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Hummingbird Helicopters Installs First Set of VHA 206B Main Rotor Blades
Van Horn Aviation (VHA) CEO Jim Van Horn and President Dean Rosenlof traveled to Valley Center, Calif., to witness the first installation and flight of VHA 206B main rotor blades on a customer’s helicopter. Bob Hoag, owner and operator of Hummingbird Helicopters, has been flying VHA tail rotor blades on his JetRangers for several years and enthusiastically offered to be the launch customer for the main blade. Hummingbird Helicopters specializes in agriculture aerial application, servicing difficult-to-reach crops and noise-sensitive areas where residential developments have sprung up next to crops.
Pablo Ejarque, owner and operator of HeliBlade, Inc.—an authorized distributor and service center for VHA composite rotor blades—FAA DER (designated engineering representative) pilot Greg Ashe, Hummingbird pilot Hunter Olney, associate Henry Morris, and journalist Jason Colquhoun were also present for the installation. From installation to first flight took less than two hours, and no weight, pitch link, or tab adjustments were required for successful flight.
The VHA 206B composite main rotor blades are available exclusively through Aeronautical Accessories (aero-access.com or 1.800.251.7094). List price is $79,500 per blade. The blades have an 18,000-hour service life with overhauls required every 2,800 hours. For more information on our main rotor blades, visit our 206B Main Rotor Blade page under Products.
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For 206L LongRanger operators flying P/N 20633000-101 serial numbers A007-A009 or A012-A104, we would like to remind you that these blades are subject to AD 2022-22-08, which requires recurring tap inspections every 400 flight hours or 2,400 engine starts, whichever comes first. You can learn more about the tap test requirements and procedure in our video . These blades are likely to develop a delamination in the area of the weight pocket on the lower surface of the blade. The AD further requires removing the blades from service if the delamination reaches 6 inches in length. However, extensive company testing indicates that all blades will likely achieve their full retirement life before that occurs. So long as the delamination is monitored and does not exceed the permitted length, the blades are entirely safe to fly with no adverse effects on aircraft behavior or performance. Operators are required to report their findings at every inspection interval to VHA for tracking using the form on the last page of Service Bulletin 33000-4 . Completed forms should be emailed to info@vanhornaviation.com . Providing this data helps to ensure all operators of these blades remain safe. All of the identified blades are likely to have delaminations, so if none are detected please contact us for assistance. In addition, this AD is considered an interim action and once sufficient data is gathered it may be updated to reduce the required frequency of inspection. Refer to AD 2022-22-08 and SB 33000-4 for further information.
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