Robinson R44

What the Robinson R44 is

The Robinson R44 is a four-seat, single-engine piston helicopter built by Robinson Helicopter Company. Frank Robinson and his engineers designed it in the 1980s as a larger relative of the two-seat R22.

It has a two-blade main rotor, skid landing gear and a piston engine, which keeps it far simpler and cheaper to run than a turbine helicopter.

The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page, beside the article.

History: from Astro to Raven II

The R44 first flew on 31 March 1990. Robinson received FAA certification in December 1992, and the first customer deliveries followed in early 1993.

Before that, an owner who wanted more than two or three seats had to buy a turbine helicopter. The R44 changed that with a four-place piston design.

It went on sale as the Astro. Robinson has since added a run of variants:

Robinson R44 variants

The Newscopter was first delivered in 1998 with electronic news-gathering equipment already installed.

The Raven arrived in January 2000 with hydraulically assisted controls and adjustable pedals.

The Raven II followed in July 2002. It has a more powerful fuel-injected engine and wider blades, which raise the allowed gross weight and improve performance at altitude. Its figures are the ones on this page’s spec panel.

The Cadet was announced in November 2015. It is a Raven I variant with a cargo area in place of the rear seats, a slightly less powerful engine and a more efficient muffler.

The R550X is a 2023 unmanned drone based on the Raven II, developed by Rotor Technologies.

Explaining the numbers

The speeds on the panel are the helicopter’s top speed and its normal cruise. Pilots plan trips around the cruise figure, not the top speed.

The range is quoted with no reserve fuel. A real flight plan leaves a margin, so the practical distance is shorter than the headline number.

The altitude limit is a density altitude limit. On a hot day at a high airport, the helicopter’s usable ceiling is lower than the figure suggests.

How it is used

The R44 is a workhorse. Private owners, companies, flying clubs and law enforcement agencies all fly it.

Flight schools including Southern Utah University, Embry-Riddle and the University of North Dakota train students on the Raven and Cadet.

Government users have included the Philippine Army, Navy and National Police, the South African Police Air Wing, the Alaska State Troopers and Russia’s Forest Protection Service.

GAMA industry figures put the total at more than 6,800 R44s in its 2023 report. It has been the best-selling general aviation helicopter every year since 1999.

Inside the cockpit

The Raven versions, introduced in January 2000, added hydraulically assisted controls and adjustable pedals.

R44 safety record

The R44 has a mixed reputation, and the record deserves a straight account.

The original aluminum fuel tanks were prone to leaks and fires after a crash. Service Bulletin SB-78, issued in December 2010, required a retrofit to bladder-type tanks. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that 12 percent of R44 accidents ended in fire, against 7 percent for other piston helicopters.

In 2015, New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority grounded 80 R44s after a fatal accident linked to a main rotor blade part (Dash 7, P/N C016-7). The fleet was cleared on 24 February 2015, though inspections continued. Australia’s CASA also grounded affected aircraft.

Wikipedia’s article lists several recent R44 accidents, so check current investigation reports for the latest picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many seats does an R44 have?

The R44 seats four: the pilot and three passengers. A second pilot takes one of the passenger seats, leaving two passengers.

Can a helicopter fit 10 people?

Not the R44. It is a four-seat light helicopter. Carrying ten people takes a much larger turbine helicopter.

How much does a Robinson R44 helicopter cost?

The price depends on the variant, the options and the year, and we have no current list price from Robinson to quote. Used aircraft are listed on the trading sites and vary widely with age and hours.

What is considered the safest helicopter in the world?

No single helicopter holds that title, because accident rates depend on the mission, the pilots and the environment. For the R44, the documented issues were the original fuel tanks, which were retrofitted from 2010, and the 2015 rotor blade grounding described above.

Is the R44 still in production?

Yes. The Raven II and the Cadet remain in production, and the R44 has been the best-selling general aviation helicopter every year since 1999.