Remind me never to go for a ride in a Robinson helicopter...seems like every helicopter crash involves one of these...
Grumpy Old Bastard
Remind me never to go for a ride in a Robinson helicopter...seems like every helicopter crash involves one of these...
. “No pleasure is worth giving up for two more years in a rest home.” Kingsley Amis
Forum whore
I think you'll find it's because they are the most popular small chopper around and there are more of them than eny other. I used to call on a Helicopter workshop and their opinion was that the helicopter itself was fine if flown within its design parameters, but pilots would get too blase and think they could do things they weren't designed for.
If you review their accident record it is mostly pilot error, not unreliability at fault. Of course we don't yet know the cause of this one, but it appears at first, that it could be the older owner of the Robinson learning to fly who may have done something wrong that the instructor couldn't correct in time.
You don't get to be an old dog without learning a few tricks.
Shorai Powersports batteries are very trick!
Grumpy Old Bastard
More than likely true...Originally Posted by Edbear
BUT
I'll still stay out of 'em thanks...
. “No pleasure is worth giving up for two more years in a rest home.” Kingsley Amis
The magic is in the rubbing.
Yeah, that was iccky, never been in a helicoptor and I don't have much desire to either....will stick to staying firmly on the ground as long as the ground stays firm beneath my feet.
Smarty pants... since ages ago
With all the vehicle crashes ... so many seem to be cars
Perhaps you stay out of THEM too ...
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
The magic is in the rubbing.
hehe, gee you're witty this morning...you off for a ride today?With all the vehicle crashes ... so many seem to be cars
Perhaps you stay out of THEM too ...
Smarty pants... since ages ago
The sun is shining ... the bike has a full gas tank .... it would be wrong NOT to ...
The Crown Range beckons ....
When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...
The magic is in the rubbing.
I can hear it calling from here....it would be very wrong to deny the range and your bike a rendezvous, best you be Chaperone between those two, it could be a hot date.
Sir Cumference
Often hysteria over-rides common sense.
Statistically, you'll be far more likely to die when riding your bike.
Can I believe the magic of your size... (The Shirelles)
Highway Biker
Correct me if I am wrong but I think the 'Robbies' have a piston engine as opposed to the turbine most choppers have. What happens to your lawnmower engine when it hits a big hefty chunk of grass? Takes a bit for the engine to regain full revs. Well the Robbies do the same when revs are lost for whatever reason. I knew a guy who crashed his 3 times (last one was fatal). His first crash he started up, got the thing whirling and got out to give the windscreen a clean and the chopper took off by itself and flipped on its back. Left him standing there with a rag in his hand!
Grumpy Old Bastard
Also true - but at least it'll be MY OWN fault - just ask ACC - they'll tell ya.....
. “No pleasure is worth giving up for two more years in a rest home.” Kingsley Amis
Weekend cruiser
I was told that if you want to own a helicopter just buy some land and you will get one eventually.
Midwives. [Helping people out]
Come warm yourself by the fire
And if you want to own a boat, have lots of money and no drivers license....
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Wearing Hi-Viz Black.
Unfortunately, the same thing applies to NZ drivers.And if you want to own a boat, have lots of money and no drivers license....
TOP QUOTE: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
You're wrong..Correct me if I am wrong but I think the 'Robbies' have a piston engine as opposed to the turbine most choppers have. What happens to your lawnmower engine when it hits a big hefty chunk of grass? Takes a bit for the engine to regain full revs. Well the Robbies do the same when revs are lost for whatever reason. I knew a guy who crashed his 3 times (last one was fatal). His first crash he started up, got the thing whirling and got out to give the windscreen a clean and the chopper took off by itself and flipped on its back. Left him standing there with a rag in his hand!
'most' choppers in NZ? Would probably be an even split between turbine and piston, they both have different roles and advantages. The R22 and R44 are both pistons, Jetrangers, 500's, Squirrels etc are turbine (and correspondingly cost upwards of a million bucks - an R22 can be had for $120k)
The engine in a helicopter (R22 included) is ultra reliable, and once set at RPM does not really change - it is the rotor rpm that is the critical issue. The Robbie blades are very light though, and once decayed can take some time to auto-rotate back to correct RPM (if they actually ever make it back). Go out to Ardmore and watch the auto-rotates into the field - the engine is still sitting at 2550 rpm but is disengaged from the gearbox by de-tensioning the drive belts.
A piston aircraft engine responds almost instantaneously to application of power. The turbine takes its time to increase RPM, but like the piston engine, during normal flight the turbine remains set at whatever its ideal % level is, and is simply fed more fuel via a fuel control unit when it is put under load.
The guy who crashed his 3 times? The roll over is hardly the helicopter's fault. Would be interesting to know what the cause of the other 2 were.
And even a $2mill flash-harry Eurocopter with autopilot and all the bells and whistles ain't gonna save you if you decide to fly like a numpty and park it in a hillside
http://tvnz.co.nz/content/626564/423466.html
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