Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 5, 2026

Continental IO-520-D

95 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Continental IO-520-D engine, rated at about 300 horsepower. The Cessna A185 Skywagon is the model most often fitted with it (72 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1953 and 2013.

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 IO-520-D. FAA spelling: IO-520-D.

Fitted to model families

Cessna A185 Skywagon72Cessna 185 Skywagon7Cessna A1886Cessna 182 Skylane4Cessna 180 Skywagon2Cessna 421 Golden Eagle1Cessna U206 Stationair1Gerry Marcil CYCLONE 1801Grimes Brian T SR25001

Cessna A185 Skywagon · Cessna 185 Skywagon · Cessna A188 · Cessna 182 Skylane · Cessna 180 Skywagon · Cessna 421 Golden Eagle · Cessna U206 Stationair · Gerry Marcil CYCLONE 180 · Grimes Brian T SR2500

Where they are owner's state

Alaska24Washington8Texas6Montana6Colorado6Idaho4Florida4Maine3Oregon2Nevada2

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles93 (98%)Turboprops1 (1%)Piston twins1 (1%)

When the aircraft were built by decade

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Continental IO-520-D the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E5CE, held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC.). The FAA has issued 35 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 283 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 23 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 35 airworthiness directives · newest first

2023-10-262023-17-04 · Reciprocating Engine Oil System · engine

2023-07-172023-09-09 · Exhaust Turbine System (Recip) · engine

2023-03-152023-05-16 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · engine

2023-02-232023-04-08 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · engine

2023-02-172023-02-12 · Engine Air Intake System · engine

2022-08-152022-16-03 · Engine (RECIPROCATING) · engine

All orders naming the Continental IO-520-D

Failure reports 283 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Cylinder27Bracket18Lifter15Hub10Control Cable9Crankshaft7Bulkhead6Cylinder Head6Blade5Connecting Rod5

Latest reports

2024-10-03Bracket: broken

2016-12-08Lifter: damaged

Certificates and bulletins

E5CEType certificate held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC. · 18 models listed · revised March 8, 2022

Safety bulletins 10 · advice, not orders

2020-04-06NE-20-05 · POWERPLANT - Engine Camshaft Gear Tooth Fracture

2018-06-20NE-18-16 · POWERPLANT Alternator Drive Coupling

2017-05-10NE-17-11 · POWERPLANT Engine damage as a result of kickback

2016-03-08NE-16-13 · Powerplant - Prohibited use of sealant

2013-02-08NE-13-15 · Engine Controls: Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) Throttle and Mixture Control Levers

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 A185 Skywagon 72 with this engine series
Cessna 185 Skywagon 7 with this engine series
Cessna A188 6 with this engine series
Cessna 182 Skylane 4 with this engine series
Cessna 180 Skywagon 2 with this engine series
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle 1 with this engine series
Cessna U206 Stationair 1 with this engine series

Where they are

Alaska 24 of these aircraft
Washington 8 of these aircraft
Texas 6 of these aircraft
Montana 6 of these aircraft
Colorado 6 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

United States Department Of Interior 1 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Continental IO-520-D 35 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Continental IO-520-D 283 reports since 1995

Analytics

These connections as data: /graph/engine/continental-io-520-d.json · about the eFlight graph.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 95

