How many Cessna U206Fs are registered in the US?

225, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna U206F built?

From about 1971 to 1976. Half of those registered today were built by 1975.

What engine does the Cessna U206F have?

Most have the Continental IO-520 (86% of those registered); others have the Continental IO-550.

What are common problems with the Cessna U206F?

In 7 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine cylinder section, engine (reciprocating), reciprocating engine power section, and the part most often reported was a spalled lifter.

How many accidents has the Cessna U206F had?

29 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 U206F have?

20 current ADs name the U206F airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 51 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Cessna U206F Stationair

225 registered in the US, built from about 1971 to 1976, 6 seats, most with the Continental IO-520. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 225
Built: 1971 to 1976
Half built by: 1975
Seats: 6
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental IO-520

Engines installed

Continental IO-520193 aircraft (86%) · 28 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
Continental IO-55019 aircraft (8%) · 23 ADs, 4 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

20 current ADs name the U206F airframe, 1 with a repeat action; 1 more were superseded. Its engines carry 51 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 U206F

What gets reported

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

Systems reported most

Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section2
Engine (Reciprocating)2
Reciprocating Engine Power Section1
AC Generator-Alternator1
Engine Cranking1

Parts reported most

Lifter, spalled1
Intake valve, chipped1
Alternator, failed1
Engine, failed1
Engine, seized1
Rocker, brinelled1

The latest reports

2026-04-16 · Engine (Reciprocating) · Engine, failed
Complete loss of power in cruise flight, aircraft was ditched and unrecoverable.
2020-01-22 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · Lifter, spalled
Pilot reported low oil pressure at idle, removed oil pressure regulator and found sharp metal chip in bottom of regulator where it had arrived after falling out of regulator seat. previous experience led us to believe that the metal was from a lifter, we inspected all 12 lifters and discovered a severely spalled exhaust lifter on cylinder #4. inspected cam in accordance with continental service
2019-05-26 · Engine Cranking · Adapter, malfunctioned
(can) defect: prop failed to turn on start. rectification: starter adapter assembly removed and replaced with overhauled assembly and gasket as per tcm mm x30039 sect 4-21 and sect 7-8. aircraft ground run, function and leak check found serviceable. (tc# 20190530008)
2018-09-07 · AC Generator-Alternator · Alternator, failed
(can) failed during flight, battery run down as a result. (tc# 20180907015)

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

29 accidents since 2008, 9 fatal (35 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 5 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of engine power (total)5
Loss of control on ground3
Loss of control in flight3
Loss of visual reference2
Birdstrike2
Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)1

Phase of flight

Enroute8
Takeoff5
Initial climb5
Landing3
Maneuvering3

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-04-16	Juneau, AK	Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)	Minor	ANC26LA026
2025-08-02	Yakutat, AK	Landing: Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)	None	ANC25LA082
2023-08-28	Chinitna bay, AK	Takeoff: Loss of control on ground	None	ANC23LA067
2023-02-14	Chugiak, AK	Takeoff: Loss of visual reference	None	ANC23LA022
2022-06-08	Kodiak, AK	Landing: Aircraft structural failure	None	ANC22LA040
2022-03-05	Newhalen, AK	Maneuvering: Loss of visual reference	Serious	ANC22LA022

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 reciprocating engine cylinder section and for spalled lifters: they are what gets reported most on this model.
9 equipment ADs name the U206F (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 U206 family

Cessna U206G Stationair · 347 Cessna U206 · 51 Cessna U206C · 47 Cessna U206B · 43 Cessna U206E · 31 Cessna U206D · 26 Cessna U206A · 22

Questions

How many Cessna U206Fs are registered in the US?: 225, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna U206F built?: From about 1971 to 1976. Half of those registered today were built by 1975.
What engine does the Cessna U206F have?: Most have the Continental IO-520 (86% of those registered); others have the Continental IO-550.
What are common problems with the Cessna U206F?: In 7 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine cylinder section, engine (reciprocating), reciprocating engine power section, and the part most often reported was a spalled lifter.
How many accidents has the Cessna U206F had?: 29 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 U206F have?: 20 current ADs name the U206F airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 51 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.