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.

FMI: www.robinsonheli.com