R66Turbine

robinsonEffective Sep 28, 2026Timetable 2013–2024

What mechanics have reported to the FAA on the Robinson R66, the airworthiness directives in force, and the NTSB accident record, on one sheet. R66 Turbine, including the Marine (floats) and Police versions.

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What gets written up2013–2024

62Main Rotor Indicating System1430%14 73Fuel Flow Sensor511%5 32Main Landing Gear24.3%1 72Engine (Turbine/Turboprop)24.3%2 53Fuselage Main, Bulkhead24.3%2 67Tail Rotor Control System24.3%2

Top six of ten systems. Counts reflect who reports, not how reliable the helicopter is.

Registered: 420 in the U.S., FAA registry Sep 28, 2026
Reports on file: 47 since 2013
2016–2025: 44, about 10.5 a year per 1,000 registered
ADs in force: 6 (5 airframe, 1 engine)
Accidents: 35 since 1995, 12 fatal

Airworthiness directives

6 in force · 0 superseded not shown

From Federal Register final rules since 1995. Whether an AD applies to a particular helicopter depends on its serial number, engine and installed equipment; confirm against the FAA’s Dynamic Regulatory System.

For the airframe5 in force

AD2024-04-02Effective Apr 2, 2024Robinson Helicopter Company HelicoptersRepetitive

Robinson helicopters have experienced tail rotor blade tip cap failures due to corrosion. Owners must visually inspect affected TRBs for corrosion, remove corrosion if found, and remove all affected TRBs from service.

Read the AD in the Federal Register

AD2022-19-12Effective Oct 20, 2022Robinson Helicopter Company HelicoptersRepetitive

Tail rotor blades on certain Robinson R44, R44 II, and R66 helicopters are subject to cracking. This AD requires inspection of affected tail rotor blades for cracks and removal of any cracked blades from service.

Read the AD in the Federal Register

AD2021-04-12Effective Apr 12, 2021Robinson Helicopter Company HelicoptersOne-time

The tail rotor drive shaft forward hanger bearing may fail on Robinson R66 helicopters. This AD requires installing a kit, removing or replacing affected drive shaft assemblies, and prohibits installation of certain parts.

Read the AD in the Federal Register

AD2019-07-02Effective May 17, 2019Robinson Helicopter Company HelicoptersOne-time

Robinson Helicopter R66 helicopters have experienced broken oil tank internal baffles. Owners must inspect the oil tank outlet fitting color, replace tanks with blue fittings, and install the correct oil tank angle based on the ink stamp revision letter.

Read the AD in the Federal Register

AD2016-26-04Effective Feb 8, 2017Robinson Helicopter Company HelicoptersRepetitive

Some main rotor blades may have reduced thickness due to corrosion blending, which could compromise structural integrity. This AD requires inspection of main rotor blades to detect and address any thickness reduction issues.

Read the AD in the Federal Register

For engines in the fleet1 in force

AD2017-18-14Effective Oct 13, 2017Rolls-Royce Corporation Turboshaft EnginesRepetitive

Rolls-Royce 250 turboshaft engines are subject to cracking in turbine wheel blades. The AD requires repetitive visual and fluorescent-penetrant inspections of 3rd-stage turbine wheels and removal of 4th-stage turbine wheels from service.

Engine models named 250-C300/A1, 250-C300/B1

Read the AD in the Federal Register

Engine ADs name an engine model family used on some R66s; check the exact model and serial.

Accident history

35 U.S. accidents involving the R66 since 1995, 12 of them fatal, with 29 fatalities. Homebuilt aircraft excluded. Counts, not rates: they follow fleet size, hours flown and how the airplane is used.

By phase of flight1995–2026

Ground20
Takeoff and climb20
Cruise98
Maneuvering132
Approach and descent10
Landing60
Other or unknown22

Phase of the event the NTSB recorded as defining the accident.

By five-year periodAccidents

2010–201442
2015–201981
2020–2024135
2025–2026104

2026 is year to date. Investigations can take a year or more to reach the data.

NTSB cause findings, 2008–2026 · share of 28 accidents with findings

29% Personnel issues
18% Aircraft performance and control
14% Environmental issues
7.1% Aircraft systems, powerplant and structure

Most frequent cause findings

Aircraft controlPersonnel issues5
Decision making/judgmentPersonnel issues3
Main rotor head system: damaged/degradedAircraft systems, powerplant and structure1
Incorrect action performancePersonnel issues1
Wire: effect on operationEnvironmental issues1
Terrain induced turbulence: effect on operationEnvironmental issues1
Main rotor head system: failureAircraft systems, powerplant and structure1
Yaw control: not attained/maintainedAircraft performance and control1
Spatial disorientationPersonnel issues1
Convective turbulence: effect on operationEnvironmental issues1

Findings about systems and powerplant

Main rotor head system: damaged/degradedMain rotor system1
Main rotor head system: failureMain rotor system1
Main rotor mast/swashplate: related operating infoMain rotor system1

Wording is the NTSB’s. An accident can carry findings in several categories. Read individual investigations in the NTSB’s CAROL database.

What gets written up

47 reports · 2013–2024

The ten systems with the most service difficulty reports, by FAA system code (JASC). Fewer than 200 reports were filed on the R66 in 2016–2025, so read these as long-run patterns.

