apiaguy Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Do you think Robinson helicopters 10 year mandatory retirement/overhaul schedule is a scam/marketing genius or really a good thing? Does anybody agree that if you don't fly 2200 hrs in 10 years the part SHOULD be scrapped? Obviously since it is FAA mandated we don't have much choice but tell me your personal thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMountainPilot Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Do you think Robinson helicopters 10 year mandatory retirement/overhaul schedule is a scam/marketing genius or really a good thing? Does anybody agree that if you don't fly 2200 hrs in 10 years the part SHOULD be scrapped? Obviously since it is FAA mandated we don't have much choice but tell me your personal thoughts. It is 12 years, and it is an inspection, not an overhaul. Also, unless it is in the Airworthiness Limitations Section, it is not mandetory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanic Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 According to a letter I received back from RHC on a inquiry about a HP model. The 12 year has a short list of parts to be replaced and the remaining parts is special inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apiaguy Posted January 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 oops, 12 yrs. And it would be mandatory if you operate it part 135.I don't maintain any robinsons but I thought there was an AD identifying the newer 2200 hr limit and the 12 yr. inspection.... I haven't read the ad's on the robinsons to know....that would take some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gft Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 Don't some of the other helicopter brands have similiar inspection or replacement criteria? gft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apiaguy Posted January 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 All helicopters have time limited components (hours flown) that vary by design and load. Not very many have calendar limited components (everyone hates those as it forces you to scrap something even if it was just installed but never flown) Also, a limit of 2200 hrs in the helicopter world of time limited components is not very good. Alot of times, as a design ages, there will be design upgrades that will increase the time between overhauls or the life limit of a part if history will show that the part is still capable of more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67november Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 here is the component time for the 300 CBi Engine (Lycoming) 2200 **Main Rotor Transmission 4000Tail Rotor Transmission 4200Belt Drive System Overhaul Upper Ball Bearings, Belt Drive Frame Assembly 3000Lower Ball Bearings, Belt Drive Frame Assembly 3000Idler Pulley Bearings, Belt Drive Assembly 3000Main Transmission Ring Gear Carrier/Coupling 8000Main Transmission Pinion Assembly 8000Main Rotor Drive Shaft 4000Main Rotor Hub 8000Main Rotor Mast 13,590Main Rotor Thrust Bearing 4200*Main Rotor Pitch Bearing Shaft 4000Main Rotor Blade Assembly 5500Tailboom Assembly 4200Horizontal Stabilizer Assembly 4200Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Assembly 6000Tail Rotor Gearbox Input Shaft 8600Elastomeric Main Rotor Damper 6000Tail Rotor Blade Assembly 9000Tail Rotor Blade Retention Straps 5100Lower Pulley Coupling Shaft 6000Tailboom Attaching Strut Assembly 10700 why RHC has 2200 hr program is beyond thinking other than they don't trust their parts or are bilking money from their customers. either way it's not good compared to a 300CBi.the above information was pulled right from the schweizer web site and yet Robinson provides no such information for their helicopters. you be the judge, me RHC is not for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hunt Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 (edited) Bell has some time-limited components - the Tension-Torsion Straps on heads like the 204/205/206 series are tossed away at 2 years or 1200 hours. We just binned a set of TT straps for our Huey, they had 3 hours on them, but were 2 years old and the newies cost US$17,000. Ouch. Edited January 28, 2007 by Eric Hunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldy Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 scam or genius?? genius. Not only is it a guarantee of future earnings, it increases the safety of the aircraft, and reduces chance of accidents hence liability. If you were the owner, those are three very good things. Goldy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Pilot Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 why RHC has 2200 hr program is beyond thinking other than they don't trust their parts or are bilking money from their customers. either way it's not good compared to a 300CBi.the above information was pulled right from the schweizer web site and yet Robinson provides no such information for their helicopters. you be the judge, me RHC is not for me.The 2200 hour (done at RHC) does not overhaul or replace all of the components. The parts that are timed out are replaced or overhauled at that time, the rest are inspected, and replaced if not airworthy. I personally think it's a great idea. The ship is essentially taken apart and put on the line along with the new ships. This allows for inspection of parts that can't be seen in an annual or 100 hr. Robinson does tell you the life limits -- they're in the limitations section of the maintenance manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FauxZ Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Everything is designed with a 2200 hour schedule in mind to ease in the maintenance of the aircraft. For example, the engine is 2200 hour, but the tailboom is 4400 hour (second 2200). It keeps the time in the shop down by letting you do all the major stuff at the same time. I'm also sure that Frank doesn't mind that you might have to buy new parts more often than you would with some other aircraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotorWeed Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 When I was out at RHC for the safety course Frank said the reason some parts had a life limits was due to metal fatigue. They can’t test for it so they have no choice but to replace parts. Plus they have no way to know if a part has been abused or not. RW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gft Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 My opinion is that Mr. Robinson rightly deserves tofall in the "genius" category.He's created a safe, affordable and excellent performing helicopter. The 2200 hour overhaul makes an owner's operating cost easily predictable. It is also helpful when assessing the value of a used machine.Frank Robinson's vision to create a safe and affordable helicopter has enabled many a pilot to fulfill the dream of affordable private rotorcraft flight and ownership, myself included. gft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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