Pohi Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 I didn't know until I read this http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/first-robinson-helicopter-r66-crash-victims-families-hire-baum-hedlund-261768.php That the R66 is prone to tearing itself apart in flight. Preliminary NTSB I know, but kind of scary that the only fatalities involve reports of the helicopter flying apart. Hope they figure that one out soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldy Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Had kinda the same issue with the great Bell 206L. Turns out it was the main rotor blade cracking and coming apart in flight. Once that happens, stuff starts falling off everywhere. Now if your the lucky owner of a B206L, your blade life has been cut about 2/3....and your probably out looking to buy a new set of blades right now. I hope they get to the bottom of the (2) R-66 events as well. http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0619de62-ea2d-455a-9d1e-3bcb251d7955 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pohi Posted February 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Haha yeah, the one I fly (along with the rest based at our hangar) were grounded for about 45 min when that came out until the times and S/N was verified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungo5 Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 From Goldy's link Bell has determined the fatigue cracks occurred as a result of the use by a Bell supplier of unapproved manufacturing processes, which have since been corrected Jeews I hope the idiot that decided to use an 'unapproved process', no doubt to save money and maximise profit, is locked up for a very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroscout Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 (edited) All helicopters are prone to tearing themselves apart in flight. Excellent preflights, maintenance, and flying skills are crucial to preventing the helo from doing what would come naturally. Edited February 10, 2012 by aeroscout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pohi Posted February 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 All helicopters are prone to tearing themselves apart in flight. Excellent preflights, maintenance, and flying skills are crucial to preventing the helo from doing what would come naturally. Except manufacturing or design flaws, as in the case of the 206 blades and the possible R66 components. I am most certainly not a Robbie basher, I flew the crap out of them; just hope they figure out the problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MileHi480B Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 I see nothing that says the R66 is prone to tearing itself apart in flight. The only "thing" remotely connected to that is an eye-witness report who heard a crack, then saw the helicopter spin to the ground. That "crack" could've been a number of things. A strike of some kind, negative G's causing a rotor to tail-boom collision or a host of other things. Am I missing something? I didn't know until I read thishttp://www.24-7press...lund-261768.php That the R66 is prone to tearing itself apart in flight. Preliminary NTSB I know, but kind of scary that the only fatalities involve reports of the helicopter flying apart. Hope they figure that one out soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pohi Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Read both NTSB for fatalities. Both time witness loud noise then crash. One saw something fly off before it crashed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500E Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 A Robinson Helicopter spokeswoman, Loretta Conley, said the company considered all service bulletins to be mandatory requirements. Only put this here because it will be read by R owners pilots.I expect all out there have done ALL the SB including Fuel tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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