R-44 Part 91

brien23

brien23

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Brien
Found this add in trade-a-plane he says you can operate the helicopter past the 12 year mark part 91. I think he is wrong and all the Robinsons run out at the 2200 hr or 12 year part 91 or 135 .
Robinson helicopters are also the only helicopters that have a complete life limit that expires on all major components at the same 2,200-hour or 12-year interval, which ever comes first. The major components include (but are not limited to), main and tail rotor blades, all drive train components including the main and tail rotor transmissions, swash plates and control links, and the engine.

1996 ROBINSON R44 ASTRO, s/n 0287, 1280-TT. Part 135 maintained, hangared, AI, vert. compass, Mode C trans, 2nd FM Comm, Airwolf oil filter, primer. MR blades due 2010, TR blades due 2016. Perfect ship for Part 91 operations. Selling because do not want to perform 12 year inspection per RHC maint. man. required for further Part 135 operations; however, new owner is not required to perform 12 year RHC inspection if operating under Part 91. Interior is a 8 of 10, exterior is a 8 out of 10. Clean ship with all records. Never used for training! Priced for immediate sale! $135,000 USD. Call Todd, MT/(406) 544-0402.
 
You are correct, the R44 has a 2200 hour overhaul and a 12 year inspection. The overhaul at 2200 hours requires replacing certain components and overhauling others. The MR blades are 4400 hour items, so they are not replaced.

The 12 year inspection is not the same as an overhaul. It does require replacing some parts, but it's minor compared to the 2200 hour overhaul.

The Robinson MM is very clear about the requirements for continued airworthiness and required inspections. I've seen it debated about the 12 year inspection under Part 91. Bottom line is no insurance company will insure your aircraft without it (most Robinson owners use Pathfinder Ins) and I doubt seriously you will find a mechanic to perform annuals or other inspections without doing the 12 year.
 
Ron Levy said:
A quick call to the Airworthiness folks at your local FSDO should resolve this.
Click to expand...

Irregardless of an Airworthiness Inspector's opinion, I would not sign off an annual or 100 hour inspection on a R44 that has exceeded the 12 year inspection limit. This is a clear violation of the FAA Approved Maintenance Manual. Furthermore it opens up the Mechanic that does sign this off for extensive litigation and liability.

Helicopters are not airplanes. They are very complex machines that are unforgiving especially when not maintained.

From the TCDS:

Information essential to the proper maintenance of the helicopter, including retirement time of critical
components, is contained in the Robinson R44 Maintenance Manual and Instructions For Continued
Airworthiness (RTR 460). Retirement times are listed in the FAA-approved "AIRWORTHINESS
LIMITATIONS" section. The values of retirement or service life and inspection intervals cannot be changed
without FAA Engineering approval.
 
If it's that cut and dried, I cannot see how an Airworthiness Inspector would not say so, and that would resolve the situation.
 
Ron, that sounds like the triumph of optimism over experience. In any sane organization, you'd be right. But Shirley, by now, you know that getting an inspector to say one thing is no help when another inspector busts you for following the first inspector's advice.

Sort of like how the IRS is not responsible for any erroneous information given to you by their employees.
 
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