robinson helicopter company

To date it has delivered more than13,000 helicopters and shows no sign of stopping. Ours are being flown much, much more at the entry point of the market.. I just remember thinking, Who is going to die next? she said. Frank Robinson had begun to work on a design for a four-seat helicopter in the mid-1980s. A float-equipped version, dubbed the Mariner, was introduced later in the year and was priced at $94,850. He was captivated with helicopters and really wanted to develop that as a personal transport and the rest is history, said Kurt. This document has been published in the Federal Register. 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. The R22 and the R44 both use Lycoming piston engines, while the R66 uses a turbine engine. In July 2015, a federal jury in Mississippi awarded Wells $2.8 million for his injuries and economic damages, along with $700,000 to Farmers widow. Robinson was generally successful in winning lawsuits, having them dismissed, or settling them for reasonable amounts. Developed from the R22, the R44 made its debut in 1993 and is now the companys most popular model, largely because it can carry more passengers. 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. https://robinsonheli.com/. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. The R22 hit the market in 1979. Currently this company employees 1,300 people. In 2016, the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released a report summarizing 14 mast-bumping accidents or incidents involving Robinson helicopters in New Zealand, in which 18 people died. 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. The R22's simple design, easy maintenance and low acquisition The passenger leaves behind a widow seeking justice for what was a preventable death. The helicopter that crashed in Newport Beach in January, killing the pilot and two passengers, was operated by a flight school and touring company and was headed to Catalina Island. In the United States, Robinson was behind an initiative to place lightweight helipads atop business buildings and in industrial parks. documents in the last year, 9 Working at Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance, CA - Indeed https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-robinson-helicopters. 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. Besides the recession, product liability was another major factor in slowing sales across the entire U.S. general aviation industry in the early 1980s. Russia was another important new territory. Its business model: mass-produce simple, low-cost helicopters and sell them to the civilian public at an affordable price. The R44 also boasted low operating costs and required less frequent servicing than typical helicopters. Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc. Company Profile | Torrance, CA Robinson, reported Forbes, did not carry liability insurance due to its supreme confidence in his product. documents in the last year, 887 Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington in 1930. The company had sales of $50 million in 1991, when it shipped a record 402 helicopters. A fully equipped R22 sold for about $105,000 then. documents in the last year, 19 Worldwide, there have been 512 deaths since 1982 with a total of 291 Robinson crashes. Robinson Helicopter Company, a prominent player in the civil helicopter industry, has an impressive list of achievements. 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. Others have died when main rotor blades peeled apart in flight or sliced through tail booms or cockpits. A weak dollar was good for exports, which accounted for 80 percent of sales. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposal because of those comments. Plans for production of the Robinson R66 were announced in March 2007. Aviation was in his blood.". The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and prevent cracks in the affected blades. documents in the last year, 29 Driven by foreign sales, production was soon returning to normal. They havent figured it out, former NTSB chairman Christopher Hart told The Times late last year. More information and documentation can be found in our This proposed AD would also require, within three months after the effective date of AD 2021-19-08 or within six months after the effective date of this AD, as applicable, removing all affected blades from service. Robinson R44 - Aviation Consumer 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. Relevant information about this document from Regulations.gov provides additional context. It is also a popular choice for law enforcement agencies. 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. ", Visit Daily Breeze, Torrance, Calif. at https://www.dailybreeze.com/. R44 Clipper II Popout. b. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. His family settled out of court with the company. Like other manufacturers, Robinson had an eye on the emerging Chinese market, which was expected to field 2,000 helicopters by 2010. They have recently released an autopilot for helicopters, as well as glass avionics. [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. Robinson Helicopter Company - Torrance, California is the world's leading manufacturer of civil helicopters. After making eight aircraft in 1979, Robinson produced 78 units in 1980 and 176 the next year. To date it has delivered more than13,000 helicopters and shows no sign of stopping. In one instance, a cracked blade was suspected when the pilot felt 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. 