|
| |
The
R44, Billed as a replacement for the Bell 206 and MD 500 ...
IS IT?
It depends upon what you want to do. If you
want a rather fast helicopter to carry yourself and two or three buddies
somewhere, almost anywhere, the R44 is hard to beat.
The R44 is also being utilized by some companies for light sling loading
and other light utility work. The R44 is also now popular among tour operators
in many areas.
The Robinson R44 is actually more
equal to currently manufactured helicopters such as the Enstrom F28F, 280FX; and
the Schweitzer 300, or 333. The old Bell 47, and Hiller UH12 were the early work
horse helicopters, and had similar capacities to that of the R44.
Although the Robinson R44 can be
configured as a Police helicopter, and an ENG ship, it is light duty
in either case. The Robinson R44 is not an equivalent to the Bell 206 Jet Ranger or the MD 500
and therefore can not be compared on an equal level. See Also - R44.
|
Comparison Item |
Robinson R44II |
Bell 206 BIII |
MD 500 E |
|
Gross Weight |
2,500 |
3,200 |
3,000 |
|
Empty Weight* |
1,625 |
1,800 |
1,480 |
|
Useful Load |
875 |
1,400 |
1,520 |
|
U/L w/ Full Fuel¹ |
587 |
900.2 |
1,048.8 |
|
Fuel Cap².
G/W |
48 / 288 |
91 / 618.8 |
64 / 435.2 |
|
Maximum
Endurance◊ |
3.4 |
3.6 |
2.5 |
|
20-minute
reserve gal. |
4.6 |
8.3 |
8.3 |
|
Range w/Full
Fuel |
377 NM |
418.6 NM |
299.5 NM |
|
Fuel w/ Max
Pax³ G/W |
32.5 / 195 |
80.8 / 550 |
64 / 435.2 |
|
Cargo - Max
Pax & Fuel● |
-0- |
-0- |
234.8 lbs. |
|
Fuel w/ 190
lb Pax G/W |
19.1 / 114.9 |
66.1 / 449.9 |
64 / 435.2 |
|
Range w/ Max
Pax @ 170 |
255 NM |
338.1 NM |
299.5 NM |
|
Operating
Costs per hour▪ |
$128 hr. |
$225 hr. |
$227 hr. |
|
OGE Hover
Ceiling** |
4,200 feet |
5,300 feet |
8,700 feet |
|
IGE Hover
Ceiling** |
8,400 feet |
11,800 feet |
11,300 feet |
|
Max Operating
Altitude |
14,000 feet |
20,000 feet |
16,000 feet |
|
Max Gross on
Hook |
2,500 lbs. |
3,350 lbs |
3,550 lbs |
|
Max
Continuous Power |
205 |
370 |
350 |
|
5-minute
power limit |
245 |
420 |
375 |
|
Fuel Burn
Rate (gph) |
14 |
25 |
25 |
|
Fuel Spec |
100LL Av Gas |
Jet A |
Jet A |
|
Worth @ 2,200
hr. TT ¤ |
$75,000 |
>$500,000 |
>$500,000 |
|
New Sale
Price |
$335,000 |
$875,000 |
$675,000 |
|
Annual Insurance Cost |
$25,000 |
$25-35,000 |
$25-35,000 |
|
More to come
... |
|
|
|
|
* Empty weight is an
average with minimal equipment all models |
|
** Maximum Gross weight @ ISA |
|
● Available cargo at Maximum passenger
capacity with passenger weight of 170 lbs, and max fuel load. In real
life, excess fuel may be left off for more capacity. |
|
▪ Does not Include Insurance |
|
◊ Hours @ normal burn rate, no reserve. |
|
¹ 100LL weighs in at 6lbs per gallon, and Jet
A weighs 6.8 lbs per gallon - U/L = Useful Load |
|
² Fuel capacity is at the useable load, not
actual load which is slightly more. |
|
³ The R44 will carry four persons, while the
Jet Ranger and the MD 500 each carry 5. The average weight per the FAA is
170, while the actual average weight is now 190. For the purpose of this
comparison, the weight used is 170. |
|
¤ Value if helicopter were sold at 2,200 hours
total time. The R44 would be due for a complete overhaul at 2,200 hours. A
little known fact for all Robinson helicopters is that they must have a
complete overhaul at 2,200 hours or 12 years which ever comes first
regardless of hours total time. The cost of the Robinson factory overhaul
will be from $200-225,000. |
| |
Turbine Verses Piston Engine
|
Comparison Item |
Piston Engine |
Turbine Engine |
|
Oil Change Interval* |
25 hours |
300 hours |
|
Oil changes during life cycle |
88 @ 2,200 hours |
12 @ 3,600 hours |
|
Oil Change Cost** |
$8,260 |
$1,572 |
|
Life Cycle |
2,200 hours |
3,600 Turbine Only¹ |
|
Engine Weight² |
400 lbs + |
195 lbs |
|
Horse Power/Weight
Ratio |
1 HP /1.95 lbs |
1.89 HP /1 lbs |
| |
|
|
|
* Industry standard on the
helicopter piston engine is a 25-hour
change interval, however Robinson states that with the optional oil filter this interval may be increased to 50 hours. The
oil change interval on a turbine engine is 300 hours. |
|
** Based on a $50 per hour
shop rate, and 1-hour labor charge in either the piston or turbine; a per
quart cost of $2.50 for piston oil, and $11 per quart for turbine engine oil, and a $15 filter
either engine. The R44 piston engine
holds 12 quarts while the turbine holds 6 quarts. |
|
¹ The piston engine must be
rebuilt
every 2,200 hours of operation at an average cost of $26,000. The turbine
engine which consists of three major components requires only a turbine
section overhaul. The three components are: the compressor (which requires
periodic inspections and on-condition overhaul), the gear box, and the
turbine. In the turbine, there are two stages, the first stage turbine
which requires an overhaul every 1,700 hours, and the second stage turbine
which requires an overhaul every 3,600 hours. |
|
²One of the most important
advantages of the turbine engine is the fact that up to 6 horse power per
pound can be achieved, while in the piston engine, just 1/2 horse power
per pound can be achieved. |
|
Robinson helicopters are also the only
helicopters that have a complete life limit that expires on all major
components at the same 2,200-hour or 12-year interval, which ever comes
first. The major components include (but are not limited to), main and
tail rotor blades, all drive train components including the main and tail rotor
transmissions, swash plates and control links, and the engine. |
| |
| |
|
|
Robinson's Tim Tucker authored an
article which was published in Rotor and Wing Magazine,
and which I dispute the methods used in the comparisons. The piston
engine has long been very reliable, however when the turbine came on the scene,
there was such a big deal made of its reliability over that of the piston that a
stigma developed which has been hard to shake. A properly maintained piston
engine is extremely reliable, and statistics will show that a properly
maintained piston engine is no more likely to fail than a turbine engine. The
piston engine is certainly no more reliable than the turbine, and each has its
advantages and disadvantages.
Insurance - Now this is another issue.
Robinson advertises that you can insure an R44 for $10,000 per year with an
appropriately rated 300-hour pilot with a good safety history and factory training. This is true
only if you use Robinson's Pathfinder® Insurance.
Pathfinder® is based off-shore in the Bahamas for obvious reasons. The problem
with this insurance is that as the value of the helicopter depreciates, and it
does, the amount of the aircraft hull insurance decreases proportionately. This
means that if something, (an accident or an act of God), totals the helicopter at
2,195 hours total time, you will get about $80,000 or less. If you insure with
the same companies as other operators must, then you have the full value of the
helicopter insured at all times, however the cost will be $25,000 per year.
|
