Ownership guide
Cirrus SR22
3,926 registered in the US, built from about 2001 to 2026, 4 seats, most with the Continental IO-550. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.
The fleet
- Registered in the US
- 3,926
- Built
- 2001 to 2026
- Half built by
- 2007
- Seats
- 4
- Engine type
- Piston
- Most common engine
- Continental IO-550
Engines installed
- Continental IO-5503,828 aircraft (98%) · 23 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
13 current ADs name the SR22 airframe, 2 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 23 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.
- 2024-24-11Requires repetitively inspecting (visual) the upper power lever for any crack(s) and depending on the results of any visual inspection, either inspecting (fluorescent penetrant) or replacing the upper power leverPower lever · AirplaneRepeat actionDec 6, 2024
- 2006-21-03Check the maintenance records to determine whether the brake caliper piston O-ring seals were replaced at the last annual or 100-hour inspectionCirrus Design Corporation Models SR20 and SR22 Airplanes · AirplaneRepeat actionOct 13, 2006
What gets reported
107 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.
Systems reported most
- Landing Gear Brake System14
- Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section11
- Reciprocating Engine Power Section7
- Engine (Reciprocating)6
- Magneto/Distributor6
- Brake5
Parts reported most
- Brake disc, broken6
- Brake disc, cracked5
- Cylinder head, cracked3
- Piston pin, broken3
- Brake disc, separated3
- Drive gear, spalled2
The latest reports
2026-10-06 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · Drive gear, spalled
Face gear damaged, engine has exhibited damage to the alternator drive face gear (p/n 657984), which drives the no. 1 alternator. the damage has included varying degrees of spalling, galling, and chipping of the gear teeth.
2026-09-30 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section · Lock tab, misinstalled
Removed the #2 and #4 cylinder intake and exhaust rocker covers for routine gasket replacement. upon inspection of the valve assembly, i found the locking tab washer p/n: 501868, for the cylinder rocker arm shaft hold down bolts to not be bent into the locking position. this could cause the rocker arm shaft hold down bolts to back out letting the rocker arm pull out of position causing catastrophi
2026-09-24 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · Drive gear, spalled
Face gear damaged, engine has exhibited damage to the alternator drive face gear (p/n 657984), which drives the no. 1 alternator. the damage has included varying degrees of spalling, galling, and chipping of the gear teeth.
2026-05-06 · Landing Gear Brake System · Brake disc, failed
The rh brake failed after landing. the pilot stated the brake felt firm. we found the disc rotor had separated from the wheel attachment portion of the disc. i have pictures.
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
315 accidents since 2008, 104 fatal (188 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 70 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Loss of control in flight62
- Loss of engine power (total)46
- Loss of control on ground29
- Loss of engine power (partial)16
- Aerodynamic stall/spin12
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)11
Phase of flight
- Enroute89
- Landing68
- Approach64
- Initial climb25
- Takeoff19
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-07 | Ashland, OH | Landing: Loss of control on ground | None | ERA26LA333 |
| 2026-09-05 | Calgary, OF | Unknown: Unknown or undetermined | Fatal | GAA26WA317 |
| 2026-08-02 | Fulda, OF | Unknown: Unknown or undetermined | None | GAA26WA269 |
| 2026-07-03 | Chichester, OF | Unknown: Unknown or undetermined | None | GAA26WA238 |
| 2026-07-02 | Lafayette, TN | Enroute: Loss of engine power (total) | None | ERA26LA257 |
| 2026-06-28 | Neropolis, OF | Takeoff: Loss of control in flight | Minor | GAA26WA241 |
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
Per year, flown or not
- Fuel
- $0/hr
- Engine reserve
- $0/hr
- A year
- $0
- All in, per hour
- $0/hr
Filled in for a Cirrus SR22 with the Continental IO-550: a typical cruise fuel burn. 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 (2 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 brake system and for broken brake discs: they are what gets reported most on this model.
- 9 equipment ADs name the SR22 (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 SR22 family
Questions
- How many Cirrus SR22s are registered in the US?
- 3,926, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Cirrus SR22 built?
- From about 2001 to 2026. Half of those registered today were built by 2007.
- What engine does the Cirrus SR22 have?
- Most have the Continental IO-550 (98% of those registered).
- What are common problems with the Cirrus SR22?
- In 107 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were landing gear brake system, reciprocating engine cylinder section, reciprocating engine power section, and the part most often reported was a broken brake disc.
- How many accidents has the Cirrus SR22 had?
- 315 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 104 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control in flight. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
- How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cirrus SR22 have?
- 13 current ADs name the SR22 airframe, 2 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.