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For Sale: 1995 Eurocopter AS 355N
October 15th, 2009
Alert Service Bulletin
August 3rd, 2009
In September 2008 Bell Helicopter began an investigation into the cause of a fatal accident involving a Bell 206L1. Findings from this investigation prompted the issuance of Alert Service Bulletin 206L-09-159.
The investigation revealed that fatigue caused one of the main rotor blades to fracture. A fatigue crack may occur with the combination of residual stress in the spar and a large void in the adhesive between the spar and the internal lead inertia weight. This area is located between station 100 and 145. Centrifugal force that occurs during the start/stop cycle may induce the fatigue crack.
In order for a blade to be at risk both conditions must be present. Bell Helicopters composed a list of blades that may have residual stress in the spar. The presence of a void between the Inertia weigh and spar is unknown. The only method of determining the existence of an unacceptable void is by performing radiography. Part III of the alert service bulletin provides procedures to perform a one-time x-ray inspection of the blade.
After the radiography has been reviewed by a Bell Engineer a letter will be issued. The letter will contain one of the following statements:
1) The Blade can remain in service with no further action required or
2) The blade can remain in service however Part II of this Bulletin requires accomplishment until retirement from service or
3) The blade must be removed form service before further flight.
Radiography can only be performed by an NDT facility approved by the Governing Aviation Authority. Rotorcraft Support, Inc. is FAA authorized to conduct these services. In addition to the FAA credential RSI offers you the professionalism, knowledge and experience only found in Bell Helicopters Platinum Customers Service Facility.
RSI radiography equipment is portable therefore we can send a technician to your facility to perform the inspection with the blade installed on the aircraft. This will drastically reduce your down time. All Technicians performing radiographic inspection are qualified and certified to level II or Level III requirements established in NAS 410 and/or SNT-TC-1A and/or EN 4179.
Please give us a call to discuss your inspection options. Our Highly experienced NDT staff is waiting to assist you. Call Lewis Santos in the NDT Department at (818) 997-7667 ex. 247
Rotorcraft Support at HAI 2009
April 16th, 2009
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Rotorcraft Support’s team had a great time at the 2009 HAI HeliExpo, getting to meet quite a few of you. There were also two noteworthy events for RSI at the expo this year. |
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 Bell Helicopter Platinum Service Center Award |
“….With our renewed commitment to providing an excellent customer experience, our CSF network plays a critical role in this process and these (six) have risen above the rest to consistently deliver the high level of customer service people around the world have come to expect from Bell.” Rotorcraft’s management and team members have worked hard to earn this achievement. We are very proud of it and of our entire staff. |
| The other event worth mentioning is that this year RSI was in two locations at the Expo for the first time. Along with our standard 20X20 booth on the convention floor (staffed by Phil DiFiore and the RSI sales team) we added a display of our newest helicopter completion, a 206BIII for the Los Angeles Fire Department, (LAFD). | |
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This helicopter was received “green” and was completed by RSI to LAFD specifications. This completion included a Sagem Integrated Cockpit Display System (ICDS) Aero-Computer GPS and a suite of additional navigational and communication equipment were incorporated into the cockpit. |
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The entire cockpit display is enhanced by an Aero-Dynamix Night Vision adaptation. Other items that were added by RSI to this helicopter are an SX16 Night-Sun, Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS) and a belly-mounted water dropping tank. Not only is this helicopter functional, but it’s also an attention getter with the distinctive LAFD red and white colors with a vertically slanted black and silver accent stripe. We enjoyed being able to share this project with those of you that attended the expo. |
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Hiring a Vet: Huey UH-1H for Guardian Helicopters
April 15th, 2009
 Guardian Helicopters Newly Completed Bell Huey UH-1H |
How do you get a retired Vietnam Vet back to work? First you find one that, after a little TLC, is capable of returning to work. Then give it a new engine, a new tail, overhauled components, updated avionics and comm system, and top it off with a fresh paint job and voila….. a UH-1H back at work doing what it does best. |
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Such is the case with the beautiful “new” UH-1H that was refurbished by the talented technicians of Rotorcraft Support Inc. (RSI) for Guardian Helicopters, Inc, (GHI) of Van Nuys CA . This UH1H is not only distinct due to it’s unique color scheme but also by the obvious modification to the tail with the installed “FastFin” and tail boom strake STC modification supplied by BLR Aerospace, LLC. |
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 The arrival of the UH-1H |
 The transformation begins |
 RSI's Team Begins The Transformation |
 Ready For Paint |
 Freshly Painted & Ready to be Put Back Together |
 RSI's Skilled Technicians Working on the Huey |
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And the best part of all…This “Huey” has already started earning its keep by working a Fire contract South of the Border. It does pay to hire a Vet! |
 Back in Service |