Overview:
Robinson R44 Price varies quite a lot depending on a multitude of factors: Model of the aircraft, Engine time and condition, Avionics, Interior and paint, Any modifications, Prior loss history, typically 10% reduction in price.
Engine Time
R44’s come with Lycoming O-540 and IO-540 engines with TBO (time before overhaul) of 2,200 hours.
Getting the aircrafts (SMOH) Time since major overhaul is a major factor affecting the price. If the SMOH is 1,400-1,500 hours, you may be in for an expensive ($190,000-$195,000) engine overhaul expense after only a few hundred hours of use.
Airframe Time (TTAF)
Total Airframe Time is a good indicator of how heavy the aircraft has been used during it’s lifetime. Airframes with high TTAF, 4,000 hours plus, are considered to be less valuable due to the amount of time on the aircraft. For The
Robinson R44, depending on the year, it’s best to shoot for TTAF’s between 3,000-4,000 hours.
Avionics
Avionics and upgrades can significantly impact the value of a R44. Panel upgrades, GPS, Autopilot, ADS-B installation, etc can all increase the value of the R44. The best case is to obtain an equipment list or installation and upgrade history to help justify the value of the additional avionics.
Interior and Paint
Aircraft interiors are typically given a 1-10 based on a grading scale. New or mint condition interiors can increase the value of a R44 by $10,000-$15,000. Paint is also graded on a scale, new paint jobs can add $10,000-$15,000 to the value.
Prior Loss History
Some R44’s have had losses or been in accidents. Depending on the incident and level of damage, having loss history will typically decrease the value of the R44 by 10-20%.