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N3367R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ullr Aviation LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2026-09-16	Valid
N185EJ	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2026-07-17	Valid
N345BB	Cessna 185	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2026-03-31	Valid
N7574N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Float Plane Services LLC Saint Petersburg, Florida	Standard	2026-03-09	Valid
N4185P	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Woody LLC Helena, Montana	Standard	2025-10-06	Valid
N85XY	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2025-07-22	Valid
N4902R	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Becker Flying Service INC Hartington, Nebraska	Restricted	2025-06-23	Valid
N8812	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Zzz Aviation LLC Newberg, Oregon	Standard	2025-03-03	Valid
N85LZ	Cessna Aircraft Co A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2025-02-28	Valid
N4841C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2025-01-08	Valid
N863GW	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2024-12-19	Valid
N70022	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2024-07-27	Valid
N98PB	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ferry Services CORP Cresson, Texas	Standard	2024-06-13	Valid
N406GG	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cedar Creek CORP Red Bluff, California	Standard	2024-05-11	Valid
N9606G	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jack Leasing Services INC Duchesne, Utah	Experimental	2024-04-25	Valid
N306TC	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	N306Tc LLC Greenwich, Connecticut	Standard	2024-04-17	Valid
N185WK	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Intrepid Air LLC Palmer, Alaska	Standard	2024-01-29	Valid
N7701F	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	None on file	2024-01-15	Valid
N185YV	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cul-Aircorp INC Wellington, Florida	Standard	2024-01-10	Valid
N720FH	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Paradigm Aviation LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2023-12-07	Valid
N409PK	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky Cowboy Supply CO LLC Cape Elizabeth, Maine	Standard	2023-11-28	Valid
N72947	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2023-10-28	Valid
N1613M	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2023-10-09	Valid
N5011X	Cessna 185	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pro Air LLC Alexandria, Louisiana	Standard	2023-09-28	Valid
N70026	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Restricted	2023-09-23	Valid
N77TA	Cessna Aircraft Co A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2023-06-16	Valid
N926HM	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Western Enterprise LLC Pueblo, Colorado	Standard	2023-05-29	Valid
N185KQ	Cessna Aircraft Co A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Leonard Investments Management LLC Palm Beach, Florida	Standard	2023-05-02	Valid
N36ZN	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2023-03-10	Valid
N73JJ	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jj Ventures LLC Billings, Montana	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N418PC	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2022-11-14	Valid
N185PC	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2022-11-02	Valid
N3217U	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Welkin Aero INC Garden Plain, Kansas	Standard	2022-08-02	Valid
N617MB	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2022-02-11	Valid
N85DT	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2021-08-21	Valid
N185GL	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2021-08-19	Valid
N145JK	Cessna 180H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Arcus Aero LLC Bridgeport, Texas	Standard	2021-07-16	Valid
N93777	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Arbach Enterprises INC Watertown, South Dakota	Standard	2021-06-26	Valid
N3473W	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2021-05-06	Valid
N185NY	Cessna Aircraft Co A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2021-03-22	Valid
N520KW	Cessna 185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Maine	Standard	2020-09-10	Valid
N850WB	Cessna 185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Multiple	2020-09-01	Valid
N406AH	Cessna 185A	Fixed-wing, single engine	International Air Services INC Trustee Carson City, Nevada	Standard	2020-07-08	Valid
N185Y	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-04-09	Valid
N90SN	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2020-03-04	Valid
N185XV	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	N185Xv LLC Austin, Texas	Standard	2020-03-02	Valid
N4924E	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Northstar e & C LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2019-11-05	Valid
N73EK	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2019-09-17	Valid
N761A	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Franz Construction INC Sidney, Montana	Standard	2019-08-22	Valid
N185KB	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sutton Aircraft Salvage LLC Palmer, Alaska	Standard	2019-07-08	Valid
N25SC	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2019-06-28	Valid
N61749	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2019-06-03	Valid
N1748R	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Northstar Holdings LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2019-03-26	Valid
N53315	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Denton Aerial Spraying Las Animas, Colorado	Restricted	2019-03-25	Valid
N377WM	Cessna 182N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Qualitair LLC Trustee Michelstadt,	Standard	2019-01-30	Valid
N9083H	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Restricted	2018-10-23	Valid
N1756R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Montana Rose 185 LLC Cornwall, Vermont	Standard	2018-09-13	Valid
N185VK	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Point Two Mmo Aviation Lake Stevens, Washington	Standard	2018-08-02	Valid
N414ED	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2018-05-24	Valid
N7703T	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2018-05-04	Valid
N581CT	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2018-05-02	Valid
N185RE	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2018-01-16	Valid
N21709	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	N 2 Alaska LLC Talkeetna, Alaska	Restricted	2017-08-31	Valid
N185MR	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airport Farms Aviation Tarkio, Missouri	Standard	2017-06-22	Valid
N185XL	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2017-06-13	Valid
N185GT	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Banker Jeffrey M Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2017-06-02	Valid
N740AG	Cessna 421A	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Stefenelli Aviation N-Tr INC Trustee Attersee,	Standard	2016-11-08	Valid
N4675C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2016-09-22	Valid
N185XS	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2015-04-23	Valid
N42609	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jcr AG LLC Frederick, Oklahoma	Restricted	2015-02-04	Valid
N185R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Das Air INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2014-12-19	Valid
N8967G	Cessna 182N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2014-03-28	Valid
N530WE	Gerry Marcil CYCLONE 180	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Experimental	2014-02-28	Valid
N61963	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2013-10-28	Valid
N333DG	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2013-01-24	Valid
N185SV	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	2012-12-14	Valid
N8360Q	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	U S Department of the Interior Boise, Idaho	Restricted	2012-03-26	Valid
N1028F	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2011-09-13	Valid
N36WY	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flexible Flyer LLC Cody, Wyoming	Standard	2011-05-12	Valid
N185DP	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Priebe Orthodontics PC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2009-08-07	Valid
N4688C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aeropod INC Aurora, Colorado	Standard	2009-03-27	Valid
N520D	Grimes Brian T SR2500	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Experimental	2008-11-04	Valid
N7680Y	Cessna 185	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2008-02-11	Valid
N185PF	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Quest Leasing LLC Eagle River, Alaska	Multiple	2007-05-30	Valid
N186AZ	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Iz Air LLC Miami, Florida	Standard	2007-05-29	Valid
N1656C	Cessna 180	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2006-08-16	Valid
N54007	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2006-06-13	Valid
N23LH	Cessna 185	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2004-11-16	Valid
N185CC	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Colorado Denver, Colorado	Restricted	2003-06-23	Valid
N185BN	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skywag INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2001-12-07	Valid
N71685	Cessna 182M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Experimental	2001-01-04	Valid
N749	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Restricted	1984-08-06	Valid
N4211C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources Denver, Colorado	Multiple	1984-05-17	Valid
N185TX	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard		Sale reported
N8217M	Cessna 182P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		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.