Helicopter Owners: FAA Adds Paint Stripper to Safety Checklist
Published Date: 1/30/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you own a Robinson R44 or R44 II helicopter, the FAA wants you to keep inspecting certain parts like the flex plate and clutch shaft yokes to keep flying safe. They’re updating the rules to make inspections clearer and adding a new paint remover option for easier checks. Comments on these changes are open until March 17, 2025, so owners should prepare for ongoing inspections but no big costs are expected right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Estimated Compliance Costs and Fleet Size
The FAA estimates this AD would affect 1,725 U.S.-registered R44/R44 II helicopters and uses $85 per work-hour for labor. The agency estimates per-helicopter costs such as $21 for a flex plate visual inspection, $106 for a yoke visual inspection, $128 for paint removal plus magnifying-glass inspection, $128 for a magnetic particle inspection, $85 to apply torque, $1,325 to replace a flex plate, and $1,400 to replace a yoke.
Mandatory R44/R44 II Inspections
If you own a Robinson R44 or R44 II helicopter, you must perform specific inspections of the flex plate and clutch shaft forward yokes. The AD requires initial visual inspections within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the AD’s effective date and retains prior removal/replacement requirements while clarifying that the alternative 10X+ magnifying-glass inspections are repetitive.
New Approved Paint Remover Option
The FAA adds Bonderite stripper S-ST 5251 as an allowed option for removing paint from yoke P/N C907-1 or C907-2 when performing the alternative inspections, instead of Cee-Bee stripper A-292. This change is intended to give operators an additional product option when preparing parts for the 10X+ magnifying-glass and magnetic particle inspections.
One-Time Flight Permit to Maintenance
The AD allows a one-time special flight permit under 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to fly the helicopter to a maintenance area to perform the required actions, provided there are no passengers onboard. This permits a single ferry flight to get maintenance done.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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