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. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc. Economic Sanctions & Foreign Assets Control, Smoking Cessation and Related Indications, Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements, Authority To Order the Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces to Active Duty To Address International Drug Trafficking, Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs), https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-14830, MODS: Government Publishing Office metadata. Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. It was first flown on 31 March 1990 and received FAA certification in December 1992, with the first delivery in February 1993. Robinson Helicopter Company opened shop in 1973. Robinson, reported Forbes, did not carry liability insurance due to its supreme confidence in his product. Ours are being flown much, much more at the entry point of the market.. While every effort has been made to ensure that 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. Robinson moved to a new 260,000-square-foot plant in July 1994. Frank Robinson was born in 1930 and grew up near Seattle. This time was different: The student was carrying a cassette recorder to capture her flight lesson on tape, which revealed no warning of trouble. 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. Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 6410, Tail Rotor Blades. Were on our mission and we will keep going forward.. documents in the last year, 825 Unlike almost any other aviation company, Robinson does not analyze the findings of crashes to determine the causes of accident. The company president, Kurt Robinson, contested his helicopters place atop The Times accident-rate ranking. The R22's simple design, easy maintenance and low . 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. [20]:7, Although the data did not consider which type of fuel tanks were fitted, the report mentioned four fatal accidents to the R44 fitted with bladder-type tanks, but as far as they knew, did not involve a post-accident fire. In 2010, the company once again expanded its line with the five-seat turbine-powered R66 helicopter. Robinson Helicopter Company Russian Helicopters, JSC Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Table of content for the HelicopterMarket includes: Global HelicopterMarket: Research Methodology . Wells, then 57, broke more than 60 bones and spent six weeks in a coma. Of the 13,000 helicopters Robinson has sold, 1,200 have crashed. Robinsons contention that its pilots are less experienced is borne out to some extent by The Times analysis. Federal Register issue. . documents in the last year, 29 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. Robinson founded the Robinson Helicopter Company out of his Palos Verdes home in 1973 and developed the first R22 prototype at the Torrance Airport. You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed. Robinson introduced its first helicopter, the 2-place piston powered R22 in 1979. The official Robinson Helicopter Company Facebook page. Full benefits for employee and offered insurance for family. "He really loved living here and we've been part of the community for over 40 years. Director of Civil Aviation Graeme Harris stated, "We don't want to see any complacency amongst operators as there is still a concern with these blades and we are waiting on test results from the USA before we review the Airworthiness notice. The safety board closed its file on mast-rocking but did not declare the issue resolved. But the safety board also said he most likely would have survived if no fire had occurred. That image stuck with Robinson and drove the course of his career and life. If you asked Frank who he is, the first thing he would tell you is hes an engineer, said Kurt. 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. His family settled out of court with the company. 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. (5) For helicopters identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, as of September 22, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-19-08), do not install a blade identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD on any helicopter. Nothing in my training prepared me for this condition, he told investigators. 106(g), 40113, 44701. a. 07/12/2022 at 8:45 am. The end result is that the entire rotor assembly can easily shear off of the helicopter. Principal Competitors: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.; Enstrom Helicopter Corporation; Eurocopter Group; Schweizer Aircraft Corp. 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. It provides parts and accessories, helicopter and engine overhauls, helicopter repairs, and educational courses for pilots and maintenance technicians. 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. Only official editions of the The NTSB cited other mast-rocking accidents, including a 2009 hard landing in which three Alaska state troopers walked away from their heavily damaged R44. The ATSB recommended that the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) take further action to urge R44 owners to fit bladder-type tanks. 2022-14830 Filed 7-12-22; 8:45 am], updated on 4:15 PM on Monday, May 1, 2023, updated on 8:45 AM on Monday, May 1, 2023. 