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 AD was prompted by reports of cracked blades. A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. This action could be performed equally well by a pilot or a mechanic. The safety board has not determined causes for those accidents, which remain under investigation. documents in the last year, 1008 Register (ACFR) issues a regulation granting it official legal status. Spidertacks and Black Widow Helicopters Announce Partnership, MD Helicopters Announces Supplier Agreements Bolstering Parts Availability, Could Surveillance Drones Save the Army Chopper? A pilot may perform this check because it involves visually checking each blade for a crack. FAA-2022-0872; Project Identifier AD-2022-00431-R at the beginning of your comments. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD. Robinson Helicopter Company: The Deadliest Helicopter Manufacturer in corresponding official PDF file on govinfo.gov. After breaking even for a couple of years, Robinson Helicopter turned its first profit in 1987. daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov will remain an unofficial In contrast, the Bell Jet Ranger, a five-seat, turbine-powered helicopter, cost $600,000. (6) For helicopters identified in paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this AD, as of the effective date of this AD, do not install a blade identified in paragraph (c)(2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable to your model helicopter, on any helicopter. (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. The diesel could provide better altitude performance, a fuel burn reduced from 16 to 12USgal (61 to 45L) per hour and better fuel availability. FAA-2022-0872; Project Identifier AD-2022-00431-R. 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. They manufacture the R22, which is a two-seater, the R44, which is a four-seater, and the R66, which is a five-seater. Counts are subject to sampling, reprocessing and revision (up or down) throughout the day. The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. The company is based in Torrance, California at Zamperini Field. This PDF is 05/01/2023, 258 This service bulletin specifies removing P/N C029-3 blades with S/N 9410 through 9909 from service. There is absolutely nothing to do with our hub or rotor system that affects or causes it, he said. In September 1981, it began offering a more the powerful R22 HP for a base price of $59,850. documents in the last year, by the Food and Drug Administration His left arm was partly paralyzed and he now walks with a limp. The company president, Kurt Robinson, contested his helicopters place atop The Times accident-rate ranking. [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. 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. A tail rotor stabilizes the aircraft. 106(g), 40113, 44701. a. The helicopter broke apart in midair so suddenly it interrupted the pilot in midsentence. You may examine the AD docket at Robinson Helicopter's Pilot Safety Course Provides the Groundwork for 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. Helicopter Pioneer Frank Robinson Passes | Markets Insider The company continued to grow in the late 1990s. 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. Robinson moved to a new 260,000-square-foot plant in July 1994. Robinson continued to improve its products. All rights reserved. Robinson released its first model, the R22, in the late 1970s, and it released the R44 in 1993. 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,". At least 65 wrongful-death and product liability lawsuits have been filed across the country since then, accusing Robinson of concealing or willfully ignoring safety issues and dodging accountability allegations the company denies. Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. Neither was making the helicopter for the masses that he envisioned. Several government agencies there have since banned the use of Robinsons by their employees. AD 2021-19-08 requires checking each tail rotor blade (blade) for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. R44 Cadet with Floats. (202) 493-2251. (3) For helicopters identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, within 3 months after September 22, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-19-08) remove from service any blade identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD. 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. the material on FederalRegister.gov is accurately displayed, consistent with He built a prototype of the two-seat, piston-engine R22 in a hangar at nearby Torrance Airport, now home to the companys 600,000-square-foot factory. 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. 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. 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. Many of the lawsuits were resolved with confidential settlements. An overflowing order book called for a major expansion of the Torrance plant. 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. We see them around but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. He went on to work in engineering at the Cessna Aircraft Company, McCulloch Motor Company, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopter Company. Very productive in house fabrication and istallation. In an effort to improve product quality, they manufacture many of their parts in house and also have a very skilled workforce. Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington in 1930. The prevailing opinion, at the time, was that helicopter market was for the military only. Santa Maria's purportedly cumbersome licensing process helped seal that decision. Of the 13,000 helicopters Robinson has sold, 1,200 have crashed. Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 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. 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. documents in the last year, 83 Fuel consumption of 20 miles per gallon was claimed for the R22, which was also said to be the quietest chopper around. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. 