The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (.pdf) for the Robinson R-22 (and R-44) helicopters. (Emphasis mine.)
A visual inspection of the rotor blades is part of the preflight inspection according to the R-22 POH and my flight instructors. The AD requires the inspection to be made before each flight, and states that the inspection must be noted in the maintenance log.
Am I reading that correctly? That there must be a notation in the log before every flight? I think I’ve seen a maintenance log once. They’re usually not just casually available to a renter.
As I can make sense of it, the blades must be visually inspected by either a qualified mechanic (Presumably, they refer to an A&P tech, rather than the guy at Jiffy Lube) or an owner/operator, as long as the O/O has at least a private pilot certificate.
You, as a casual renter, are not obligated to inspect the blades or log any findings, but there’s nothing stopping you from doing it, and I’d certainly advise that you add this inspection to the rest of your pre-flight checks.
No, a casual renter doesn’t have to inspect the log; but it does say that the rotor blades are to be inspected, and that inspection noted in the log, before each flight. So it seems to say that a renter (who will be inspecting the blades as part of the normal preflight) must log that portion of his preflight in the log.
The way I read it is; what needs to be entered in the log is that this AD is being complied with, and is being inspected before each flight.
In the POH, perhaps the wording of the inspection is a touch different, and this is just correcting it.
I highly doubt they would have a writing in the maint log before each flight. That’s just odd, and I’ve certainly never heard of it before. Like you, I’ve barely ever seen the maint logs of the aircraft I fly (except balloons, but that’s a whole different can of fish.)
Yeah, yeah. I met a Marine pilot who said Robbos scared the hell out of him. (CH-53 driver who thought they were 'squirrelly. His friend the Sea Cobra pilot liked them because they’re ‘nimble’.) ‘If you can fly a Robinson, you can fly anything!’
No. There are 100-hour checks and Annual Inspections. In-between maintenance such as greasing the rotor hinges is done by the owner or operator.
I can’t find anything that obligates the guy in the left seat to always be the one doing the inspection. If the owner/operator is a pilot, they’re qualfied to do the inspections, otherwise they need to have their A&P tech look at it. If the person who’s flying it does not own the thing, they’re not the one who’s required to do the inspection.
The best analogy I can come up with is renting a car. The owner (Hertz, Avis, etc.) is mandated to inspect things, such tire treads periodically to ensure they’re putting people into cars that are mechanically sound. They’ll have their mechanics check the brakes and do maintenance like oil changes, but a lot attendant is qualified to use their eyes to look at tires and see if the wear bars are showing, and look at lights to ensure they light up. The person renting the car is also qualified to look at the tires and lights, but is not required to, and isn’t going to be the one signing the maintenace log.
Maybe I wasn’t clear. It seems to me that the FAA is requiring that the rotor blades be visually inspected before every flight. It also seems from the phrasing that this inspection must be noted in the log. It’s not a question of who does it or who is qualified to do it; what I’m wondering is if the AD, as written, requires that the person doing the inspection (before each and every flight) is required to make a log entry after doing so.
That would be my reading of the AD: the visual check must be performed before each flight; an owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate may perform the visual check and must enter compliance into the aircraft maintenance records.
I’m only familiar with ASEL log books, but I am surprised by a requirement to make an entry into the maintenance log before each flight, to the extent that I wonder if it’s just poor drafting (not unheard of in the FARs). I wonder if there is a rotorcraft forum where you could get a more satisfactory answer from an A&P; it may come down to what practice develops based on a generally accepted interpretation of the language.
The Pilot In Command is responsible for ensuring that the aircraft is airworthy, including in compliance with all maintenance record requirements, even if he’s merely renting. The FAA has nailed pilots for that a number of times, fairly or not.
Johnny, I read it the same way you do. If it affects your life, you can ask the District Office for a clarification.
I’m not current at the moment. But it seems to place an undue burden on Robinson pilots. Visual inspection is one thing; you inspect the blades on every preflight anyway. But requiring a log entry before every flight seems too much.
It is certainly unusual - pilots are required to inspect any aircraft prior to take off but this is the first I’ve heard of pilots being required to make an official log entry that they’ve made such an inspection.