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 . "He really did have a true love of the industry. AD 2021-19-08 also requires removing all affected blades from service and prohibits installing any affected blade on any helicopter. Robinson was among the first North American aerospace firms to be awarded ISO 9001 certification for helicopter design . The Robinson R44, the worlds best-selling civilian helicopter, has a long history of deadly crashes. 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. the official SGML-based PDF version on govinfo.gov, those relying on it for Call our Chicago aviation injury lawyers today at 312-605-8800 to arrange a free consultation. In an effort to improve product quality, they manufacture many of their parts in house and also have a very skilled workforce. AD 2021-19-08 also requires removing all affected blades . On the R44 the advancing blade is on the bottom. Each document posted on the site includes a link to the 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. If you are using public inspection listings for legal research, you The R22's simple design, easy maintenance and low acquisition on https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-robinson-helicopters. 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. And if we branch out from the R44 model, the statistics are even worse. Robinson was generally successful in winning lawsuits, having them dismissed, or settling them for reasonable amounts. He later worked on rotorcraft research for manufacturers including McCulloch Motor Company, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, and, finally, Hughes Aircraft Company, which he joined in 1969. Production bonuses. In all, Robinson has made more than 12,000 helicopters, with at least 60% of recent sales going to foreign buyers. FAA-2022-0872; Project Identifier AD-2022-00431-R. and services, go to documents in the last year, 204 Currently this company employees 1,300 people. He said the FAA flight-hour totals used to calculate the accident rate are a guesstimate.. Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. This information is not part of the official Federal Register document. 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. The Public Inspection page developer tools pages. Driven by foreign sales, production was soon returning to normal. [9][failed verification], The aircraft is operated by many private individuals, companies and flying clubs. You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: 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. 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. Federal eRulemaking Portal: New Documents That translates to 1.6 deadly accidents per 100,000 hours flown a rate nearly 50% higher than any other of the dozen most common civilian models whose flight hours are tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration. At 1,000 feet above the ground, everything was a blur as he fought to regain control. 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. I was very happy when they emerged alive, said golfer Kevin Keating, who saw the R44 fall from the sky. It is a glaring problem, but nobody wants to fix it.. The rotorcraft were quite popular with cattle ranchers Down Under. Two years later, the American Helicopter Museum received another $1 million to purchase its building in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The President of the United States issues other types of documents, including but not limited to; memoranda, notices, determinations, letters, messages, and orders. 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. Open for Comment. It does not retain records related to helicopter accidents or other types of incidents. There is absolutely nothing to do with our hub or rotor system that affects or causes it, he said. 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. documents in the last year, 1008 Until the ACFR grants it official status, the XML The FAA Is Under Pressure to Ground Robinson Helicopter,", Flint, Jerry, "The Bird Man of Torrance,", "Foreign Helicopter Giants Vie for Chinese Market,", "Frank Robinson Donates $1 Million to Helicopter Museum,", Jones, Sam L., "Robinson Maintains Its Niche for Piston-Powered 'Copters,", Lambert, Mark, "Civil Helicopters; 1984 Is the Year of Change,", ------, "Hard Times, But Some Hope for the Helicopter Men,", Lewis, Paul, "Annual Sales: Output Slumps as Economies Slow,", Morris, John, "Little Growth Forecast for Helicopter Deliveries,", Pae, Peter, "Flying High with Modest Venture; Robinson Becomes Top-Selling Maker of Civilian Copters by Sticking to Its Mom-and-Pop Origins,", Parke, Robert B., "FAA Limits Robinson Flight Operations,", Phillips, Edward H., "NTSB Urges FAA to Ground R22/R44 Helicopters,", ------, "Robinson, Federal Agencies at Odds Over R44, R22 Issues,", ------, "R22 Main Rotor Focus of NTSB Report,", "Robinson Helicopter: The Discipline of the Marketplace,", Sarsfield, Kate, "Hydraulic Controls Prove Big Hit for R44 Sales,", ------, "Order Surge Fuels Robinson's Plans for Expansion,", ------, "Robinson Considers New Engine for Popular R44,", Scott, William B., "Reliability, Low Operating Costs Key to Robinson R-44 Sales,", Smith, Bruce A., "Robinson Helicopter's R44 to Offer Greater Capacity, Speed Than R22,", Sweetman, Bill, "US Manufacturers Get Their House in Order,", Swertlow, Frank, "Choppers on the Cheap,", Vartabedian, Ralph, "Low-Cost Copter Builder Tops Sales of Big-Name Rivals,", ------, "Robinson Helicopters Taking Off,", Wastnage, Justin, "Upgraded Raven Goes on Sale,". This condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced controllability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. website: In 1957, he earned a BSME degree from the University of Washington and later attended graduate school at the University of Wichita. The cause of the cracks was determined to be a manufacturing defect in the properties of the blade skin that makes the blades prone to stress corrosion cracking. The R22 would eventually dominate the world helicopter trainer market. On key safety issues dogging the R44, the FAA has taken a more hands-off approach than its foreign counterparts. Kurt Robinson is the current President and Chairman. