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Post by Brent George on Sept 2, 2021 23:06:22 GMT
Robinson helicopters plunge in popularity amid reports about safety concerns and crashes. New Zealand’s love affair with Robinson helicopters is waning after a string of high profile crashes, but not everyone is pleased. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) figures show Robinson helicopters made up 42 per cent of New Zealand fleet in 2010, with 320 registered. By 2021 that dropped to 25 per cent of the fleet (or 223 helicopters). Over the same period, Robinson helicopters accounted for 42 per cent of all helicopter crashes, and 54 per cent of fatal crashes (14 out of 26 crashes). Stuff - National: 3-Sept-2021It is noted that Surveyors potentially use the vehicles for basic survey work - a more than handy transportation platform to get you and your gear from the flats to the mountain tops (or other remote location). Some Companies (and Clients) already have policies that stipulate Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters are not to be used for survey work - based on their safety track record. [And as someone said to me once - "once that rubber band breaks you're buggered..." ]
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Post by Alex Liggett on Sept 5, 2021 21:07:59 GMT
LINZ in particular won't allow these machines to be used on their contracts.
From talking to people in the industry the issue isn't entirely the aircraft, a lot of it is the way they are flown and in particular the conditions they are being flown in. Also bearing in mind that the stats above include the R22, a small and relatively cheap two-place machine with a miniscule payload which is totally unsuitable for surveying work. The use case, and hence the issues around the R22 are not identical to those with R44. It would be more useful to see the stats for the R44 separately, although no doubt it will also be over-represented.
The accident I would bring to surveyor's attention was the multiple fatality accident at Wanaka a couple of years ago where (IIRC) a Hughes 500 was brought down by an article of clothing that blew out through an improperly secured door and into the tail rotor. As helicopter passengers we can help with safety by (inter alia): * Complying with all pilot instructions * Correctly securing doors at all times * Ensuring there are no loose articles in the aircraft cabin
I have personally failed to secure a door on a Hughes 500 and it scared the shit out of me when it suddenly below open at about 80 knots and 1000 feet up. Fortunately I was strapped in and had all my stuff in a bag.
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