N853DS

This entry describes a single Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registered as N853DS, serial number 3501, operated in the US registry. The airframe configuration is that of a production Robinson R22 Beta II with a single Lycoming powerplant derated to 131 horsepower. Ownership is recorded as owned by Rick Shuster Aviation Services LNC; no public home-base or prior ownership chain is published. The aircraft is documented in US civil registration records as US-registered and presents as a two-seat, light rotorcraft suitable for training and light utility work.

The airframe offers a two-place cockpit with removable dual controls, supporting pilot training or single-pilot operations. Avionics in the standard fit are a six-hole panel, with options for a Garmin GTN 650Xi or Aspen EFD1000H should the owner elect to upgrade; that optionality permits either conventional analogue layouts or a glass retrofit. Typical mission profiles for this airframe include primary flight training, short-range aerial work, and local transportation within its 250 nm endurance and 96 kts cruise envelope. Maintenance considerations for this individual helicopter follow standard Robinson R22 practices, including attention to rotor-track/balance, governor and drive-belt inspection intervals, and the derated Lycoming O-360 installation.

The Robinson R22 Beta II occupies the light two-seat piston rotorcraft niche, prized for low operating costs and simplicity relative to turbine helicopters. Its performance—cruise near 96 kts, modest useful load, and a service ceiling around 14,000 ft—compares with other small trainers and personal helicopters rather than higher-performance turbine types. Buyer and charter demand typically centers on flight schools and owner-operators seeking economical instruction platforms; resale and maintenance considerations for this airframe emphasize compliance with Robinson service bulletins, logbook completeness, and any avionics upgrade history such as installation of a Garmin GTN 650Xi or Aspen EFD1000H.