N444BU - 2023 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II Aircraft Registration

N444BU is a 2023 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Helifun Expeditions LLC in Kalispell, MT. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 20, 2023. The registration certificate was issued on October 5, 2023. The registration is set to expire on October 31, 2030. Powered by a Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 engine producing 260 horsepower, N444BU is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A559A5 (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. N444BU was last tracked by AviatorDB at coordinates 40.1450, -111.6677 on May 16, 2025. The FAA registry record for N444BU was last updated on October 5, 2023. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.

The Robinson R-44 Raven revolutionized general aviation as the world's best-selling helicopter since 1999, making four-seat rotorcraft accessible to civilian operators at previously unattainable prices. First flown on March 31, 1990, it featured a single six-cylinder Lycoming piston engine powering a four-seat enclosed cabin with hydraulically-assisted flight controls. With a maximum speed of 135 mph and range of 350 nautical miles, the R-44 delivered turbine-like performance at piston operating costs. Robinson Helicopter Company of Torrance, California has produced over 6,800 units since 1993, establishing the aircraft as one of the most successful general aviation designs of the 21st century. AviatorDB tracks 1,463 Robinson Helicopter Company aircraft currently registered in the FAA database. The ICAO type designator for this aircraft model is R44.

AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N444BU. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.