N863DC - 2006 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II Aircraft Registration

N863DC is a 2006 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Vredenburg John D III in Tucson, AZ. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on February 9, 2006. The registration certificate was issued on December 5, 2025. The registration is set to expire on December 31, 2032. Powered by a Lycoming IO-540 SER engine producing 300 horsepower, N863DC is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is ABDA4A (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. N863DC was last tracked by AviatorDB near Ryan Field (KRYN) on March 21, 2026. The FAA registry record for N863DC was last updated on December 5, 2025. 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 N863DC. 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.