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
Model families, as a table
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
Kind of aircraft
By kind, as a table
| aircraft | share | |
|---|---|---|
| Piston singles | 4,669 | 100% |
| Piston twins | 1 | 0.0% |
| Helicopters | 1 | 0.0% |
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
Failure reports 12 since · what operators and shops told the FAA
Failure reports by year, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| 95 | 1 |
| 01 | 1 |
| 02 | 1 |
| 03 | 1 |
| 05 | 1 |
| 07 | 2 |
| 08 | 1 |
| 13 | 2 |
| 22 | 2 |
Parts most often reported as the reports name them
Spar2Throttle Cable2Bearing1Control Unit1Downlock Switch1Elt1Exhaust Valve1Guide1Propeller1Rib1
Parts most reported, as a table
| reports | |
|---|---|
| Spar | 2 |
| Throttle Cable | 2 |
| Bearing | 1 |
| Control Unit | 1 |
| Downlock Switch | 1 |
| Elt | 1 |
| Exhaust Valve | 1 |
| Guide | 1 |
| Propeller | 1 |
| Rib | 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N2038K | Luscombe 8E |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2008-11-19 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N71ZK | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2008-11-13 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N99518 | Ercoupe 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Oklahoma |
Standard | 2008-11-13 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N30937 | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2008-11-04 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N83711 | Aeronca 7CCM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Minnesota |
Standard | 2008-10-28 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N4750M | Piper PA-11 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner New York |
Standard | 2008-10-24 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N6123H | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2008-10-20 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2057V | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Missouri |
Standard | 2008-10-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N87956 | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wyoming |
Multiple | 2008-10-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2271K | Luscombe 8E |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner California |
Standard | 2008-09-25 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N87207 | Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Oklahoma |
Standard | 2008-09-23 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N3195N | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner New York |
Standard | 2008-09-22 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N82657 | Aeronca 7BCM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Missouri |
Standard | 2008-09-22 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N94171 | Ercoupe 415-D |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2008-09-22 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N39982 | Taylorcraft BC12D-85 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Alaska |
Standard | 2008-09-19 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2990N | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner North Dakota |
Standard | 2008-09-16 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2064B | Luscombe 8A |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Crestair Air LLC Dover, Delaware |
Standard | 2008-09-05 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N529L | Ercoupe 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2008-08-21 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N94131 | Ercoupe 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner South Carolina |
Standard | 2008-08-20 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N8512A | Compton Leonard M JUNIOR ACE |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Experimental | 2008-08-08 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N99215 | Ercoupe 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2008-07-30 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2036A | Aeronca 7BCM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Illinois |
Standard | 2008-07-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N72971 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2008-07-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N76137 | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Casson Thomas Jacksonville, Illinois |
Standard | 2008-07-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N3605N | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2008-06-27 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N4552E | Aeronca 11CC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2008-06-20 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1666E | Aeronca 7AC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Maine |
Standard | 2008-05-30 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1803V | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner California |
Standard | 2008-05-20 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2KT | Aeronca 7BCM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Cambridge Valley Flying Club INC Shusann, New York |
Standard | 2008-05-15 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N4130E | Aeronca 11CC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Alaska |
Standard | 2008-05-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N47123 | Taylorcraft DCO-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Pittsburgh Aviation Enterprises INC Ellwood City, Pennsylvania |
Standard | 2008-05-09 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2832K | Luscombe 8E |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2008-04-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N81132 | Funk B85C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2008-04-09 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N94007 | Ercoupe 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner South Carolina |
Standard | 2008-04-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N98318 | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2008-03-31 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N93231 | Commonwealth 185 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Washington |
Standard | 2008-03-28 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1572B | Luscombe 8E |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Idaho |
Standard | 2008-02-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N73HB | Shaw JR. ACE MODEL "E" |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Ohio |
Experimental | 2008-02-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N5704N | Bullock-Curtiss 1912 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum Hood River, Oregon |
Experimental | 2008-02-04 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N4183H | Piper PA-15 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Connecticut |
Standard | 2008-01-31 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N93413 | Ercoupe 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Kansas |
Standard | 2008-01-17 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N77725 | Funk B85C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2008-01-16 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N91MA | Piper L-4A |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2008-01-15 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N94855 | Ercoupe E |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner New Hampshire |
Standard | 2008-01-08 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N72332 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Withheld at owner's request | Standard | 2008-01-04 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N75069 | Aeronca 7AC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner North Carolina |
Standard | 2008-01-03 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N81064 | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner North Carolina |
Standard | 2008-01-02 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N90164 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner New Hampshire |
