/2023, 244 Franklin Davis Robinson (January 14, 1930 - November 12, 2022) was an American aeronautical engineer and the founder of Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance, California.He served as president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the company for many years. You've disabled cookies in your web browser. 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. the material on FederalRegister.gov is accurately displayed, consistent with There are a few reasons this might happen: To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page. Its one thing to sit on the sideline and say, Youve got to improve that, Robinson said. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. However, he was unable to interest any of his employers in his concept for a small, low-cost consumer helicopter. Only official editions of the R66 Turbine Marine. During this time, the R44--more versatile with its four seats--became the world's top-selling helicopter. The prevailing opinion, at the time, was that helicopter market was for the military only. Recently, Robinson Helicopter released the R44 Cadet, this is a two-place R44 that has been specifically designed for training. The Robinson R44 is a four-seat light helicopter produced by Robinson Helicopter Company since 1992. 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. The Robinson Helicopter Company, based at Zamperini Field in Torrance, California, is a manufacturer of civilian helicopters. I just remember thinking, Who is going to die next? she said. Mast-bumping often occurs in low-gravity or low G conditions, which can be induced by incorrect pilot inputs or turbulent weather. As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. They manufacture the R22, which is a two-seater, the R44, which is a four-seater, and the R66, which is a five-seater. These new affected blades are from a batch of blades manufactured from a separate lot of material, and testing determined that they are also susceptible to stress corrosion cracking and can be installed on Robinson Model R44, R44 II, and R66 helicopters. Now that Robinson Helicopter had a great engine in place to use, they were able to develop their five-place turbine helicopter. There are more than 400 dealers and service centers that are located throughout the world. Currently this company employees 1,300 people. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Robinson Helicopter Company - Torrance, California is the world's leading manufacturer of civil helicopters. Lead photo: The wreckage of Jim Bechler's R44, which caught fire in a low-impact crash at Corona Municipal Airport in 2012 (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times), (Fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours), At Hollister Ranch, homeowners enjoy private beaches and hefty tax breaks, too, How your neighborhood voted in the razor-thin L.A. County sheriff's race, Aging cops and firefighters miss years of work and collect twice the pay, L.A. County deputies stopped thousands of innocent Latinos, github.com/datadesk/helicopter-accident-analysis. Robinson said that doesnt matter, because the stiffer mounts have eliminated the problem: We knew how to solve it and we did.. Robinson moved to a new 260,000-square-foot plant in July 1994. The company had sales of $50 million in 1991, when it shipped a record 402 helicopters. 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. Two years later, the American Helicopter Museum received another $1 million to purchase its building in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His wife Barbara became marketing director, and three of the couple's six children would also eventually work for the company. More information and documentation can be found in our Kurt Robinson said it took until 2009 to develop a suitable bladder for his helicopters, disputing allegations in wrongful-death lawsuits that the company could have acted sooner. Robinson Helicopter Company. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. 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. on NARA's archives.gov. Robinson was also a visionary and a veritable aviation rock star, who racked up accolades over the course of his five-decade career. Robinson ' s two-seat R22 and four-seat R44 helicopters offer public and private . Use the PDF linked in the document sidebar for the official electronic format. 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. [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. 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. website: Unlike almost any other aviation company, Robinson does not analyze the findings of crashes to determine the causes of accident. The lightweight piston-engine helicopter could rival the performance of its turbine-powered rivals at a fraction of the cost. There was an overall downturn in the U.S. helicopter industry due to a strong dollar, a recession, and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (202) 493-2251. Federal Register provide legal notice to the public and judicial notice Robinson had 310 employees at the time. Right then and there I decided thats what I want to do.. 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. on The FAA reviewed Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service Bulletin SB-119, and Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Service Bulletin SB-111, each dated February 23, 2022. The Robinson R44 is a four-seat light helicopter produced by Robinson Helicopter Company since 1992. 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. [7] Several Robinson helicopters have been destroyed in incidents where mast bumping was determined to have occurred. [20]:7 Preliminary analysis by the ATSB of the NTSB's accident database found a similar statistic, with 15% of accidents in the US involving R44 helicopters having post-crash fires. ", "Nobody could show him how to do it, he just had to do it.". That is an average of 1.6 deadly crashes per 100,000 hours flown, a rate nearly 50% higher than that of the other dozen most common civilian models. When the vibration started, I looked in to check the gauges, but by that time the vibration was so bad I could not read them, Wells recalled. Since delivering its first helicopter in 1979, Robinson Helicopter has produced over 12,000 aircraft. His family settled out of court with the company. documents in the last year. "He really loved living here and we've been part of the community for over 40 years. The company recommended that the change should be done as soon as practical, but no later than 31 December 2014. 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. The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by August 29, 2022. Then on June 29, 1992, near Richmond, Calif., another R22 broke up, killing the pilot and his flight student. "He was a very determined person who didn't accept no; whenever he was faced with a challenge he found a way to push on," Kurt said. (2) If there is any crack, before further flight, remove the blade from service. R44 Raven II. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: Robinson Helicopter Company: Document page views are updated periodically throughout the day and are cumulative counts for this document. For complete information about, and access to, our official publications The FAA reviewed Robinson R44 Service Bulletin SB-108, dated June 30, 2021. 