She must have lost her makeup case.

If I perish note that I was fairly warned.

Too late.

That’s a pretty R44 Mark! Congratulations. I’ve gotten rides in an R66 (turbine) down here and it’s a blast.

Mike - if you come through Q send me a PM.

Extra seals on the doors will greatly reduce drafts and noise.....

Please be super careful. This article is a bit misleading as it only looks at US based R44's instead of the worldwide product line (Russia for some reason has a ton of accidents on these things).

Also, mind if I pm you some questions I had on leasing? Taxes, etc?

Alex, I will definitely PM you as I frequent both QRO and TLC. Thanks for the offer.

Please be super careful. This article is a bit misleading as it only looks at US based R44's instead of the worldwide product line (Russia for some reason has a ton of accidents on these things).

Also, mind if I pm you some questions I had on leasing? Taxes, etc?

Alex, I will definitely PM you as I frequent both QRO and TLC. Thanks for the offer.

I'd frankly be shocked if the R22/R44 didn't have higher than average accident rates.

Comparing them to a JetRanger is like comparing a 172 to a KingAir. One is the plane you learn in and the other is the one you fly after you've proven you already know how to fly (mostly).

Hey Mark,

I'm pretty down on the R44 after losing a friend/very experienced pilot (and his brother) to a crash in October near Las Vegas. I don't have a clear picture on the cause as yet but from what we have heard it seems evident was precipitated by a mechanical problem.

I'm also sure the helicopter will be a lot of fun but I REALLY don't want to hear or read about any more of these kinds of things happening to folks in my circle so

Chris:

Sorry for your loss. I get the concern and am grateful that you don't want to see me get in harm's way.

Here is my conumdrum. How many people have lost a friend in a single engine airplane and felt the same way? Specifically: I'm pretty down on the Bonzana after losing a friend/very experienced pilot (and his brother) in a recent crash . I don't have a clear picture on the cause as yet but from what we have heard it seems evident was precipitated by a mechanical problem.

What would your response be as a Bonanza owner? My initial reaction is to go analytical. I look for reasons why stuff happens. It seems to look somewhat like any “accidents over time” report. Mostly pilot error with a smattering of mechanicals. Further the fatal rate looks comparable to the Jet Ranger (se turbine). What I don't see is something fundementally wrong with design. I realize that I must maintain it. The outfit I am acquiring it from (hangar is next to mine) has had it since new and has over 50 of them. The same guy has maintained this one since new (2016). They are a commercial operator (141) and are extremely detailed.

I had a lot of misgivings about helicopters for years. Heard all the cliches. But like anything else I got more savvy over time as a student. Understanding the risks and procdures to deal with them. My use case will be very similar to the seaplane. Just fun on nice days. No schedules..no purpose. I think that signficantly lessens the risk.

But it is a conumdrum. People I respect and trust (none of whom are actually rated or has time in R44's) have expressed reservations. Intentions are good. I appreciate that. I promise you all I am going into this eyes wide open. What else can I do?

BTW...It cost me $750/hr to learn in an R44. I am not able to rent it after I complete my rating. Doing this will give me the flexibility to fly when and where I want and at a fraction of the cost. The way the deal is structured is they will buy the helicopter back at the same price I bought it for less $165/hr. I have up to 250 hours to decide if I want to "put" it back to them. How can I say no?

US Fatals from 15-18

Hit wires shortly after takeoff from a field

Crashed shortly after takeoff due to unknown reasons (there are implications about poor maintenance but the NTSB report is not final)

An IFR training flight crashed in the waters off Hawaii in good weather, but the wreckage was not found so no cause was determined

A low-level flight impacted terrain in a remote area; the pilot had no helicopter rating
Crashed after descending from cruise (maybe with a tail rotor issue, maybe a low pass gone wrong)

Crashed on takeoff – and the pilot was drunk

VFR-into-IMC in the mountains

Improper maintenance led to a control rod detaching and in-flight loss of control

The pilot had a heart attack and crashed trying to land while doing external load practice (a very demanding type of flying)

A crop duster hit wires while flying between fields at low altitude

Midair collision with an airplane in the traffic pattern at a towered airport

Improper maintenance meant a pitch link was not re-attached properly

Crashed after taking off at night from an unlit area and hitting trees

Hey, we all make our risk assessments and decisions based on them. I understand. And I especially understand not getting overly concerned about the ones that are in our control or within our ability to mitigate. I fly a single engine piston aircraft - I understand and, to the extent I can, I mitigate. There is some stuff I can't control but I can stack the odds against and I do my best to do that. But I still fire up the plane and fly it so I get it.

But then I start to think about my friend in the R44 and my impression of him is that he was a first rate pilot with experience way beyond most. A quick thinker who is cool under pressure and seen a lot in his flying. And how if there was going to be a fatal accident, the last guy you would think it would be was him. Didn't hit a powerline or, far as I can tell, any of the other stupid pilot tricks that seem to be even more popular in helicopters than in airplanes. Seems like he got bit by something beyond his ability to control, which in my mind would be beyond almost anybody's ability to control. That's the thing that gets me.

From what I know of you having followed more than a couple of the posts you've written and videos you've put up, I expect you're not too concerned about what other folks think and are comfortable with your own assessments so in that spirit I hope (and expect) I haven't thrown too big of a wet rag on your fire and that you don't encounter the problem that my friend did, whatever it turns out to have been. I also know I don't have to tell you to enjoy, I know you will.

Thanks Chris. IMO the risk we all face is how you handle the surprise factor. Everything was going smoothly until it wasn't and how you react at that moment of truth. aka Helmet fire. We all train and practice in preperation for that moment hoping that we will be ready when it happens. Sounds like your guy should have been ready. But that's the thing. You just never know until it gets real. Hope I am ready. But if not? It's been real.

Certainly has for you, you know how to live. Certainly was for my friend, I think his friends and family are all in agreement on that.