Robinson Helicopter Company has received several reports and allegations from Brazil of R22 and R44 main rotor blades with debonded skins being “repaired” in the field and returned to service.
“Debonded or ‘repaired’ main rotor blades can lead to a fatal accident. Any AO16-4, CO16-2, CO16-5 blade with a debonded skin is not field repairable and must not be returned to service. Any main rotor blade which has been previously ‘repaired’ is unairworthy and must be immediately removed from service,” the company said.
“Owners, operators, and maintenance personnel who have or suspect they may have unairworthy blades should contact Peter Hallqvist (ts3@robinsonheli.com) with Robinson Technical Support immediately for verification and assistance in getting replacement blades.”
Obviously they need NEW blades.