Robinson R44 Raven I Helicopter 2020s
Near-new helicopters are Bell 525 Relentless (2024+ deliveries), Bell 505 continuing, AW609 tiltrotor (in certification), MD 6XX continued. Latest crashworthy designs, FADEC turbines, advanced four-axis autopilots, synthetic vision in select cockpits. Modern fleet with the best safety equipment in helicopter aviation.
The Robinson R44 Raven I, introduced in 2000, was the first R44 with hydraulically boosted flight controls and adjustable pedals, greatly reducing pilot workload. It is powered by a carbureted Lycoming O-540-F1B5 producing 225 hp, driving a four-seat airframe at a 2,400 lb gross weight.
The Raven I offers the practicality of the R44 family at a lower acquisition and overhaul cost than the fuel-injected Raven II, making it one of the most popular owner-flown and training helicopters worldwide. Used examples generally sell between $120,000 and $450,000 depending on year and hours since overhaul.
Buy it if you want the lowest-cost route into an R44 and operate at lower altitudes; step up to the Raven II if you regularly fly hot-and-high or want to avoid carburettor-heat management.
16 used Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters for sale 2020s · 4-seat · Used median asking $220,000 · New from $445,390 · updated 9 hours ago
Robinson R44 Raven I Specifications
Model specThe Robinson R44 Raven I is a 4-seat piston helicopters with a cruise speed of 105–113 kt (194–209 km/h), a range of 300 nm (556 km), and a useful load of 750–994 lbs (340–451 kg).
Robinson R44 Raven I for Sale
Browse all listings →Robinson R44 Raven I asking prices range from $59,000 to $490,000, with a median of $220,000 (market reference $280,000).
Robinson R44 Raven I Variants
| Variant | Years | Seats | Cruise | Range | Useful load | Price range | Best for | Listings for sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R44 | 1993–now | 4 | 110 kts (204 km/h) | 300 nm (556 km) | 882 lbs (400 kg) | $25K – $775K | Private, family and light-commercial flying — four seats, far cheaper to run than a turbine | 9 |
| R44 Astro | 1993–2000 | 4 | 110 kts (204 km/h) | 300 nm (556 km) | 882 lbs (400 kg) | $22K – $155K | Vintage buyers wanting the lowest entry price | 5 |
| R44 Clipper I | 2000–now | 4 | 109 kts (202 km/h) | 300 nm (556 km) | 882 lbs (400 kg) | — | Water operations on a budget | 3 |
| R44 Clipper II | 2002–now | 4 | 109 kts (202 km/h) | 300 nm (556 km) | 994 lbs (451 kg) | $94K – $549K | Coastal, island and lake operations | 15 |
| R44 Raven II | 2002–now | 4 | 113 kts (209 km/h) | 300 nm (556 km) | 994 lbs (451 kg) | $30K – $750K | Buyers wanting newest tech and strongest resale | 166 |
| R44 Cadet | 2016–now | 2 | 105 kts (194 km/h) | 300 nm (556 km) | 750 lbs (340 kg) | — | Flight schools and time-building | 3 |
Compare Robinson R44 Raven I
See how the Robinson R44 Raven I stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.
⏲ Compare R44 Raven II vs R44 Astro vs R44 Raven I →Robinson R44 Raven I Price & Cost
How much does a Robinson R44 Raven I cost? Used R44 Raven I prices: $59K – $490K, average $220K (median $220K); market reference $280K, across 77 priced of 16 active listings.
Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.
Robinson R44 Raven I Value by Model Year
Median asking price by year of manufacture. Newer airframes command a premium; value falls with age then plateaus on older models.
Lowest around $91,000 (1994 models) · highest around $804,500 (2025). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.
Buying a Used Robinson R44 Raven I
Buying a Robinson R44 Raven I comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:
What to check before buying
Frequently Asked Questions — Robinson R44 Raven I
How much does a Robinson R44 Raven I cost?
What is the difference between the Raven I and Raven II?
How fast is the R44 Raven I?
Is the R44 Raven I a good first helicopter to own?
Robinson R44 Raven I Inventory by Country
| United States | 79 |
| Australia | 7 |
| United Kingdom | 4 |
| New Zealand | 3 |
| Austria | 2 |
| Italy | 2 |
Robinson R44 Raven I Inventory by State
| Florida | 27 |
| California | 11 |
| Texas | 7 |
| Oregon | 4 |
| South Carolina | 4 |
| Nevada | 2 |
| Virginia | 2 |
| Kansas | 2 |
| Utah | 2 |
| Ohio | 2 |
Robinson R44 Raven I by Price
| Under $100k | 17 |
| Under $200k | 84 |
| Under $300k | 147 |
| Under $500k | 262 |
Recently Sold Robinson R44 Raven I
| 2001 R44 Raven I | $319,000 |
| 2018 R44 Raven I | $505,819 |
| 2003 R44 Raven I | $331,399 |
| 2015 R44 Raven I | $355,000 |
| 2006 R44 Raven I | $377,911 |
| 2015 R44 Raven I | $253,733 |
Robinson R44 Raven I Safety Record
Across all R44 Raven I variants, 4 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 2006–2018. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.
4
Total Events
2
Incidents
0
Serious
2
Fatal
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 07, 2018 | Kanaš, | Fatal (1) | — |
| Oct 19, 2007 | Morrison, MO | Incident | Loss of control on the ground due to aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot. Contributing factors were the g… |
| May 03, 2006 | Rocky Point, NC | Incident | The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during a precautionary landing which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tra… |
| May 01, 2006 | Desert Center, CA | Fatal (2) | a loss of control and the divergence of the main rotor blade system from its normal rotational path for undetermined rea… |
NTSB records 2006–2018. Includes all Robinson R44 Raven I variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.