Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 5, 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. (Continental)). 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. (Continental) · revised April 17, 2020

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
N33010	Piper J3C-85	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2025-03-05	Valid
N70605	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2025-03-05	Valid
N3067N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2025-03-03	Valid
N76983	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Indiana	Standard	2025-03-01	Valid
N3001N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2025-02-28	Valid
N36917	Aeronca 65-CA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2025-02-28	Valid
N32708	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2025-02-27	Valid
N92911	Rearwin 185	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pioneer Flight Museum Kingsbury, Texas	Standard	2025-02-27	Valid
N2609N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2025-02-26	Valid
N6705C	Aeronca 7BCM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2025-02-26	Valid
N93853	Engineering & Research 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2025-02-26	Valid
N1827V	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2025-02-25	Valid
N7039A	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2025-02-25	Valid
N89463	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Honore Enterprise LLC Allegan, Michigan	Standard	2025-02-25	Valid
N76977	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2025-02-24	Valid
N72153	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2025-02-18	Valid
N77032	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2025-02-15	Valid
N2520E	Aeronca 7AC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2025-02-14	Valid
N89903	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2025-02-14	Valid
N77522	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2025-02-12	Valid
N1803B	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2025-02-06	Valid
N1630V	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Baeseman Alex J Moab, Utah	Standard	2025-02-05	Valid
N16WT	Taylor-William JUNIOR ACE E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Experimental	2025-02-05	Valid
N31028	Piper J3L-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	R H K of Kansas INC Overland Park, Kansas	Standard	2025-02-05	Valid
N3574V	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2025-02-05	Valid
N1802B	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2025-02-04	Valid
N89426	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2025-02-04	Valid
N98353	Piper J3C-85	Fixed-wing, single engine	Yellow Therapy LLC Kalispell, Montana	Standard	2025-02-04	Valid
N511BL	Piper L-4J	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2025-02-03	Valid
N89631	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2025-02-03	Valid
N445GD	Gary B Deem DEEM MINI PLANE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Experimental	2025-02-01	Valid
N72801	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2025-01-31	Valid
N92940	Commonwealth REARWIN 185	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2025-01-30	Valid
N2608N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2025-01-29	Valid
N76679	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2025-01-29	Valid
N2038H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2025-01-28	Valid
N2723N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2025-01-28	Valid
N72531	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	None on file	2025-01-26	Valid
N72950	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	El Coyote Ranch LLC Alzada, Montana	Standard	2025-01-26	Valid
N2548K	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2025-01-21	Valid
N3034N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2025-01-21	Valid
N77508	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bma Group LLC Carl Junction, Missouri	Standard	2025-01-20	Valid
N33465	Piper J3F-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2025-01-15	Valid
N72379	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2025-01-14	Valid
N1860V	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Nuckles Charles A JR Suffolk, Virginia	Standard	2025-01-13	Valid
N72622	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2025-01-13	Valid
N2190N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2025-01-08	Valid
N3383H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2025-01-08	Valid
N94426	Ercoupe G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2025-01-07	Valid
N1773V	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2025-01-06	Valid
N1118B	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2025-01-03	Valid
N820CC	Morris CASSUTT III M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Experimental	2025-01-03	Valid
N1689K	Luscombe 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2025-01-02	Valid
N4720M	Piper PA-11	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2024-12-30	Valid
N611P	Ercoupe G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2024-12-23	Valid
N146V	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2024-12-21	Valid
N72530	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2024-12-20	Valid
N8319H	Emigh TROJAN A-2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2024-12-20	Valid
N1997N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2024-12-18	Valid
N1630N	Mcclish FUNK B85C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2024-12-16	Valid
N2597H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2024-12-16	Valid
N77839	Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cbs Flight LLC Garland, Texas	Standard	2024-12-16	Valid
N2365H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2024-12-13	Valid
N89066	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2024-12-12	Valid
N94842	Forney E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2024-12-12	Valid
N1728K	Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2024-12-11	Valid
N2748E	Aeronca 7AC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2024-12-11	Valid
N2867N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pdb Aviation LLC Williamson, Georgia	Standard	2024-12-11	Valid
N3165H	Ercoupe 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2024-12-10	Valid
N77474	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2024-12-10	Valid
N73023	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	J & T Aviation Llf INC Sparks, Nevada	Standard	2024-12-05	Valid
N1827N	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2024-12-02	Valid
N42443	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2024-11-29	Valid
N66K	Engineering & Research 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2024-11-29	Valid
N76421	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jayviation INC Lake City, Florida	Standard	2024-11-26	Valid
N1962N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Michigan	Standard	2024-11-25	Valid
N72944	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dirigo Aerospace Solutions LLC Sumner, Maine	Standard	2024-11-25	Valid
N93826	Engineering & Research 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2024-11-25	Valid
N4513E	Aeronca 7DC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2024-11-22	Valid
N76186	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2024-11-20	Valid
N94867	Ercoupe E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2024-11-19	Valid
N4953H	Piper PA-11	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2024-11-18	Valid
N5094Q	Kuebler Lester V WAG A BOND	Fixed-wing, single engine	Schuur Ryan C Chandler, Minnesota	Experimental	2024-11-18	Valid
N76123	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Creative Strategies INC Lucasville, Ohio	Standard	2024-11-18	Valid
N77741	Mcclish FUNK B85C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2024-11-18	Valid
N94HR	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2024-11-18	Valid
N72572	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2024-11-15	Valid
N77420	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2024-11-15	Valid
N4027E	Aeronca 11BC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2024-11-12	Valid
N6849H	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wyoming	Standard	2024-11-09	Valid
N2138H	Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2024-11-08	Valid
N4179N	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2024-11-08	Valid
N35042	Piper J5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2024-11-07	Valid
N2068H	Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2024-11-06	Valid
N27ED	Dunn DAVIS DA-2A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Spruce Creek Flyboys LLC Port Orange, Florida	Experimental	2024-11-05	Valid
N1927V	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2024-11-04	Valid
N89884	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Valiair Lc Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2024-11-04	Valid
N2936H	Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2024-10-31	Valid
N76790	Cessna 120	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2024-10-31	Valid
N90110	Cessna 140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2024-10-30	Valid

Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 5, 2026. Horsepower and thrust are the FAA's figures for the series, not for a particular aircraft.