Standard | 2007-12-11 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N42586 | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner California |
Standard | 2007-12-05 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N89293 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Port Townsend Aero Museum Port Townsend, Washington |
Standard | 2007-12-01 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N92988 | Commonwealth 185 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Massachusetts |
Standard | 2007-12-01 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N4067E | Aeronca 11BC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2007-11-30 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N77121 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2007-11-20 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N76496 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner California |
Standard | 2007-11-15 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N24154 | Funk B |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Oregon |
Standard | 2007-11-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N4014N | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner South Dakota |
Standard | 2007-11-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2809N | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2007-11-06 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N6063L | Lacore James M BABY ACE-D |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Oklahoma |
Experimental | 2007-11-06 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N72687 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Newton Dennis K Peru, Maine |
Standard | 2007-10-29 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1962E | Aeronca 7AC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Illinois |
Standard | 2007-10-24 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N76521 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Kansas |
Standard | 2007-09-26 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N94428 | Ercoupe G |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Michigan |
Standard | 2007-09-17 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N7004H | Piper J3C-85 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner West Virginia |
Standard | 2007-09-12 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N85875 | Aeronca 11BC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Colorado |
Standard | 2007-09-12 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N9726H | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Ohio |
Standard | 2007-09-11 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N76450 | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wyoming |
Standard | 2007-08-29 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N83971 | Aeronca 7BCM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Alaska |
Standard | 2007-08-29 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N89977 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Montana |
Standard | 2007-08-11 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N80273 | Culver V |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Oklahoma |
Standard | 2007-08-09 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1916V | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Ohio |
Standard | 2007-07-31 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2217H | Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Ohio |
Standard | 2007-07-31 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N76275 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Michigan |
Standard | 2007-07-26 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N9303 | Crosslin Rick GN-1 AIRCAMPER |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Arkansas |
Experimental | 2007-07-26 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N6318H | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Litz Joseph M Indianapolis, Indiana |
Standard | 2007-07-23 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N94845 | Forney E |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Nebraska |
Standard | 2007-07-18 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N66356 | Aeronca 7BCM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Indiana |
Standard | 2007-06-28 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N77234 | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Tennessee |
Standard | 2007-06-12 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N43021 | Taylorcraft BC12-D |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Alaska |
Standard | 2007-05-24 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N82355 | Aeronca 7DC |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Arkansas |
Standard | 2007-05-22 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N27JM | Cassutt IIIM |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Alldredge Aviation Auburn, Washington |
Experimental | 2007-05-19 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N67GL | Fly Baby 1-A |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Experimental | 2007-05-19 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N89663 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Rwings LLC Sedona, Arizona |
Standard | 2007-05-19 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2281X | Fessenden Alfred CORBIN BABY ACE |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Georgia |
Experimental | 2007-05-08 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N3402B | Bert Floyd S BERT BF5 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Pittsburgh Insititute of Aeronautics West Mifflin, Pennsylvania |
Experimental | 2007-05-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N89833 | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner California |
Standard | 2007-05-03 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N174T | Thomas MIDGET MUSTANG MMI |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Texas |
Experimental | 2007-05-02 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N3900H | Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-CD |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Arizona |
Standard | 2007-05-02 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N77389 | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Michigan |
Standard | 2007-04-26 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2434N | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Connecticut |
Standard | 2007-04-23 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1795N | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2007-04-19 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1686V | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Arizona |
Standard | 2007-04-17 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N1708V | Cessna 120 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Arizona |
Standard | 2007-04-17 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N32WD | Doherty PIETENPOL |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Missouri |
Experimental | 2007-04-17 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N72533 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Astro Aviation LLC Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
Standard | 2007-04-04 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N78580 | Piper PA-11 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Co-owned owner Kansas |
Standard | 2007-03-26 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N937RM | Luscombe 8F |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2007-03-26 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N6134H | Piper J-3 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Minnesota |
Restricted | 2007-03-22 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N511J | Fedelem Joseph J PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Florida |
Experimental | 2007-03-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N77211 | Cessna 140 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2007-03-07 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N2135M | Piper J3C-65 |
Fixed-wing, single engine | Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2007-03-01 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
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.