AD 97-02-15 62 FR 4002 Active

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 helicopters, that currently requires an adjustment to the low RPM warning unit threshold to increase the revolutions-per-minute (RPM) at which the warning horn and caution light activate, and revisions to the R44 Rotorcraft Flight Manual that prohibit flight with the throttle governor (governor) selected off, except in certain situations. This amendment requires the same compliance actions required by the existing AD, and corrects the applicability section of the existing AD. This amendment is prompted by the need to expand the applicability statement of this AD to include all Robinson Model R44 helicopters. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to minimize the possibility of pilot mismanagement of the main rotor (M/R) RPM, which could result in unrecoverable M/R stall and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.