62Main Rotor Indicating SystemJASC 6240 · Main Rotor System1430%14

Parts most often named None (4) · Dual Tachometer (4) · Tachometer (3) · Warning Unit (2)

CUSTOMER REPORTED WARNING UNIT ASSEMBLY (LOW RPM) P/N: A569-11 LOW ROTOR WARNING LIGHT AND SOUND (AUDIO) CAME ON DURING THE FIRST FLIGHT.
Reported condition, as filed2022 · SDR YV3R2022100700543

CUSTOMER REPORTED WARNING UNIT (LOW RPM) P/N: A569-11 WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, LOW RPM LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH HORN SOUNDING.
Reported condition, as filed2021 · SDR YV3R2021052800458

73Fuel Flow SensorJASC 7333 · Engine Fuel And Control511%5

Parts most often named Flow Sensor (4) · Sensor (1)

32Main Landing GearJASC 3210 · Landing Gear System24.3%1

Parts most often named Shackle (1) · Nut (1)

72Engine (Turbine/Turboprop)JASC 7200 · Engine (Turbine/Turboprop)24.3%2

Parts most often named Shaft (1) · Ring (1)

DURING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRFRAME AND 200HR INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE, A CRACK IN THE SLINGER RING DISK OF THE ENGINE SHAFT WELDMENT WAS DISCOVERED. THE CRACK ANIMATES FROM A MANUFACTURING HOLE IN THE SLINGER RING DISK AND MOVES TOWARDS THE CENTER WHERE THE DISK IS WELDED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT. THIS IS AN UPDATED SHAFT AS SPECIFIED IN ROBINSON [S/N removed] LETTER SL-24 THAT WAS INSTALLED JULY 12,
Reported condition, as filed2019 · SDR 2020FA0000043

53Fuselage Main, BulkheadJASC 5312 · Fuselage Structure (General)24.3%2

Parts most often named Bulkhead (2)

CRACK IN F259-2 CABIN BULKHEAD PANEL NEAR RIGHT SIDE F020-1 UPPER FRAME ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT HOLE. CRACK TRAVELS FROM 11 O'CLOCK TO 3 O'CLOCK POSITION THROUGH COUNTERSUNK RIVET HOLE. WILL REPAIR AREA BY INSTALLING ROBINSON HELICOPTER KI-234 R66 CABIN BULKHEAD DOUBLER INSTALLATION KIT PER KIT INSTRUCTIONS.
Reported condition, as filed2019 · SDR 2019FA0000395

67Tail Rotor Control SystemJASC 6720 · Rotorcraft Flight Control24.3%2

Parts most often named Push-Pull Rod (2)

24Battery/Charger SystemJASC 2432 · Electrical Power System24.3%2

Parts most often named Battery (2)

MECHANIC FOUND SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AND CORROSION BEHIND LOWER AFT PASSENGER SEAT BULKHEAD, SEAT FRAME AREA, BATTERY SHELF, BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT FLOOR. THE AIRCRAFT BATTERY IS MOUNTED ON ITS SIDE CAUSING THE ACID TO LEAK FROM SEALED BATTERY [S/N removed] PORTS.
Reported condition, as filed2018 · SDR 2018FA0000346

BATTERY LEAKS FROM AROUND TOP SEALING JOINT BEHIND POSITIVE POST. THIS IS THE THIRD HELICOPTER WITH CORROSION DAMAGE THAT WE HAVE FOUND CAUSED FROM A BATTERY OF THIS PN. RECOMMEND BOTH BATTERY AND HELICOPTER MFG GET TOGETHER AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN OTHER REPORTS FROM OPERATORS OF THIS HAPPENING.
Reported condition, as filed2018 · SDR 2018FA0000527

53Powerplant Attach FittingsJASC 5346 · Fuselage Structure (General)24.3%2

Parts most often named Rod End (2)

F101-4 ELASTOMERIC ROD ENDS ON LOWER ENGINE SUPPORT WELDMENT ARE SHOWING ELASTOMER FATIGUE AFTER 486 HOURS. WILL REPLACE ROD ENDS WITH NEW.
Reported condition, as filed2019 · SDR 2019FA0000397

32Emergency Flotation SectionJASC 3212 · Landing Gear System12.1%1

Parts most often named Cylinder (1)

21Air Conditioning SystemJASC 2100 · Air Conditioning System12.1%1

Parts most often named Switch (1)

Open a row to read what mechanics wrote. Tail and serial numbers are removed.

Where on the airframe

1Main rotor blades & hub14
2Engine, ignition & fuel control7
3Tail boom & structure4
4Skids & landing gear3
5Electrical & instruments2
6Rotor flight controls2
7Cabin & systems1

Reports in the ten systems above, by zone. Schematic, not to scale.

Reports filed by year

Peak 2019 (20). Hatched bar is 2024 to date.

At the pre-buy

My pre-buy card · R66

0 of 7 looked at

The components written up most often since 2011. Take this to the pre-buy and ask your inspector about each one; tap a mark to record what they found. Saved on this device only.

Main Rotor Indicating SystemJASC 6240 · 14 reports · Not yet looked at
Fuel Flow SensorJASC 7333 · 5 reports · Not yet looked at
Battery/Charger SystemJASC 2432 · 2 reports · Not yet looked at
Main Landing GearJASC 3210 · 2 reports · Not yet looked at
Fuselage Main, BulkheadJASC 5312 · 2 reports · Not yet looked at
Powerplant Attach FittingsJASC 5346 · 2 reports · Not yet looked at
Tail Rotor Control SystemJASC 6720 · 2 reports · Not yet looked at

open OK found something

A starting point for the conversation with your inspector, not maintenance advice.

What buyers get caught by

The expensive surprises on any used helicopter are missing logbooks, outstanding ADs, how much time is left before the manufacturer’s mandatory overhaul, and the same squawk written up again and again. The card lists where the R66 gets written up; the AD timetable below lists what the FAA requires.

Ask for the logbook entries that match each item. A repeated entry is a pattern, not a coincidence.

Alerts for the R66

An email when a new airworthiness directive names the R66, or when reports on it spike. Alerts are starting soon: leave your email and we’ll send a confirmation link before anything else. Unsubscribe anytime.

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