How many Cessna R182s are registered in the US?

697, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna R182 built?

From about 1977 to 1985. Half of those registered today were built by 1978.

What engine does the Cessna R182 have?

Most have the Lycoming O-540 (90% of those registered).

What are common problems with the Cessna R182?

In 12 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were propeller hub section, fuselage, seat/cargo attach fittings, fuel control/reciprocating engines, and the part most often reported was a worn propeller.

How many accidents has the Cessna R182 had?

52 in the NTSB's database since 2009, 9 of them fatal. The most common defining event was landing gear not configured. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna R182 have?

8 current ADs name the R182 airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 23 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Cessna R182 Skylane RG

697 registered in the US, built from about 1977 to 1985, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming O-540. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 697
Built: 1977 to 1985
Half built by: 1978
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Lycoming O-540

Engines installed

Lycoming O-540627 aircraft (90%) · 23 ADs, 3 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

8 current ADs name the R182 airframe, 1 with a repeat action; 1 more were superseded. Its engines carry 23 more. 10 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 R182

What gets reported

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

Systems reported most

Propeller Hub Section1
Fuselage, Seat/Cargo Attach Fittings1
Fuel Control/Reciprocating Engines1
Engine Starter1
Electrical Power System Wiring1
Magneto/Distributor1

Parts reported most

Propeller, worn1
Seat track, cracked1
Float, failed1
Starter, fire1
Circuit breaker, defective1
Magneto, making metal1

The latest reports

2026-05-01 · Pitot/Static System · Tube, melted
Owner advised technician that neither of the two airspeed indicators were reading. when technician opened inspection panels near the pitot probe, the plastic tubing was found to be melted through by what appeared to be a wire. technician found that the wires coming from the heater to be twisted solid core wires insulated with clear silicone. after turning on pitot heat, technician noted that these
2024-09-25 · Magneto/Distributor · Magneto, making metal
Recently installed electroair electronic ignition system eis-61000-5m and eis-61000-5c. while trouble shooting erroneous rpm indications we opened the cover of the magneto timing housing (mth) and found significant shavings in the case. borescope inspection showed damage to both plastic gears inside the mth. the mth has less than 3 hours time since new.
2022-11-14 · Engine Starter · Starter, fire
A/c came in for a 50hr oil change and electrical issues. found that upon install of new engine, repair station removed a jumper wire from a 12v starter against the instructions listed on part and sl, which allowed it to receive 24v for which the a/c was rated for. when ground power was hooked to a/c the starter wire caught fire due to the electrical overload. the fire was caught immediately due t
2022-03-11 · Propeller Hub Section · Propeller, worn
Propeller was leaking oil. had our shop pull the propeller and send it off to be re-sealed. prop shop discovered that the piston had worn out of spec. scoring was found on the inside of the piston where it rides on the guide. wear mars are 180 degrees apart on the front and back. seems that the pison was cocked while moving on the guide rod. part replaced ans prop was re-sealed

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

52 accidents since 2009, 9 fatal (14 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 8 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Landing gear not configured9
Loss of control in flight8
Landing gear collapse5
Loss of engine power (partial)4
Loss of engine power (total)3
Abnormal runway contact3

Phase of flight

Landing23
Enroute14
Initial climb5
Approach4
Takeoff3

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-09-01	Lebanon, TN	Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)	Minor	ANC26LA096
2026-08-30	Clarksville, TN	Landing: Landing gear collapse	None	ERA26LA321
2026-05-26	Fitchburg, MA	Landing: Hard landing	None	ERA26LA228
2025-11-05	Brainerd, MN	Landing: Landing gear not configured	None	CEN26LA038
2025-07-31	Thermal, CA	Landing: Landing gear not configured	None	WPR25LA237
2025-07-22	Lansing, IL	Landing: Landing gear not configured	None	CEN25LA290

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 propeller hub section and for worn propellers: they are what gets reported most on this model.
10 equipment ADs name the R182 (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.

Questions

How many Cessna R182s are registered in the US?: 697, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna R182 built?: From about 1977 to 1985. Half of those registered today were built by 1978.
What engine does the Cessna R182 have?: Most have the Lycoming O-540 (90% of those registered).
What are common problems with the Cessna R182?: In 12 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were propeller hub section, fuselage, seat/cargo attach fittings, fuel control/reciprocating engines, and the part most often reported was a worn propeller.
How many accidents has the Cessna R182 had?: 52 in the NTSB's database since 2009, 9 of them fatal. The most common defining event was landing gear not configured. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna R182 have?: 8 current ADs name the R182 airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 23 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.