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced controllability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. More than 600 people have perished in Robinson crashes around the world since 1982. While California's giant military aerospace firms idled plants after the fall of the Soviet Union, Robinson Helicopter was thriving. 9-ANM-LAACO-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. The two-place R22 quickly became the world's top-selling civil helicopter and turned Robinson into what many think of as the "Henry Ford of helicopters." 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. [5], Robinson also produces the Robinson Helipad, a modular helipad designed for light helicopters.[6]. 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. documents in the last year, 125 [26], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, "2013 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2014 Industry Outlook", General Aviation Manufacturers Association, "Robinson Introduces the Two-Place R44 Cadet", "Robinson Helicopter upbeat on diesel R&D with R44 Raven II", "Crash of helicopter on Catalina is fourth fatal accident of this model since April", "Lebanese Army Takes Delivery of Two More Robinsons", "PNP gets 3 Raven choppers for anti-crime operations", "Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe Przekazanie samolotw i migowcw szkoleniowych dla LPR", " " "" "", "South Africa Combats Crime with R44 Raven II Police Helicopters", "Down one search-and-rescue helicopter, Alaska State Troopers reorganize", "Uruguay suma helicpteros estadounidenses a la polica para reforzar la vigilancia", Collision with terrain involving Robinson R44 helicopter, VH-HWQ, Preliminary, Prohibition of FlightC016-7 Main Rotor Blades, "Australia, New Zealand Ground Some R-44s", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robinson_R44&oldid=1148577372, This page was last edited on 7 April 2023, at 01:19. corresponding official PDF file on govinfo.gov. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering and then spent 16 years working for aircraft manufacturers, including major helicopter makers Bell and Hughes. Go to AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each tail rotor blade (blade) for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. His wife Barbara became marketing director, and three of the couple's six children would also eventually work for the company. By 2003, the R44 sales had easily doubled the R22 sales. Both of these service bulletins are dated January 6, 2022 and specify that a preflight inspection is to be performed by the pilot for continued operation until the affected blades are replaced. The R44 is a single-engined helicopter with a semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and a skid landing gear. 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. In 2013, Robinson was the global market leader, selling 523 light helicopters, a 1% increase from 2012. 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. Like other manufacturers, Robinson had an eye on the emerging Chinese market, which was expected to field 2,000 helicopters by 2010. The warning was deemed impractical by many pilots and widely ignored. regulatory information on FederalRegister.gov with the objective of This action could be performed equally well by a pilot or a mechanic. Larry Wells, a pilot for the FAA, was practicing hovering, landing and liftoff maneuvers near Jackson, Miss., on Sept. 1, 2009, when his Robinson R44 began to shudder violently. Between 2006 and 2016, Robinson R44s alone were involved in 42 deadly helicopter crashes. He went on to work in engineering at the Cessna Aircraft Company, McCulloch Motor Company, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopter Company. During this time, the R44--more versatile with its four seats--became the world's top-selling helicopter. It was the second failure or partial failure in two months. 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. This document has been published in the Federal Register. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. 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. Initial financing was in the $2 to $3 million range. 