Robinson R44
| R44 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Light utility and trainer helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Robinson Helicopter Company |
| Designer | Frank D. Robinson |
| First flight | March 31, 1990 |
| Introduction | 1993 |
| Status | in production |
| Produced | 5610 (2012)[1][failed verification] |
| Developed from | Robinson R22 |
| Developed into | Robinson R66 |
The Robinson R44 is a four-seat light helicopter produced by the Robinson Helicopter Company since 1992. Based on the company's two-place Robinson R22, the R44 features hydraulically assisted flight controls. The R44 was first flown on 31 March 1990, and received FAA certification in December 1992, with the first delivery in February 1993.
Design and development
The R44 is a single-engined helicopter with a semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor and a two-bladed tail rotor and a skid landing gear. It has an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers. Tail rotor direction of rotation on the R44 is reversed compared to the R22 for improved yaw control authority. On the R44 the advancing blade is on the bottom.
Designed during the 1980s by Frank Robinson and his staff of engineers, the R44 first flew on March 31, 1990. The R44 Astro was awarded an FAA Type Certificate in December 1992, with the first deliveries taking place in January 1993. In January 2000, Robinson introduced the Raven with hydraulically assisted controls and adjustable pedals. In July 2002, Robinson introduced the Raven II featuring a more powerful, fuel-injected engine and wider blades, allowing a higher gross weight and improved altitude performance.
Operators
Civilian Operators
The aircraft is operated by many private individuals, companies and flying clubs.
In 1997, a Robinson R44 was piloted by Jennifer Murray for the first helicopter circumnavigation of the world by a woman, covering a distance of 36,000 miles in 97 days. Chilean president Sebastián Piñera owns one of these copters, and has made several public appearances flying it. Since 2002, Belgian Prince Philippe has flown a red R44 for personal leisure, with the unique registry code "OO-PFB", which stands for "Prins Filip België".[2] British singer Jay Kay also owns an R44 (registry code G-JKAY), which he pilots in the music video to the song White Knuckle Ride.
Police Operators
Military operators
Accidents and incidents
The R44 was found to be prone to post-accident fires due to the damage to aluminum auxiliary fuel tank causing the fuel to leak out. In 2009 the company began installing bladder-type fuel tanks in all new R44 helicopters it also issued Service Bulletin SB-78 on December 20, 2010 requiring R44 helicopters with all-aluminum fuel tanks to be retrofitted with bladder-type tanks to "improve the R44's fuel system's resistance to a post-accident fuel leak. The company recommended that the change should be done as soon as practical, but no later than December 31, 2014. The company subsequently moved the compliance date forward to April 30, 2013.[8]
An accident investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in March 2013 found after analyzing historical data that a significantly higher proportion of R44 aircraft (12%) caught fire after crashing, compared to accidents involving other types of piston-engine helicopters (7%).[9] Preliminary analysis by the ATSB of the NTSB's accident database found a similar statistic, with 15% of accidents in the US involving R44 helicopters having post-crash fires.[9]
| Helicopter type | R44 | R22 | Other Piston | Turbine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No of accidents | 59 | 141 | 57 | 78 |
| No of accidents with post-impact fire | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Percent with post-impact fire | 12% | 5% | 7% | 5% |
Although the data did not consider which type of fuel tanks were fitted the report mentions four fatal accidents to the R44 fitted with bladder-type tanks, but as far as they knew did not involve a post-accident fire. The ATSB recommended that the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) take further action to urge R44 owners to fit bladder-type tanks.[10] The FAA, the governing body in the country of manufacture whose directives would normally be followed in other countries like Australia, had not mandated the retrofit; CASA therefore issued Australian-specific airworthiness directive AD/R44/23, grounding R44 aircraft on 30 April 2013 that had not yet been upgraded.[11]
Specifications (R44 Raven II)
Data from Robinson R44 Raven II Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA approved rotorcraft flight manual, dated June 13, 2005.
General characteristics
- Crew: one or two pilots
- Capacity: four, including pilotFuel: 100 low lead (100LL) fuel or 100/130.
- Main tank capacity: 31.6 US gallons (120 liters)
- Main tank usable fuel: 30.6 US gallons (116 liters)
- Auxiliary tank capacity: 18.5 US gallons (70 liters)
- Auxiliary tank usable fuel: 18.3 US gallons (69 liters)
Performance
- Altitude restrictions: 14,000 ft (4,300 m) density altitude or 9,000 ft (2,700 m) above ground level in order to be able to reach ground within 5 minutes in case of fire.
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Footnotes
References
- "Production Tops 500 in 2012" (pdf). Robinson News. Vol 19 (1). 2013.
{{cite journal}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - "Flying prince Philip again aggravates inhabitants of Brussels". Het Belang Van Limburg. 7-4-2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "PNP gets 3 Raven choppers for anti-crime operations". GMA News. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- Collision with Terrain Involving Robinson R44 Helicopter, VH-HWQ (pdf) (Report). Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 21 Mar 2013. Retrieved 19 Sep 2013.
- "R44 service bulletin sb-78b" (PDF). Robinson Helicopter Company. December 20, 2010, Revision B - 28 September 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - %5b%5bCategory:All articles with dead external links%5d%5d%5b%5bCategory:Articles with dead external links from September 2013%5d%5d[%5b%5bWikipedia:Link rot|dead link%5d%5d] "AirspaceTechnology R44". AirSpaceTechnology. 2011. Retrieved 2013-8-01.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - "Lebanese Army Takes Delivery of Two More Robinsons" (pdf). RHC media. Retrieved 10-January-2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - "World Air Forces 2013" (pdf). Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
- "Robinson R-44 Clipper". airliners.net. Retrieved 10-January-2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - "Airworthiness Directive AD/R44/23" (pdf) (Press release). CASA. 29 Apr 2013. Retrieved 25 Sep 2013.
External links