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. In 2009, the company began to bolster its new R44 tanks with flexible bladders, which are puncture-resistant and designed to contain fuel in low-impact crashes. It is the worlds best-selling civilian helicopter, a top choice among flight schools, sightseeing companies, police departments and recreational pilots. 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. Document Drafting Handbook In each model, Robinson played an integral role in the engineering and development. In 2010, the company once again expanded its line with the five-seat turbine-powered R66 helicopter. https://www.regulations.gov Robinson said some R44s with all-aluminum tanks continue to fly, despite his companys best efforts to urge owners to retrofit them. AD 2021-19-08 also requires removing all affected blades from service and prohibits installing any affected blade on any helicopter. For more information about this AD, contact 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 Discovery of the incident was incorrectly described as a pilot feeling abnormal vibrations during flight. The Public Inspection page may also But the safety board also said he most likely would have survived if no fire had occurred. Safety board records detail many such low-impact R44 crashes in which dozens of occupants died or suffered serious burns when the all-aluminum fuel tanks which sit behind the cabin exploded in otherwise survivable accidents. He went on to work in engineering at the Cessna Aircraft Company, McCulloch Motor Company, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopter Company. Robinson Helicopter - Aero Corner Robinson ' s two-seat R22 and four-seat R44 helicopters offer public and private . It has an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers. 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). 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. These affected blades were factory-installed or shipped as spares between March and December 2019. For complete information about, and access to, our official publications 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. It was viewed 11 times while on Public Inspection. [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. The NTSB blamed the accident on an undetermined event and launched an extensive review of fatal Robinson crashes 31 in the R22 and three in the then-fledgling R44. Whether the lightweight design of Robinson helicopters makes them dangerous has long been the subject of debate and litigation. Robinson Helicopter Company | LinkedIn The Robinson R44 led all major models with the highest fatal accident rate from 2006 to 2016. 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. In August 1985, the company introduced the Beta model of the R22, featuring advanced avionics. Using a Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft engine, the R66 includes a 300-pound (136-kilogram)-capacity baggage compartment. I look at that today and I just say 'oh my god'. The agency issued AD 2021-19-08 to address the unsafe condition on these products. 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. Robinson was also a major figures of the Torrance and Palos Verdes communities, and played an integral role in putting Torrance's aviation industry on the map. ", "Nobody could show him how to do it, he just had to do it.". Many bore signs of mast-bumping, but exact causes could not be determined because there were no survivors or onboard data recorders. 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. In 2010, the company once again expanded its line with the five-seat turbine-powered R66 helicopter. [7][8] As of 2014[update], an R44 holds the piston speed record of 227km/h. "He really did have a true love of the industry. 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. 05/01/2023, 244 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. 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. The first R44 Newscopter featuring onboard electronic news gathering equipment was delivered in 1998. That image stuck with Robinson and drove the course of his career and life. Unique in the multi-tiered aerospace industry, Robinson builds most of its own components. On October 23, 2019, a Robinson R44 crashed after departing from the North Las Vegas Airport. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 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.. This was the largest-scale grounding of any aircraft in New Zealand's history. 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. Kurt Robinson rejected any link between mast-bumping and design. Each document posted on the site includes a link to the 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. However, it was the military, beginning with the Korean War, which made the most use of helicopters. 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. The official Robinson Helicopter Company Facebook page. The cracks were found at different inspection intervals ranging from preflight inspections to 100-hour inspections. A Proposed Rule by the Federal Aviation Administration on 07/13/2022. 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. Call our Chicago aviation injury lawyers today at 312-605-8800 to arrange a free consultation. [9][failed verification], The aircraft is operated by many private individuals, companies and flying clubs. The CAA left the Airworthiness Directive requiring repetitive inspections in place, however. The R22 would eventually claim world speed and altitude records for its class. Predictably, as Robinson continues to operate in this manner, tragedy continues to strike. Read more . Robinson brought out a special police-oriented variant of the R44 in mid-1997. 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.
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