Volume 8/1 - Spring 2002

R44 Gets Russian Type Certification

The Robinson R44 is the first U-S- manufactured helicopter approved by Russia and the other states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) which include Azerbaidjan, Armenia, Beloruss, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenia, Uzbekistan, and the Ukraine.
A highly-qualified, fourteen-member team from the CIS Interstate Aviation Committee spent a week and a half in Torrance, Califomia at the Robinson Helicopter factory completing the Type Certification review for the R44. In addition to the Russian team, personnel from the FAA and an engineer from Lycoming, the powerplant manufacturer, participated in the technical review.
The team's primary focus was to deter-mine the differences between FAA and CIS certification requirements and to ensure that the R44 is in compliance with Russian requirements. Very few modifications were required to comply with CIS airworthiness requirements; new R44s exported to Russia will have altimeters calibrated in meters (instead of feet), and the heated pitot and artificial horizon (which are normally optional) must be installed as required equipment. 
CIS test pilot, Yuriy Zimin, was very impressed with the flying qualities of the R44, especially its "easy autorotation characteristics."

GALS Helicopters, the Robinson dealer in Russia, is based In the Myachikov Airport in Moscow. The company has already taken delivery of four R44s and has placed orders for three more.




Extended Warranty Announced for Future R22 and R44 Helicopters


The Robinson Helicopter Company, limited warranty for new R22 and R44 helicopters ordered after 01 February 2002 has been increased from twelve months to twenty-four months. (All other terms and conditions of the Robinson limited warranty remain unchanged.) The reliability experience of both the two-seat R22 and four-seat R44 have made this warranty extension possible without a price increase or an additional surcharge. The engine manufacturer, Lycoming, has also agried to increase their warranty from one year to two years for engines installed in new Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters ordered after 01 February 2002. This again is made possible by the exceptional reliability record of Lycoming engines in Robinson-manufactured helicopters where the powerplants are derated and operated with reduced power limits, compared to other helicopter applications. For additional information, contact Robinson customer service at customerservice@robinsonheli.com, or the new warranty can by viewed and printed in PDF format on the Robinson website at www.robinsonheli.com.


Region One Getting Second R44 Police Copter

The Air Support Division for the cities of El Monte, Baldwin Park, and Montebello, Califomia has just received confirmation that city officials have approved the purchase of a second R44 Police Helicopter. The multi-city unit started with a two seat R22 helicopter several years ago during the Los Angeles riots. "We were the first department to use an R22 for law enforcement, because of the Robinson's cost-efficiency," reports Sgt. Gary Haidet. "We now use an R44 seven days a week, six hours a day. We perform the same missions as other agencies who operate more expensive helicopters, but at less than half the cost." Adding the second aircraft will allow the unit to provide emergency response to other cities and to expand the services it already provides to 'Region One.' It will also provide a back-up aircraft for the Air Support unit when its current R44 Police Helicopter, which is rapidly approaching its 4400-hour TBO, goes to the Robinson factory for overhaul. Region One's airbome law enforcement unit employs only a part-time mechanic for maintenance of its R44, and according to Sgt. Haidet, "the helicopter is virtually never down for maintenance. The R44 has really enhanced our capabilities to provide our citizens and officers with an added measure of safety on a daily basis." Region One uses its R44 for a wide range of law enforcement activities, including searching for lost or missing children, locating missing aircraft and/or vehicles, drug interdiction and surveillance, field searches and escapes, and to assist ground units in the event of dangerous high-speed vehicle or foot pursuits. The unit typically flies about 100 hours each month and responds to over 200 radio calls. Seventy-five percent of the time, the R44 is first on the scene, and in many instances, the calls are directly related to the safety of officers on the ground.



Estonian Government Confirms Purchase of Four News R44s, Two Police Copters an two Clippers

The Estonian Air Force has ordered four Robinson R44 helicopters for delivery this year. Two of the aircraft are fully equipped Police Helicopters which include Infrared sensor and Zoom Color TV camera, fold- down monitor, VHS recorder, searchlight, dual audio controller, dual band receiver and two Comm radios, GPS, transponder, and observation doors. The other two aircraft are float-equipped R44 Clippers. One will have fixed utility floats, and the other will have pop-out floats. Robinson will also provide training for the crews and maintenance staff.

The delivery of the four R44 helicopters will double the fleet of the Estonian Air Force and the Border Guard Department. The latter has two airworthy Mi-8 helicopters, and two non-flying Mi-8s. The air force had three MI-2 light helicopters, which are no longer airworthy. The total contract is valued at approximately $2 million, and the first helicopter is schedule for delivery to the Amari Air Force Base in May 2002. The primary missions for all four aircraft will be training, liaison and observation flights. The two helicopters with Infrared cameras will be used for search missions.

Safety Spotlight: Letter from Injured Photographer

Dear Mr. Robinson,

I am writing to ask you a favor. As you may recall, the R22 I was in on 7/1/00 went down, due to settling with power in East Northport, Long Island, New York. Through an act of God, I am walking and talking today, and I believe the pilot is doing fairly well. Here's the favor: Please remind all of your Dealers and Schools to follow very closely the Safety Notice (SN-34) you sent me a while ago, which states . that any commercial pilot on a photo flight mission with a photographer must have a minimum of 500 hours in the R22. My whole situation and much time, effort, labor (not to mention money, pain and suffering) could have been totally avoided had the people I flew with that day followed your Safety Notice. I believe the FAA requires all Safety Notices to be read and followed by all pilots. This makes a lot of sense! After talking to some people in and around airports, I've heard that one of the ways low-time pilots can build their hours is to do photo flights! This is a big mistake. This can be fatal. Please remind your people across the country and world that photo flights require much skill and a lot of experience. Accidents of this nature are no good for anyone, and I believe are avoidable.
Since 1986, I've had a lot of good experiences in an R22, it's quite a versatile machine. I have not been back in an R22 since the crash, it shook me up quite a bit. Luckily, we were only 150 feet AGL or so. Keep up the good work, and please remind your people from time to time!
Yours truly,
Mark Fitzgerald
January 25, 2002


Pistons again outperform turbines

When it comes to reliability, properly derated piston engines, like those used in the R22 and R44 helicopters, continue to establish better reliability records than turbine engines. The statistical table below illus- hates the piston-powered R44's sig- nificantly higher engine reliability compared to light turbine helicopters. Despite being the top-selling helicopter during the past eight years, the R44 continues to have the lowest number of accident, due to engine failure or mechanical malfunction, compared to other light helicopters.

  

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