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. electronic version on GPOs govinfo.gov. Source Daily Breeze, Torrance, Calif. (TNS). America's . The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. It does not retain records related to helicopter accidents or other types of incidents. Clara covers LAUSD for the LA Daily News in addition to writing about housing policy, homelessness and mental health. 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. The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 432 helicopters of U.S. registry. 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. It does not have established safety programs. Rather than modify its helicopters to reduce the risk of post-crash fires, Robinson advised pilots and passengers wear protective suits. The passenger leaves behind a widow seeking justice for what was a preventable death. abnormal vibrations during flight; subsequent investigation determined that the blade was cracked. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. They manufacture the R22, which is a two-seater, the R44, which is a four-seater, and the R66, which is a five-seater. In an interview, Kurt Robinson described the vibration as a red herring that was more of an annoyance than a safety issue and said the company addressed it years ago by changing to firmer rubber gearbox mounts. [5], Robinson also produces the Robinson Helipad, a modular helipad designed for light helicopters.[6]. It is a glaring problem, but nobody wants to fix it.. The R22 received its hard-fought FAA approval in 1979 and went on to become the most popular civilian helicopter worldwide. The reduction of load triggers excessive flapping in the helicopter's rotor blades, which can cause the entire rotor assembly to shear off the aircraft. Santa Maria's purportedly cumbersome licensing process helped seal that decision. The R44 has been the world's best-selling general aviation (GA . (1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. ts1@robinsonheli.com; "His legacy was to develop a low-cost reliable helicopter, that was more affordable, that more people could own in order to expand the industry," said Kurt. On key safety issues dogging the R44, the FAA has taken a more hands-off approach than its foreign counterparts. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. on Start Printed Page 41628 Its another thing, from an engineering standpoint, to say, How are you going to do this? This is not a simple thing to do.. the official SGML-based PDF version on govinfo.gov, those relying on it for What Else Does Robinson Helicopter Company Manufacture? [19], An accident investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in March 2013 found, after analyzing historical data, that a significantly higher proportion of R44 aircraft (12%) caught fire after crashing, compared to accidents involving other types of piston-engine helicopters (7%). 05/01/2023, 858 This site displays a prototype of a Web 2.0 version of the daily The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal When people say that ours have more accidents than the others, well, ours are not being flown by professional people, Robinson said. Federal eRulemaking Portal: [4] Production in 2014 dropped to 329 aircraft. 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. This AD replaces AD 2021-19-08, Amendment 39-21726 (86 FR 49915, September 7, 2021) (AD 2021-19-08). And he got in the helicopter and he actually hovered it, which is very impressive. The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. Additional information is available in this. To maintain the highest quality standards, the company carries out most of the . documents in the last year, by the Food and Drug Administration The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. In my near half-century of aviation experience, RHC is the only aircraft manufacturer I have found in the world that does not focus on safety, he wrote in a report filed with a lawsuit stemming from a New Jersey crash. All rights reserved. Send your comments to an address listed under "If you asked Frank who he is, the first thing he would tell you is he's an engineer," said Kurt. It's been a really good partnership," said Kurt. In 1957, he earned a BSME degree from the University of Washington and later attended graduate school at the University of Wichita. The company continued to grow in the late 1990s. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. legal research should verify their results against an official edition of Tail rotor direction of rotation on the R44 is reversed compared to the R22 for improved yaw control authority. documents in the last year, 1008 On the R44 the advancing blade is on the bottom. The company has helped retrain Kiwi pilots, he 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. It is the worlds best-selling civilian helicopter, a top choice among flight schools, sightseeing companies, police departments and recreational pilots. The CAA left the Airworthiness Directive requiring repetitive inspections in place, however. Robinson Helicopter Company is the leading manufacturer of light piston-engine helicopters. 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). Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 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. 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. I mean, thats somebody just learning how to fly, said Kurt. You are shooting in the dark.. 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. The NTSB ruled the crash was caused by the pilots failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm, for undetermined reasons. Wells contends the accident was not his fault and might have been averted if Robinson had divulged what it had known for 16 years about a phenomenon known as mast-rocking, or chug. Worldwide, there have been 512 deaths since 1982 with a total of 291 Robinson crashes. We intend to go on for many, many more years, so hes left a real legacy. The OFR/GPO partnership is committed to presenting accurate and reliable The cause has yet to be determined, but the type of helicopter is well known to accident investigators: the Robinson R44. Robinson was among the first North American aerospace firms to be awarded ISO 9001 certification for helicopter design . Helicopter manufacturer in the United States, New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission, "Robinson Helicopter celebrating 50 years", "Robinson Boosts Production as Sales Surge, Strikes Deal for 1,000 Rolls-Royce Turboshafts", "Robinson Tri-Hinge Rotor Head R22 Helicopter", "Final Report, Aviation Inquiry AO-2014-006, Robinson R44 II, ZK-HBQ, mast-bump and in-flight break-up, Kahurangi National Park, 7 October 2014", "TAIC publishes interim report on July 2018 fatal Robinson R44 helicopter accident over Lake Wanaka", "Danger spins from the sky: The Robinson R44, the world's best-selling civilian helicopter, has a long history of deadly crashes", "Robinson helicopters: mast bumping accidents in NZ", "Lawsuit Claims Robinson Defects Caused Fatal 2016 Crash in Arizona", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robinson_Helicopter_Company&oldid=1143572045, Helicopter manufacturers of the United States, Manufacturing companies based in Greater Los Angeles, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 March 2023, at 15:44.