How many Cessna 177RGs are registered in the US?

783, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna 177RG built?

From about 1970 to 1978. Half of those registered today were built by 1975.

What engine does the Cessna 177RG have?

Most have the Lycoming IO-360 (100% of those registered).

What are common problems with the Cessna 177RG?

In 10 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were landing gear retraction/extension system, dc generator-alternator, propeller system, and the part most often reported was a cracked bolt.

How many accidents has the Cessna 177RG had?

57 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 9 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 177RG have?

17 current ADs name the 177RG airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 29 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG

783 registered in the US, built from about 1970 to 1978, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming IO-360. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 783
Built: 1970 to 1978
Half built by: 1975
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Lycoming IO-360

Engines installed

Lycoming IO-360780 aircraft (100%) · 29 ADs, 4 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

17 current ADs name the 177RG airframe, 1 with a repeat action; 1 more were superseded. Its engines carry 29 more. 9 equipment ADs name the model.

The ones that come back

ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.

2011-10-09Requires retaining all of the actions from the previous AD and adding steps to the inspection procedures in the previous ADStandard practices structures · AirplaneSupersedes 87-20-03 R2Repeat actionMay 13, 2011

Every AD for the Cessna 177RG

What gets reported

10 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.

Systems reported most

Landing Gear Retraction/Extension System2
DC Generator-Alternator2
Propeller System1
Main Landing Gear1
Hydraulic System, Main1
Engine Fuel Pump1

Parts reported most

Bolt, cracked1
Bolt, bent1
Gear, distressed1
Bearing, failed1
Hose, leaking1
Alternator, defective1

The latest reports

2023-05-10 · Propeller System · Bolt, cracked
Aircraft was delivered to maintenance facility by owner for engine, prop, and governor removal and overhaul of each. he made the additional request that the engine mount be removed and shipped to a welding repair station facility for iran and new paint or powder coat. in order to remove the engine mount, the nose landing gear had to be removed first. in the course of disconnecting and removing the
2022-09-10 · DC Generator-Alternator · Alternator, defective
Alternator failed during flight. upon discovering the lack of charge on the ammeter, we cycled the alternator power switch and circuit breaker, without success. we then informed approach control of our alternator issue and requested direct kssf. upon reaching the exit boundary of the kaus class c surface area, we requested to "go dark" with electronic power shut off to preserve battery power fo
2021-10-01 · Engine Fuel Pump · Pump, leaking
During pre-flight inspection pilot noted oil dripping from fuel pump drain. upon further inspection by an a&p/ia it was determined that the engine driven fuel pump case drain was the source of the oil leak. fuel pump was removed and replaced. engine was run and leak checked good. leaking fuel pump had a serial number of rc01160014 which is close to the range of serial numbers in the lycoming serv
2021-08-31 · Main Landing Gear · Bolt, bent
During annual insp. gear check, could not adjust nose gear down lock spring tension to w/in limits. removed down lock cam and found bolt bent. photo will be provided. improper down lock tension could result in a nose gear failure (collapse). cessna ipc p700-12, fig. 27, item 33.

From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.

Accident record

57 accidents since 2008, 9 fatal (14 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 1 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of engine power (total)13
Landing gear not configured6
Loss of engine power (partial)6
Loss of control in flight6
Fuel exhaustion5
Loss of control on ground4

Phase of flight

Enroute17
Landing14
Approach9
Takeoff8
Initial climb5

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-06-17	Morrison, TN	Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land	Fatal	ERA26FA241
2026-05-18	Statesville, NC	Landing: Landing gear not configured	None	ERA26LA213
2025-05-28	Snohomish, WA	Landing: Runway excursion	None	ANC25LA043
2025-05-16	Wahoo, NE	Taxi: Ground collision	None	CEN25LA179
2025-05-01	Grass valley, CA	Approach: Loss of engine power (total)	Fatal	WPR25FA146
2025-03-22	Vereda el corzo, OF	Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)	None	GAA25WA118

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD (1 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the landing gear retraction/extension system and for cracked bolts: they are what gets reported most on this model.
9 equipment ADs name the 177RG (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

The rest of the 177 family

Cessna 177B Cardinal · 833 Cessna 177 Cardinal · 435 Cessna 177A Cardinal · 79

Questions

How many Cessna 177RGs are registered in the US?: 783, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna 177RG built?: From about 1970 to 1978. Half of those registered today were built by 1975.
What engine does the Cessna 177RG have?: Most have the Lycoming IO-360 (100% of those registered).
What are common problems with the Cessna 177RG?: In 10 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were landing gear retraction/extension system, dc generator-alternator, propeller system, and the part most often reported was a cracked bolt.
How many accidents has the Cessna 177RG had?: 57 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 9 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 177RG have?: 17 current ADs name the 177RG airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 29 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.