Your 100-Hour / Annual Inspection

The cornerstone for the HX50 maintenance is the 100-hour or annual inspection, whichever milestone arrives first. This dual-threshold system ensures your helicopter receives regular attention regardless of how frequently you fly.

• Typical Private Pilot: Most private owners fly between 50 and 80 hours annually. If you fly less than 100 hours per year, you will simply need a single annual inspection
• High-Frequency Fliers: If you fly more than 100 hours per year, the inspection will be triggered at each 100-hour interval
• Minimal Downtime: This routine inspection is a simple process. You can expect an engineer to complete it in about a day, ensuring you are back in the air with minimal delay

Intermediate Inspection

As you accumulate more flight hours, the programme includes slightly more detailed inspections to ensure continued safety and performance. These are simply more in-depth versions of the standard check.

300-Hour Inspection

Engineers perform a more detailed visual inspection of various helicopter components and the engine. This usually takes two days.

500-Hour Inspection

This check involves an even more thorough review of the aircraft. You can plan for this inspection to take an engineer approximately three days to complete.

Major Maintenance Milestones

These long-term inspections are significant events in your HX50's lifecycle, designed to maintain the highest standards of safety and airworthiness over thousands of hours.

The 2,500-Hour Engine Inspection

At this point, the engine is opened for a detailed visual inspection. A key advantage of our philosophy is that components are replaced "on condition," meaning parts are only replaced if they show signs of wear, not based on a predetermined calendar date.

5,000-Hour Major Inspection

The 5,000-hour inspection represents the most comprehensive maintenance intervention in the helicopter's lifecycle:

• Mandatory Component Replacement: The engine and two gearboxes are scheduled for replacement to ensure peak performance and reliability.
• Deep Airframe Review: The rest of the airframe undergoes a deep visual inspection.
• Advanced Testing: Critical components like the main and tail rotor blades undergo Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)—essentially an X-ray—to verify their structural integrity. Importantly, these parts do not have a fixed calendar life and will continue in service as long as they remain in excellent condition.

On-Condition Philosophy: No Calendar Life Items

• No fixed calendar-life parts: Components are assessed on actual condition rather than age alone
• Benefit to owners: More flying, less unnecessary replacement—maintenance actions are driven by inspection results and serviceability

Hill Helicopters' Global Service Network

Ownership is about more than just the aircraft, it's about the support behind it. Hill Helicopters is establishing a worldwide network of dedicated service centres to support you wherever your adventures take you. You can count on:

• Global coverage: A growing network of approved service centres worldwide
• Qualified care: Trained engineers and stocked parts to streamline turnarounds
• Consistent experience: Standardised procedures ensure predictable, high-quality maintenance

How Often Will Private Owners Visit the Shop?

Private pilots generally fly 50–100 hours per year, 50–80 hours is common. You can expect one inspection per year if you fly under 100 hours annually. If you exceed 100 hours, schedule a 100-hour inspection each time you hit the mark.

Planning Tips for Smooth Ownership

• Track hours closely: Log flight time so you can schedule inspections before hitting key intervals
• Book ahead: Reserve service slots early to align with your flying season and minimize downtime
• Use authorised centres: Leverage Hill’s network for trained expertise and ready access to parts
• Bundle minor tasks: Combine routine checks or cosmetic fixes with scheduled inspections to save time
• Keep good records: Accurate logs help engineers work faster and protect resale value