The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 7, 2026

Continental C85 series

4,671 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Continental C85 series engine, rated at about 85 horsepower. The Cessna 140 is the model most often fitted with it (1,253 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1940 and 2023.

The FAA records engines by code, usually at the level of a series ("O-320 series") rather than the exact variant; this page gathers every FAA code that reads as Continental C85 series. FAA spelling: C85 SERIES.

Fitted to model families

Cessna 1401,253Cessna 120602Piper J-3 Cub519Aeronca 7 Champion (Champ)360Luscombe 8 Silvaire321Ercoupe 415267Aeronca 11 Chief136Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415111Piper PA-11 Cub Special68Engineering & Research 41568Taylorcraft BC12 BC-12D60Commonwealth 18557

Cessna 140 · Cessna 120 · Piper J-3 Cub · Aeronca 7 Champion (Champ) · Luscombe 8 Silvaire · Ercoupe 415 · Aeronca 11 Chief · Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415 · Piper PA-11 Cub Special · Engineering & Research 415

Where they are owner's state

Texas401California397Florida267Washington191Alaska185Wisconsin167Minnesota162Ohio152Michigan149Illinois139

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles4,669 (100%)Piston twins1 (0.0%)Helicopters1 (0.0%)

When the aircraft were built by decade

08631,7262,5903,45319301940195019601970198019902000201022020

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Continental C85 series the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E-233, held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC.). The FAA has issued 7 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 12 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 4 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 7 airworthiness directives · newest first

1998-10-1998-17-11 · Crankshafts · engine
1996-02-1394-05-05 R1 · Cylinder Rocker · engine
1995-11-2895-21-15 · Aviation Gasoline · engine
1993-12-1493-22-05 · Carburetor Air Intake Housing Assemblies · engine
1981-04-0181-07-06 · AC Fuel Pumps · engine
47-40-02 · Piston Pins · engine

All orders naming the Continental C85 series

Failure reports 12 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

001229501020305070813222

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Spar2Throttle Cable2Bearing1Control Unit1Downlock Switch1Elt1Exhaust Valve1Guide1Propeller1Rib1

Latest reports

2022-11-23Exhaust Valve: stuck
2022-01-07Propeller: broken
2013-09-05Throttle Cable: broken
2013-05-02Throttle Cable: broken
2008-02-29Rib: corroded

Certificates and bulletins

E-233Type certificate held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC. · 31 models listed · revised September 19, 2022

Safety bulletins 6 · advice, not orders

2018-09-10NE-18-27 · POWERPLANT Rocker Shaft Boss Inspection
2016-03-08NE-16-13 · Powerplant - Prohibited use of sealant
2012-10-31NE-13-04 · Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) Connecting Rod Piston Pin Bushing Inspection
1998-06-10CE-98-21R1 ·
1997-12-31ACE-98-21 ·

Sources: the FAA's type certificate data sheets, airworthiness directives, supplemental type certificates, special conditions and special airworthiness information bulletins (Dynamic Regulatory System), and the FAA's service difficulty reports. A failure report is what an operator or repair station chose to file; the counts show reporting as much as reliability, and larger and commercial fleets report more. How the systems are grouped.

Connections how this engine series links to the rest of the register

Fitted to
Where they are
Biggest operators
Airworthiness

These connections as data: /graph/engine/continental-c85-series.json · about the eFlight graph.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 4,671

