Ownership guide
Robinson R44
1,881 registered in the US, built from about 1996 to 2026, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming IO-540. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.
The fleet
- Registered in the US
- 1,881
- Built
- 1996 to 2026
- Half built by
- 2008
- Seats
- 4
- Engine type
- Piston
- Most common engine
- Lycoming IO-540
Engines installed
- Lycoming IO-5401,311 aircraft (70%) · 33 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
- Lycoming O-540518 aircraft (28%) · 23 ADs, 3 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
34 current ADs name the R44 airframe, 11 with a repeat action; 8 more were superseded. Its engines carry 56 more. 1 equipment AD names 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.
- 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 inspectionsEngine/transmission coupling · RotorcraftSupersedes 2024-19-11Repeat actionJun 6, 2025
- 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 corrosionTail rotor blades · RotorcraftRepeat actionFeb 27, 2024
- 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 applicabilityTail rotor blades · RotorcraftSupersedes 2021-19-08Repeat actionSep 15, 2022
- 2020-18-08Robinson Helicopter CompanyRotorcraftSupersedes 2019-12-18Repeat actionAug 27, 2020
- 2020-08-10Requires visually checking each tail rotor blade for a crackTail rotor blades · RotorcraftRepeat actionApr 17, 2020
- 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 coverRobinson Helicopter Company Helicopters · RotorcraftRepeat actionMar 12, 2020
- 2014-23-16Requires a terminating action for those inspection requirementsMain rotor blades · RotorcraftSupersedes 2011-12-10Repeat actionDec 5, 2014
- 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)Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 Helicopters · RotorcraftRepeat actionFeb 19, 2003
- 98-22-16Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R44 HelicoptersRotorcraftSupersedes 98-12-19Repeat actionNov 10, 1998
- 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 wornRobinson Helicopter Company Model R44 Helicopters · RotorcraftRepeat actionApr 10, 1998
- 97-16-02Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 HelicoptersRotorcraftRepeat actionAug 1, 1997
Accident record
623 accidents since 2008, 199 fatal (395 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 116 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Loss of control in flight110
- Low altitude operation/event55
- Loss of engine power (total)39
- Miscellaneous/other31
- Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)30
- Loss of engine power (partial)29
Phase of flight
- Maneuvering196
- Enroute117
- Takeoff68
- Landing68
- Initial climb27
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-26 | Farnham, OF | Unknown: Unknown or undetermined | Fatal | GAA26WA329 |
| 2026-09-13 | Natchez, MS | Takeoff: Loss of control in flight | Minor | CEN26LA317 |
| 2026-09-11 | Milton, GA | Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial) | None | ANC26LA103 |
| 2026-08-17 | Sligo, OF | Takeoff: Loss of control in flight | Minor | GAA26WA290 |
| 2026-08-13 | Anthony, FL | Enroute: Loss of engine power (total) | Minor | ANC26LA084 |
| 2026-08-09 | Macedonia, IA | Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land | Minor | ANC26LA082 |
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 Robinson R44 with the Lycoming IO-540: 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 (11 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.
- 1 equipment AD names the R44 (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 Robinson R44s are registered in the US?
- 1,881, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Robinson R44 built?
- From about 1996 to 2026. Half of those registered today were built by 2008.
- What engine does the Robinson R44 have?
- Most have the Lycoming IO-540 (70% of those registered); others have the Lycoming O-540.
- How many accidents has the Robinson R44 had?
- 623 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 199 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 Robinson R44 have?
- 34 current ADs name the R44 airframe, 11 of them with a repeat action, and 56 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.