ALL AO16-2 Blades To Be Replaced After Another Cracking
Incident
This just in from Robinson Helicopters:
DATE: 14
December 2004
TO: All R22 Owners, Operators, and Service
Centers
SUBJECT: A016-2 Main Rotor Blade
Replacement
ROTORCRAFT AFFECTED: All R22 Helicopters
equipped with P/N A016-2 Main Rotor Blades.
TIME OF COMPLIANCE: A016-2 blades S/N 12000 and
prior: by 1 July 2005. All remaining A016-2 blades: by 1 December
2005.
BACKGROUND: Following the issuance of SL-54, an
additional A016-2 blade failure has occurred. Therefore, all A016-2
blades are being removed from service as soon as possible and
replaced with A016-4 blades which have improved corrosion
resistance and a twelve-year service life.
COMPLIANCE PROCEDURE: Temporarily mark hub with
spindle serial numbers to ensure spindles are reinstalled in same
location. Remove A016-2 blades per R22 Maintenance Manual (MM)
Section 9.111.
Cut off root section of blades (first 2 feet), leaving spindles
installed and data plates with serial numbers attached.
Return root sections to RHC or to an approved Service Center
specially equipped to install spindles per this SB. (List of
equipped Service Centers enclosed.) Reusable spindles and pitch
horns will be transferred to A016-4 blades with new spindle
bearings.
Install new main rotor blades per R22 MM Sections 9.112 and
10.230.
Enter new blade and spindle serial numbers in aircraft
maintenance records.
Update Weight and Balance Record located in helicopter's Pilot's
Operating Handbook as follows:
Description
Weight (lb)
Arm (inches)
A016-4 Main
Rotor +2.0
+ 100.0
Blade Installation
Cost
Parts: Blade S/N 13682 (Aircraft S/N 3371)
and subsequent are under warranty. No charge if spindle assemblies
are airworthy.
Blade S/N 7929 thru S/N 13681: List price of $21,410 discounted
to $4900 ($2450 per blade). Additional $4200 if both spindles
require replacement.
Blade S/N 7928 and prior: No discount applies as blades are over
10 years old.
Labor: 10 man-hours. (Approved Service Centers
also require approximately 8 man-hours to replace spindle bearings
and install spindle assemblies into A016-4 blades.)
Warranty and discount only apply to blades replaced by December
1, 2005. Cost does not include transportation or labor
performed outside RHC factory. Warranty and discount not available
for A016-2 blades with over 2100 hours total time in service or for
blades which, in the opinion of RHC, were not airworthy when they
were removed from service. Prices supersede SL-54 and RHC Memo
dated November 15, 2004. Normal Service Center discounts do not
apply.