Tail no.Maker and modelGroupOwner and baseCertificateRegisteredStatus
N1733K Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Minnesota
Standard 2023-07-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4053E Aeronca
11BC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2023-07-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N84197 Aeronca
7BCM
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Oregon
Standard 2023-07-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N89628 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
New Hampshire
Standard 2023-07-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N72515 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard 2023-07-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2684N Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Air & Sea Leasing INC
Cahokia, Illinois
Standard 2023-07-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6959H Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 2023-07-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N81131 Funk
B85C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2023-07-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N90072 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2023-07-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6614N Taylorcraft
BCS12D-4-85
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Delaware
Standard 2023-07-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3213E Aeronca
7DC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kentucky
Standard 2023-07-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N77207 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Dakota
Standard 2023-07-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9101Y Piper
J5A
Fixed-wing, single engine Safeflite Aviation LLC
Glenwood, Iowa
Standard 2023-07-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2583H Engineering & Research
ERCOUPE 415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Fly Again LLC
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Standard 2023-06-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N58F Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Florida
Standard 2023-06-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N89007 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Point Lavinia Commercial Charters INC
Seattle, Washington
Standard 2023-06-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N72560 Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 2023-06-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1639N Funk
B85C
Fixed-wing, single engine Frisby Craig
Rexburg, Idaho
Standard 2023-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N81RW Williams Robert B
BABY GREAT LAKES
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Pennsylvania
Experimental 2023-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N88199 Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2023-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N94716 Engineering & Research
ERCOUPE 415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Nevada
Standard 2023-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1875V Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Tigger LLC
Missoula, Montana
Standard 2023-06-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2515K Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard 2023-06-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2953K Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kentucky
Standard 2023-06-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76550 Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2023-06-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N83436 Champion
7AC
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
North Carolina
Standard 2023-06-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N95132 Taylorcraft
BC12-D
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2023-06-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3639E Aeronca
7AC
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Tennessee
Standard 2023-06-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N99729 Ercoupe
415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2023-06-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5373C Cessna
140A
Fixed-wing, single engine Joy Solutions LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2023-06-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4062N Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2023-06-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76258 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2023-06-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N77224 Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2023-06-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2968N Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Dream Waco LLC
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Standard 2023-06-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6172H Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-06-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N83300 Aeronca
7AC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kansas
Standard 2023-06-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N99411 Ercoupe
415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 2023-06-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3176N Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2023-06-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1834N Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nevada
Standard 2023-06-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76834 Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard 2023-06-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N93LW Whiting
CASSUTT
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Maryland
Experimental 2023-06-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76696 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Arrow Aircraft Leasing LLC
Mcminnville, Oregon
Standard 2023-06-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N71715 Luscombe
8A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-06-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1710V Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Wanda Collins Professional Pilot Services LLC
Madisonville, Texas
Standard 2023-06-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N326Y Silvaire
LUSCOMBE 8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Idaho
Standard 2023-06-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N77193 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Pennsylvania
Standard 2023-06-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2279N Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Missouri
Standard 2023-06-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N94311 Engineering & Research
415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2023-06-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N35745 Piper
J5A
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2023-06-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6411H Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Jts Aircraft LLC
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Standard 2023-06-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N221R Champion
7AC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 2023-06-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N92997 Commonwealth
185
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2023-06-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N94829 Engineering & Research
415-E
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2023-06-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N47523 Aeronca
0-58B
Fixed-wing, single engine Deaero LLC
Darwin, Minnesota
Standard 2023-06-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1467B Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Nielsen Jeffrey S
Ashland, Oregon
Standard 2023-05-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N99520 Ercoupe
415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2023-05-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2073N Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2023-05-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76441 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nevada
Standard 2023-05-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2266E Aeronca
7AC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Experimental 2023-05-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N67057 Commonwealth
REARWIN 185
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 2023-05-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N72860 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2023-05-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1926V Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-05-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1607K Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 2023-05-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2805 Nelsen
BABY GREAT LAKES
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Experimental 2023-05-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N200KT Cassutt
IIIM
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2023-05-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N27H Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2023-05-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2450E Aeronca
S7CCM
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arkansas
Standard 2023-05-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N89835 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N214RP Engineering & Research
415-CD
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Missouri
Standard 2023-05-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1160B Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-05-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3800H Engineering & Research
ERCOUPE 415-CD
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2023-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2338N Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2023-05-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2583Z Piper
J-3
Fixed-wing, single engine Taildraggers LLC
Caledonia, Illinois
Standard 2023-05-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N72255 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2023-05-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3288K Globe
GC-1B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2023-05-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7441H Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nevada
Multiple 2023-05-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4081N Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Tennessee
Standard 2023-05-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76372 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2023-05-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1513B Silvaire
LUSCOMBE 8E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2023-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N85339 Champion
7BCM
Fixed-wing, single engine Aviators of Texas LLC
Georgetown, Texas
Standard 2023-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N94881 Ercoupe
G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2023-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4529E Aeronca
7DC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 2023-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N98656 Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Missouri
Standard 2023-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2722K Luscombe
8E
Fixed-wing, single engine N2722K LLC
Austin, Texas
Standard 2023-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2870H Engineering & Research
ERCOUPE 415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 2023-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N42019 Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2023-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N72163 Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New Hampshire
Standard 2023-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N70964 Piper
J3C-65
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-04-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N799TL Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2023-04-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N76930 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-04-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4120E Aeronca
11CC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2023-04-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N73039 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Mississippi
Standard 2023-04-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N99936 Ercoupe
415-C
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Ohio
Standard 2023-04-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2799N Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2023-04-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N32515 Piper
J5A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2023-04-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N77239 Cessna
120
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2023-04-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N83082 Aeronca
7AC
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Dakota
Standard 2023-04-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3563H Ercoupe
415-CD
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2023-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3922H Ercoupe
415-CD
Fixed-wing, single engine White Wayne
Middleburg, Florida
Standard 2023-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N89762 Cessna
140
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard 2023-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
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Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 7, 2026. Horsepower and thrust are the FAA's figures for the series, not for a particular aircraft.