Compare
Cessna 172R Skyhawk vs Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
The two side by side, from the FAA registry, the FAA's Airworthiness Directives and Service Difficulty Reports, and the NTSB's accident database. Each has a full guide: Cessna 172R Skyhawk, Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP.
Where they differ
- The Cessna 172S fleet is younger: half of those registered were built by 2009, against 1999 for the Cessna 172R.
- There are more Cessna 172Ss to choose from: 3,069 registered against 682.
- The Cessna 172S burns more fuel in a typical cruise: about 9 gallons an hour against 8.5.
Side by side
| Cessna 172R Skyhawk | Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the US | 682 | 3,069 |
| Built | 1997 to 2012 | 1998 to 2026 |
| Half built by | 1999 | 2009 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Most common engine | Lycoming IO-360 | Lycoming IO-360 |
| Typical cruise fuel burn | 8.5 gal/hr | 9 gal/hr |
| Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls. | 2,000 hr | 2,000 hr |
| Current airframe ADs | 44 | 39 |
| Airframe ADs with a repeat action | 5 | 5 |
| Current ADs on the main engine | 29 | 29 |
| Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today. | 31 (45.5 per 1,000) | 383 (124.8 per 1,000) |
| Most-reported system | Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section | Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section |
| Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one. | 90 (132.0 per 1,000) | 255 (83.1 per 1,000) |
| Fatal accidents since 2008 | 12 | 32 |
| Most common accident | Loss of control on ground | Hard landing |
Report and accident counts are not rates: nobody publishes the hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Fuel burn is a typical cruise figure; the engine interval is its maker's published figure for the usual engine.
The Cessna 172R's repeat-action ADs
- 2013-11-11Requires replacement when the engine oil pressure switch reaches its life limit
- 2011-10-09Requires retaining all of the actions from the previous AD and adding steps to the inspection procedures in the previous AD
- 2011-06-02Requires installing a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) backup battery, replacing the supplement pilot's operating handbook and FAA approved airplane flight manual, and replacing the FADEC backup battery...
- 2001-06-17Requires a one-time inspection for proper engine idle speed and fuel control mixture setting and adjustment, as necessary
- 97-12-06Requires checking the clearance between both the gascolator and cowling area and the tailpipe and cowling area, and modifying these areas immediately if any evidence of rubbing at either location is found or...
The Cessna 172S's repeat-action ADs
- 2013-11-11Requires replacement when the engine oil pressure switch reaches its life limit
- 2011-10-09Requires retaining all of the actions from the previous AD and adding steps to the inspection procedures in the previous AD
- 2011-06-02Requires installing a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) backup battery, replacing the supplement pilot's operating handbook and FAA approved airplane flight manual, and replacing the FADEC backup battery...
- 2001-06-17Requires a one-time inspection for proper engine idle speed and fuel control mixture setting and adjustment, as necessary
- 97-12-06Requires checking the clearance between both the gascolator and cowling area and the tailpipe and cowling area, and modifying these areas immediately if any evidence of rubbing at either location is found or...
Questions
- Which has more Airworthiness Directives, the Cessna 172R or the Cessna 172S?
- 44 current ADs name the Cessna 172R airframe and 39 the Cessna 172S; 5 and 5 of them have a repeat action.
- Which is newer, the Cessna 172R or the Cessna 172S?
- Half of the Cessna 172Rs registered were built by 1999, half of the Cessna 172Ss by 2009.
- How do the Cessna 172R and Cessna 172S accident records compare?
- 90 accidents since 2008 for the Cessna 172R (12 fatal) against 255 for the Cessna 172S (32 fatal), from fleets of 682 and 3,069. Counts, not rates per hour flown.