Robinson Helicopter Company

The Robinson Helicopter Company, based at Zamperini Field in Torrance, California, is a manufacturer of civil helicopters. Robinson produces three models – the two-seat R22, the four-seat R44, both of which use Lycoming piston engines, and the five-seat R66, which uses a turbine engine.

History

The company was founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, a former employee of Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopters. Since delivering its first helicopter in 1979, Robinson Helicopter has produced over 12,000 aircraft.

Plans for production of the Robinson R66 were announced in March 2007. It is a five-seat helicopter of similar configuration to the R44, but with the addition of a luggage compartment, wider cabin (by ), and powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 gas turbine engine.

In 2013, Robinson was the global market leader, selling 523 light helicopters, a 1% increase from 2012. However the production in 2014 was 329 aircraft. In 2015, Robinson produces one R22, 4-5 R44 and 1-2 R66 per week, and has contracted with Rolls-Royce to supply 100 RR300 turbines per year for 10 years for the R66. The factory can produce up to 1,000 helicopters per year.

Products

* Robinson R22
* Robinson R44
* Robinson R66

Robinson also produces the Robinson Helipad, a modular helipad designed for light helicopters.Robinson Helipads
. Robinson Helicopter Company. Accessed May 12, 2010.

Image:flight.rob.arp.750pix.jpg, Robinson R22 Beta
Image:robinson r44 raven2 helicopter arp.jpg, Robinson R44 Raven II
Image:R66 at RHC.jpg, Robinson R66 Turbine

Mast bumping controversy

Mast bumping is a dangerous condition helicopters can encounter when load on the helicopter's rotor assembly is temporarily reduced during flight (for example, during a low-''g'' maneuver or turbulent weather). The reduction of load triggers excessive flapping in the helicopter's rotor blades, which can cause the entire rotor assembly to shear off the aircraft.

Robinson helicopters use a patented design for their main rotor, with a tri-hinged rotor assembly 'teetering' atop an extended mast. A number of Robinson helicopters have been destroyed in incidents where mast bumping was determined to have occurred. A May 2018 article in the Los Angeles Times reported Robinson helicopters seemed to have increased susceptibility to mast bumping incidents. It noted Robinson R44s were involved in 42 fatal crashes in the U.S. from 2006 to 2016, more so than any other civilian helicopter.

In 2016, the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released a report summarizing 14 mast bumping accidents or incidents involving Robinson helicopters in New Zealand, in which 18 people died. The TAIC report noted "''Helicopters with semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor systems, as used on Robinson helicopters, are particularly susceptible to mast bumping in ‘low-G’ conditions''".

In 2018, a U.S. lawsuit accused the Robinson Helicopter Company of defective manufacturing after a mast-bumping event caused the in-flight breakup of an R66 helicopter.

A 2018 Los Angeles Times investigation found that the Robinson R44s were involved in 42 deadly crashes between 2006 and 2016, more than any other commercial helicopter, while the R66 has also been involved in several fatal crashes that have produced lawsuits. Crashes of Robinson helicopters have killed 176 people to date.

References

External links

Robinson Helicopter Company website

{{Robinson aircraft

Helicopter manufacturers of the United States
Manufacturing companies based in Greater Los Angeles
Companies based in Torrance, California