How to use this R44 W&B calculator
- Pick your model: Raven II (2,500 lb / 1,134 kg max gross), Raven I (2,400 lb / 1,089 kg) or Cadet (2,200 lb / 998 kg).
- Enter the empty weight, longitudinal arm and lateral arm from your aircraft's weight and balance record. The defaults are typical values only.
- Choose your units: lb or kg for weights, inches, cm or metres for arms, and US gallons, litres, lb, kg or percent for fuel. Everything on the page follows.
- Type or slide the weight of the pilot, passengers and under-seat baggage. Items on the accessory mount bars can be added too.
- Set your fuel. It is split across the main and aux tanks in proportion, as it is in the Tool in the Cockpit app, at the POH figure of 6.0 lb per US gallon.
- Tick any configuration changes such as left seat controls removed or doors off, and add an external load if you are flying with the cargo hook.
- Check the status box and the two CG envelope charts. The filled dot is takeoff weight, the hollow dot is zero fuel weight, and the line between them shows how the CG moves as you burn fuel. Green means inside limits, red means outside.
- Hit Print or save as PDF to keep a copy for your flight folder.
R44 weight and balance limits
These are the figures the calculator uses, shown in the units you selected above. They are taken from Section 2 (Limitations) and Section 6 (Weight and Balance) of the Robinson R44, R44 II and R44 Cadet Pilot's Operating Handbooks, but the POH for your specific aircraft and serial number is always the authority.
| Limit | Raven II | Raven I | Cadet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum gross weight | 2500 lb (1134 kg) | 2400 lb (1089 kg) | 2200 lb (998 kg) |
| Minimum gross weight | 1600 lb (726 kg) | 1550 lb (703 kg) | 1550 lb (703 kg) |
| POH sample empty weight | 1510 lb @ 106.50 in | 1460 lb @ 106.20 in | 1460 lb @ 106.20 in |
| Forward CG limit | 92.00 in up to 2300 lb, then 93.00 in at 2500 lb | 92.00 in up to 2200 lb, then 93.00 in at 2400 lb | 92.00 in up to 2000 lb, then 93.00 in at 2200 lb |
| Aft CG limit | 102.50 in up to 2100 lb, then 98.00 in at 2500 lb | 102.50 in up to 2000 lb, then 98.00 in at 2400 lb | 102.50 in up to 2000 lb, then 100.00 in at 2200 lb |
| Lateral CG limit | 3.00 in left to 3.00 in right at the widest point, narrowing towards the ends of the envelope (see chart) | ||
| Usable fuel | 29.5 main tank + 17.0 aux tank = 46.5 US gal, about 279 lb of avgas at 6 lb per US gal | ||
| Seat limit | 300 lb (136 kg) per seat including the baggage compartment under it | ||
| Baggage compartment | 50 lb (23 kg) in any under-seat compartment. Cadet: plus 50 lb on the deck above each aft compartment | ||
| External load (Raven II) | 800 lb at 93.90 in (per hook supplement, not the base POH) | ||
| Reference datum | 100.00 in forward of the main rotor shaft centreline | ||
R44 Raven II station arms
| Station | Longitudinal arm (in) | Lateral arm (in) | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot (front right) | 49.50 | +12.20 (right) | 300 lb |
| Baggage under pilot seat | 44.00 | +11.50 (right) | 50 lb |
| Front left passenger | 49.50 | -10.40 (left) | 300 lb |
| Baggage under front left seat | 44.00 | -11.50 (left) | 50 lb |
| Aft right passenger | 79.50 | +12.20 (right) | 300 lb |
| Baggage under aft right seat | 79.50 | +12.20 (right) | 50 lb |
| Aft left passenger | 79.50 | -12.20 (left) | 300 lb |
| Baggage under aft left seat | 79.50 | -12.20 (left) | 50 lb |
| Accessory mount bar, right | 25.00 | +14.00 (right) | see seat limit |
| Accessory mount bar, left | 25.00 | -14.00 (left) | see seat limit |
| Main tank (avgas) | 106.00 | -13.50 (left) | 29.5 US gal |
| Aux tank (avgas) | 102.00 | +13.00 (right) | 17.0 US gal |
| Left seat controls removed | 31.00 | -13.00 (left) | -2 lb |
| Front right door removed | 49.40 | +24.00 (right) | -8 lb |
| Front left door removed | 49.40 | -24.00 (left) | -8 lb |
| Aft right door removed | 75.40 | +23.00 (right) | -7 lb |
| Aft left door removed | 75.40 | -23.00 (left) | -7 lb |
How the R44 weight and balance calculation works
Every item in the helicopter has a weight and an arm (its distance from the datum). Multiply them and you get a moment. Add up all the weights and all the moments, divide total moment by total weight, and the result is the centre of gravity. The calculator does this twice: once longitudinally (fore and aft) and once laterally (left and right), because the R44 has limits in both directions.