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. Expert aviation consultants find this shocking, and they have been quoted saying they believe Robinson Helicopter Company engages in these shoddy record-keeping practices with the specific intent to divest itself of all records in an attempt to have plausible deniability related to responsibility.. It produces a greater number of civil helicopters per year than any other manufacturer, and 80 percent of those made in the United States. Tragically, those who were in the helicopter now fall among the nearly 600 people that have died in Robinson helicopter crashes since 1982. In fact, its maintenance schedule was similar to that of light fixed-wing aircraft--an overhaul only every 2,000 hours (later extended to 2,200 hours). Relevant information about this document from Regulations.gov provides additional context. ADDRESSES Robinson introduced its first helicopter, the 2-place piston powered R22 in 1979. documents in the last year, 37 by searching for and locating Docket No. documents in the last year, 84 The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 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. It does not have established safety programs. The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. Plans for production of the Robinson R66 were announced in March 2007. This AD requires checking each blade for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. This is when load on the rotor assembly is reduced during flight, resulting in flapping of the rotor blades. [20]:12 The FAA, the governing body in the country of manufacture whose directives would normally be followed in other countries like Australia, had not mandated the retrofit; CASA therefore issued Australian-specific airworthiness directive AD/R44/23, grounding R44 aircraft on 30 April 2013 that had not yet been upgraded. 1503 & 1507. In Southern California, three R44s have crashed since January 2017, killing three people and injuring six others, NTSB records show. Instead of sharing the report with pilots, owners or the FAA, the company argued in legal proceedings that it contained proprietary information. 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. Based on the company's two-seat Robinson R22, the R44 features hydraulically assisted flight controls.It was first flown on 31 March 1990 and received FAA certification in December 1992, with the first delivery in February 1993.. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority. . Additionally, while AD 2021-19-08 was issued as a Final rule; request for comments, the FAA has determined that, because the risk model predictions for the additional helicopter model and blades are lower, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is appropriate. A pilot may perform this check because it involves visually checking each blade for a crack. "He was captivated with helicopters and really wanted to develop that as a personal transport and the rest is history," said Kurt. Learn more here. Having been produced since 1990, Robinson have produced over 6,500 R44s to date, making it the most . The company continued to grow in the late 1990s. 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. From improper fuel-tank placement, to mast-bumping (where the helicopter blades see-saw to the point of hitting the aircraft), to mast-rocking (inexplicable, violent vibrations in the middle of the flight that cause a crash), the Robinson Helicopter Company has found itself under FAA scrutiny numerous times for the R44s fatal defects. It has an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers. These tools are designed to help you understand the official document She has a B.A. The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. Frank Robinson was a former employee of both Hughes Helicopters and Bell Helicopter. 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. The R44 retains that title to this day, partly due to its being one of the cheapest helicopters on the market. 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 company was born in 1973 in the Rancho Palos Verdes home of engineer Frank Robinson, who became enamored of helicopters as a kid in Washington state. It wasnt until February of 2012 that they released Service Bulletin SB78, requiring the installation of improved fuel tanks for safety. From 1981 through early 1992, about two dozen R22s were involved in fatal U.S. crashes linked to a loss of control. Since the turn of the century, 165 people have been killed in the United States when they were involved in crashes with Robinson helicopters. Spidertacks and Black Widow Helicopters Announce Partnership, MD Helicopters Announces Supplier Agreements Bolstering Parts Availability, Could Surveillance Drones Save the Army Chopper? Clara covers LAUSD for the LA Daily News in addition to writing about housing policy, homelessness and mental health. In 2015, Robinson produces one R22, four or five R44s, and one or two R66s per week, and has contracted with Rolls-Royce to supply 100 RR300 turbines per year for 10 years for the R66. Scores of R44 pilots and passengers have been killed in preventable post-crash fires, or in helicopters that dropped from the sky when they suddenly lost lift. documents in the last year, 1407 This check is an exception to the FAA's standard maintenance regulations. He really did have a true love of the industry. Several government agencies there have since banned the use of Robinsons by their employees. It is also a popular choice for law enforcement agencies. should verify the contents of the documents against a final, official Visit our company website at. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Federal aviation officials routinely use the data to calculate accident rates. R22 Beta II. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed regulation: (1) Is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and. "We're on our mission and we will keep going forward.