Compare
Robinson R22 vs Robinson R44
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: Robinson R22, Robinson R44.
Where they differ
- The Robinson R44 fleet is younger: half of those registered were built by 2008, against 1999 for the Robinson R22.
- There are more Robinson R44s to choose from: 1,881 registered against 792.
- Most Robinson R22s have the Lycoming O-360; most Robinson R44s the Lycoming IO-540.
- The Robinson R44 carries more airframe ADs with a repeat action, 11 against 6: inspections that come back for as long as the AD applies.
Side by side
| Robinson R22 | Robinson R44 | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the US | 792 | 1,881 |
| Built | 1980 to 2024 | 1996 to 2026 |
| Half built by | 1999 | 2008 |
| Seats | 2 | 4 |
| Most common engine | Lycoming O-360 | Lycoming IO-540 |
| Typical cruise fuel burn | Not set | 15 gal/hr |
| Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls. | 2,000 hr | Not set |
| Current airframe ADs | 35 | 34 |
| Airframe ADs with a repeat action | 6 | 11 |
| Current ADs on the main engine | 24 | 33 |
| Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today. | 0 (0.0 per 1,000) | 0 (0.0 per 1,000) |
| Most-reported system | None | None |
| Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one. | 334 (421.7 per 1,000) | 623 (331.2 per 1,000) |
| Fatal accidents since 2008 | 71 | 199 |
| Most common accident | Loss of control in flight | Loss of control in flight |
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 Robinson R22's repeat-action ADs
- 2024-04-02Requires visually checking and inspecting certain part-numbered and serial-numbered TRB tip caps for evidence of corrosion and, depending on the results, removing the corrosion
- 2014-23-16Requires a terminating action for those inspection requirements
- 2003-04-04Requires inspecting the tail rotor pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the pitch control bearings (bearings) by hand-rotating the pitch control bearing housing (housing)
- 2000-20-51Requires checking the yoke half assembly (yoke) for any crack and replacing a cracked yoke assembly before further flight
- 95-23-05Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters
- 94-15-08Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters
The Robinson R44's repeat-action ADs
- 2025-11-07Requires the actions of AD 2024-19- 11 and clarifies that the alternative inspections are repetitive and adds a particular paint remover option to use when performing those alternative inspections
- 2024-04-02Requires visually checking and inspecting certain part-numbered and serial-numbered TRB tip caps for evidence of corrosion and, depending on the results, removing the corrosion
- 2022-19-12Requires the same actions as AD 2021-19- 08 and adds certain Robinson Model R66 helicopters to the applicability and adds additional part-numbered and serial-numbered blades to the applicability
- 2020-18-08Robinson Helicopter Company
- 2020-08-10Requires visually checking each tail rotor blade for a crack
- 2020-05-11Requires repetitive inspections of the spray system pump fitting, corrective action if necessary, replacement of the spray system pump fitting, and installation of hose supports and a pump outlet cover
- 2014-23-16Requires a terminating action for those inspection requirements
- 2003-04-05Requires inspecting the tail rotor pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the pitch control bearings (bearings) by hand-rotating the pitch control bearing housing (housing)
- 98-22-16Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R44 Helicopters
- 98-04-12Requires an initial and repetitive measurement of the lateral cyclic trim spring shaft (shaft) diameter and replacement of the shaft spring assembly (spring assembly) if the shaft diameter is excessively worn
- 97-16-02Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 Helicopters
Questions
- Which has more Airworthiness Directives, the Robinson R22 or the Robinson R44?
- 35 current ADs name the Robinson R22 airframe and 34 the Robinson R44; 6 and 11 of them have a repeat action.
- Which is newer, the Robinson R22 or the Robinson R44?
- Half of the Robinson R22s registered were built by 1999, half of the Robinson R44s by 2008.
- How do the Robinson R22 and Robinson R44 accident records compare?
- 334 accidents since 2008 for the Robinson R22 (71 fatal) against 623 for the Robinson R44 (199 fatal), from fleets of 792 and 1,881. Counts, not rates per hour flown.