It also works out two loading conditions. Takeoff weight includes fuel. Zero fuel weight is what you would weigh with the tanks empty. Because both R44 tanks sit behind the CG, burning fuel moves the CG forward, so a flight that is legal at takeoff can drift out of the forward limit as fuel burns off. The line between the two dots on the chart shows that movement, and both ends have to stay inside the envelope.
Lateral balance matters more in the R44 than in most helicopters. The pilot sits on the right, the main tank sits on the left and the aux tank on the right, so a heavy solo pilot with low fuel can drift close to the right lateral limit. Removing a door or adding a passenger on one side shifts it further.
R44 weight and balance FAQ
What is the maximum gross weight of a Robinson R44?
The R44 Raven II has a maximum gross weight of 2,500 lb (1,134 kg), the R44 Raven I 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) and the R44 Cadet 2,200 lb (998 kg). This includes the empty aircraft, occupants, baggage, fuel and any external load. Minimum gross weight is 1,600 lb for the Raven II and 1,550 lb for the Raven I and Cadet.
What are the R44 CG limits?
The longitudinal CG must stay between 92.0 and 102.5 inches (233.7 to 260.4 cm) aft of datum. On the Raven II the forward limit tapers from 92.0 in at 2,300 lb to 93.0 in at 2,500 lb and the aft limit from 102.5 in at 2,100 lb to 98.0 in at 2,500 lb. The Raven I tapers from 92.0 in at 2,200 lb to 93.0 in at 2,400 lb forward, and 102.5 in at 2,000 lb to 98.0 in at 2,400 lb aft. The lateral CG limit is 3.0 in (7.6 cm) left or right of centreline, reducing to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) at the aft end of the envelope. The datum is 100 inches forward of the main rotor shaft.
How much fuel does an R44 hold?
The R44 has a 29.5 US gallon main tank and a 17 US gallon auxiliary tank, for 46.5 US gallons (176 litres) usable. Avgas weighs about 6.0 lb per US gallon, so a full load of fuel is about 279 lb (127 kg).
What is a typical R44 empty weight?
The POH sample calculations use 1,510 lb (685 kg) at 106.5 in for a Raven II and 1,460 lb (662 kg) at 106.2 in for a Raven I and Cadet, with a lateral arm of 0.2 in. Your aircraft will differ depending on installed equipment, so always use the empty weight and CG from your aircraft's own weight and balance record.
What is the seat and baggage weight limit in an R44?
Each seat is limited to 300 lb (136 kg) including the under-seat baggage compartment, and each under-seat compartment is limited to 50 lb (23 kg).
Why does the pilot sit in the right seat in an R44?
Robinson helicopters are flown from the right seat. The cyclic is a T-bar between the two front seats and the collective and pedals are duplicated for the left seat only when dual controls are installed, so the pilot station and its lateral arm are on the right.
Can I fly an R44 with the doors removed?
Yes, the R44 is approved for flight up to 100 KIAS with any combination of doors removed. Each front door weighs 7.5 lb at 49.4 in and each rear door 7.0 lb at 75.4 in, with lateral arms of 24 and 23 in, so removing one shifts the lateral CG. Tick the door options in the calculator to include the change.
Does this calculator work in kilograms and centimetres?
Yes. Switch weights between lb and kg, arms between inches, centimetres and metres, and fuel between US gallons, litres, pounds, kilograms and percent. The whole page, including the envelope chart axes and the reference tables, updates to the units you pick.
Is this R44 weight and balance calculator free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no account, and you can print or save your result as a PDF. The data has been checked against the Robinson R44, R44 II and R44 Cadet POH loading instructions and reproduces the POH sample calculations exactly. If you want to save aircraft profiles, sign your W&B, email it and get hover ceilings and weather, download the free Tool in the Cockpit app.
