Robinson R22
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 428; Flight Crew Type 356
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Manuals; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Human Factors
During a Ground School lesson with my student in preparation for their Private Pilot Practical exam; we went over the certificates and documents required in the Practical Test Standards for the exam. While covering the subject I realized that the Robinson R22HP [helicopter] I had been using had certain maintenance concerns that made me question the airworthiness of the helicopter. After further research I came to the conclusion that the helicopter was not airworthy for discrepancies concerning the documentation and maintenance required. I had flown the helicopter on several occasions prior and sent solo students flying in a possible unairworthy condition that was not known by me until this time. I have not flown the helicopter since the discovery of the discrepancies and have brought the issues to the attention of the Owner and Operator of the helicopter. I will not fly the aircraft until the helicopter is returned to an airworthy condition. The reason that I hadn't realized this sooner is the Robinson R22 HP model has a Service Bulletin (S/B) regarding oil changes that differ it from the Robinson R22 Beta II that I normally use.
Reporter stated the Robinson R22-HP is an early model R22 that came with a four cylinder opposed Lycoming engine with only oil screen; not an oil filter. The Service Bulletin (S/B) for that Lycoming engine on the R22-HP model required an oil change every 25-hours unless an oil filter kit had been installed. The R22 Beta-2 helicopter with the Textron Lycoming engine could go 50-hours because that engine has an oil filter.Reporter stated he found the S/B oil change requirement in the maintenance section of their Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) during review of the certificates and documents. He then brought the information to their Chief Pilot and Maintenance Director who were quite surprised. Maintenance immediately installed an oil filter kit to bring the operating hours and maintenance requirements in line with the S/B.
During a Ground School lesson involving certificates and documents; a Flight Instructor realizes a Robinson R22-HP helicopter he had been using for student training and solo flights may not have been airworthy. An Oil Change Service Bulletin (S/B) for the R22-HP differed from the R22-Beta-2 he had previously used.