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

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

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

Cessna 140 1,253 with this engine series
Cessna 120 602 with this engine series
Piper J-3 Cub 519 with this engine series
Aeronca 7 Champion (Champ) 360 with this engine series
Luscombe 8 Silvaire 321 with this engine series
Ercoupe 415 267 with this engine series
Aeronca 11 Chief 136 with this engine series
Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415 111 with this engine series

Where they are

Texas 401 of these aircraft
California 397 of these aircraft
Florida 267 of these aircraft
Washington 191 of these aircraft
Alaska 185 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

Plane Fun INC Tr Trustee 10 of these aircraft
Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee 8 of these aircraft
Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum 5 of these aircraft
Eaa Aviation Foundation INC 5 of these aircraft
Riggin Flight Service INC 4 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Continental C85 series 7 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Continental C85 series 12 reports since 1995

Analytics

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

Aircraft newest certificates first · 4,671

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N1788N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2017-11-07	Valid
N35764	Piper J5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2017-11-02	Valid
N90383	Globe GC-1A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-10-31	Valid
N2557E	Champion AERONCA 7BCM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2017-10-25	Valid
N76381	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2017-10-19	Valid
N2982N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2017-10-18	Valid
N76962	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2017-10-16	Valid
N36FT	Serrino Sam K SHORT	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2017-10-04	Valid
N33112	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2017-09-21	Valid
N120HT	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2017-09-20	Valid
N9682A	Cessna 140A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2017-09-20	Valid
N4673T	Stits SA3A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Experimental	2017-09-19	Valid
N76093	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2017-09-19	Valid
N2205N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Carolina	Standard	2017-09-14	Valid
N3477H	Engineering & Research 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2017-09-12	Valid
N3433N	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2017-09-11	Valid
N35366	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2017-09-11	Valid
N762	Fredrickson BABY GREAT LAKES	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Experimental	2017-09-11	Valid
N1626N	Funk B85C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2017-09-07	Valid
N1839V	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2017-09-05	Valid
N2174N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Illinois	Standard	2017-09-05	Valid
N33JZ	Aeronca 7AC-CONV	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2017-09-05	Valid
N2576E	Aeronca 7BCM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Olear INC Evansville, Indiana	Standard	2017-09-01	Valid
N3677H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2017-08-31	Valid
N3874E	Aeronca 7AC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2017-08-31	Valid
N93902	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2017-08-28	Valid
N77382	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2017-08-25	Valid
N88589	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2017-08-25	Valid
N37335	Interstate S-1A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner	Standard	2017-08-24	Valid
N92177	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Multiple	2017-08-24	Valid
N1418Z	William I Rardin STITS SA-6B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Experimental	2017-08-22	Valid
N42SJ	Brasher James C JB CUB	Fixed-wing, single engine	N42Sj LLC Ann Arbor, Michigan	Experimental	2017-08-21	Valid
N70209	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2017-08-17	Valid
N6120W	Dart Robert G DART SPECIAL	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Experimental	2017-08-15	Valid
N71936	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-08-15	Valid
N74LH	School District 274 EMERAUDE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Experimental	2017-08-14	Valid
N38244	Piper J5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Munroe Consulting INC Ocala, Florida	Standard	2017-08-08	Valid
N4587H	Piper PA-17	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2017-08-07	Valid
N13CL	Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2017-08-04	Valid
N3638K	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2017-08-03	Valid
N3454H	Ercoupe 415-CD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2017-08-01	Valid
N89816	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2017-07-31	Valid
N1847N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2017-07-27	Valid
N738	Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Massey Air Museum INC Massey, Maryland	Standard	2017-07-26	Valid
N93332	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2017-07-26	Valid
N2026K	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-07-20	Valid
N2097V	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-07-13	Valid
N94782	Ercoupe E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2017-07-12	Valid
N4279N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-07-10	Valid
N72331	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-07-10	Valid
N76293	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2017-07-05	Valid
N2045K	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-06-29	Valid
N71094	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flea Market 13 and Antiques Pocomoke, Maryland	Standard	2017-06-20	Valid
N4166N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Round Robin Aviation INC Benton, Kansas	Standard	2017-06-16	Valid
N43261	Taylorcraft BC12-D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-06-02	Valid
N44321	Taylorcraft BC12D-85	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2017-06-01	Valid
N1941W	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2017-05-30	Valid
N1949K	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Luscombe Endowment Gilbert, Arizona	Standard	2017-05-24	Valid
N6704C	Aeronca 7BCM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-05-23	Valid
N88091	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big South Fork Aerospace LLC Pine Knot, Kentucky	Standard	2017-05-23	Valid
N1649V	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-05-22	Valid
N31925	Aeronca 65-CA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2017-05-22	Valid
N4082N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-05-22	Valid
N76146	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2017-05-19	Valid
N1918A	Peitenpol/Hickey GREGA GN-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Experimental	2017-05-18	Valid
N2304E	Aeronca 7DC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-05-18	Valid
N3137H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-05-18	Valid
N72938	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-05-18	Valid
N81137	Mcclish FUNK B85C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ozarks Auto Show INC Hollister, Missouri	Standard	2017-05-18	Valid
N98347	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2017-05-18	Valid
N3211H	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Yellow Fly INC Lakeland, Florida	Standard	2017-05-16	Valid
N337RM	Piper/Morris J5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2017-05-16	Valid
N83732	Aeronca 7AC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2017-05-16	Valid
N89818	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2017-05-16	Valid
N99564	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2017-05-16	Valid
N94860	Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2017-05-11	Valid
N43624	Taylorcraft BC12-D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2017-05-10	Valid
N5718N	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2017-05-10	Valid
N3969E	Aeronca 11BC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2017-05-09	Valid
N99200	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airmotive Service LLC Brigham City, Utah	Standard	2017-05-09	Valid
N5356C	Cessna 140A	Fixed-wing, single engine	56 Charlie LLC Bloomington, Indiana	Standard	2017-05-08	Valid
N89636	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-05-08	Valid
N3392H	Ercoupe 415-D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-05-03	Valid
N1400B	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-05-02	Valid
N99188	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-05-02	Valid
N66582	Aeronca 7BCM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2017-04-26	Valid
N85049	Champion 7DC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-04-26	Valid
N1945V	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2017-04-25	Valid
N3191N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2017-04-24	Valid
N10AN	Aeronca 7BCM	Fixed-wing, single engine	South Dakota Hist Avn Preservation & Educ Soc INC Canistota, South Dakota	Standard	2017-04-12	Valid
N3626H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2017-04-12	Valid
N77291	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2017-04-12	Valid
N89276	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2017-04-11	Valid
N94636	Ercoupe 415-CD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2017-04-11	Valid
N1627V	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2017-04-05	Valid
N77315	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2017-03-30	Valid
N89017	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2017-03-23	Valid
N2324N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2017-03-22	Valid
N5111H	Long LA-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2017-03-21	Valid
N1843N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2017-03-17	Valid

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.