Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 9, 2026

Continental IO-520 series

9,484 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Continental IO-520 series engine, rated at about 285 horsepower. The Beechcraft V35 Bonanza is the model most often fitted with it (1,496 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1963 and 2017.

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 series. FAA spelling: IO 520 SERIES.

Fitted to model families

Model families, as a table

	aircraft
Beechcraft V35 Bonanza	1,496
Beechcraft A36 Bonanza	1,145
Cessna A185 Skywagon	1,143
Beechcraft F33 Bonanza	872
Cessna 210 Centurion	767
Cessna U206 Stationair	641
Beechcraft 58 Baron	466
Bellanca 17 Viking	456
Beechcraft S35 Bonanza	439
Cessna 310	303
Cessna A188	230
Beechcraft E-55	193

Beechcraft V35 Bonanza · Beechcraft A36 Bonanza · Cessna A185 Skywagon · Beechcraft F33 Bonanza · Cessna 210 Centurion · Cessna U206 Stationair · Beechcraft 58 Baron · Bellanca 17 Viking · Beechcraft S35 Bonanza · Cessna 310

Where they are owner's state

Texas1,047California791Alaska673Florida567Delaware326Arizona312Montana276Washington274Colorado265Georgia251

By state, as a table

	aircraft
Texas	1,047
California	791
Alaska	673
Florida	567
Delaware	326
Arizona	312
Montana	276
Washington	274
Colorado	265
Georgia	251

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles7,845 (83%)Piston twins1,371 (14%)Turboprops268 (3%)

By kind, as a table

	aircraft	share
Piston singles	7,845	83%
Piston twins	1,371	14%
Turboprops	268	3%

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table

	aircraft
1940	12
1950	37
1960	2,627
1970	4,534
1980	1,114
1990	189
2000	5
2010	2

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

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E5CE, held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC.). The FAA has issued 30 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 465 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 26 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 30 airworthiness directives · newest first

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

2022-03-292022-04-04 · Reciprocating Engine Oil System · engine

All orders naming the Continental IO-520 series

Failure reports 465 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

Failure reports by year, as a table

	reports
95	15
96	2
97	1
98	1
99	5
00	37
01	48
02	58
03	46
04	35
05	62
06	17
07	18
08	17
09	10
10	20
11	15
12	13
13	9
14	10
15	12
16	4
17	2
18	1
19	2
20	2
22	1
24	2

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Cylinder26Cylinder Head25Relay20Hub14Circuit Breaker13Antenna12Line12Bolt10Bracket9Control Cable9

Parts most reported, as a table

	reports
Cylinder	26
Cylinder Head	25
Relay	20
Hub	14
Circuit Breaker	13
Antenna	12
Line	12
Bolt	10
Bracket	9
Control Cable	9

Latest reports

2024-04-06Engine: power loss

2022-01-21None: none

2020-07-10Rod: broken

2020-01-15Turnbuckle: corroded

Certificates and bulletins

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

Safety bulletins 11 · 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

Beechcraft V35 Bonanza 1,496 with this engine series
Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 1,145 with this engine series
Cessna A185 Skywagon 1,143 with this engine series
Beechcraft F33 Bonanza 872 with this engine series
Cessna 210 Centurion 767 with this engine series
Cessna U206 Stationair 641 with this engine series
Beechcraft 58 Baron 466 with this engine series
Bellanca 17 Viking 456 with this engine series

Where they are

Texas 1,047 of these aircraft
California 791 of these aircraft
Alaska 673 of these aircraft
Florida 567 of these aircraft
Delaware 326 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

Bas Part Sales LLC 27 of these aircraft
International Air Services INC Trustee 12 of these aircraft
Gta Air INC 12 of these aircraft
Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee 11 of these aircraft
United States Department Of Interior 10 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Continental IO-520 series 30 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Continental IO-520 series 465 reports since 1995

Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/engine/continental-io-520-series.json.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 9,484

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N4781Q	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Restricted	1999-03-24	Valid
N5139Q	Cessna 210L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1999-03-24	Valid
N3813Y	Cessna 210D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sheppard David A Jackson, California	Standard	1999-03-23	Valid
N2905T	Aero Commander 200D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Zephyr Enterprises INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1999-03-22	Valid
N9489Z	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Moody Bible Institute of Chicago Spokane, Washington	Standard	1999-03-22	Valid
N6039N	Cessna 210M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Twin City Cloud 7 INC Eden Prairie, Minnesota	Standard	1999-03-12	Valid
N8694Q	Beech S35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bonkowski & Associates INC Emeryville, California	Standard	1999-03-12	Valid
N4147B	Bellanca 17-31ATC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	1999-03-10	Valid
N5830F	Cessna 210G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	1999-03-10	Valid
N44DP	Cessna T-310P	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	D L S Aviation INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1999-03-05	Valid
N8116G	Cessna 210K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jrb12 INC Shorewood, Illinois	Standard	1999-02-20	Valid
N79PK	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	1999-02-02	Valid
N5605S	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Devereaux Saw Mill INC Pewamo, Michigan	Standard	1999-01-28	Valid
N822T	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1999-01-28	Valid
N777HM	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	1999-01-20	Valid
N4730E	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Alaska Kodiak, Alaska	Standard	1999-01-13	Valid
N2457U	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1999-01-07	Valid
N62379	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sullivans Island Aerospace LLC Sullivans Island, South Carolina	Standard	1999-01-05	Valid
N80722	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Maryland	Standard	1998-12-11	Valid
N5719V	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	1998-12-10	Valid
N6455N	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hangar 31 INC La Jolla, California	Standard	1998-12-09	Valid
N4605Q	Cessna 210L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	1998-11-21	Valid
N9499Q	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	E J K LLC Brawley, California	Standard	1998-11-16	Valid
N86567	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	1998-11-06	Valid
N9106M	Cessna 210M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	1998-11-03	Valid
N8255E	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	South Road Partners INC Kentfield, California	Standard	1998-10-30	Valid
N59CT	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tornado Alley Turbo INC Ada, Oklahoma	Standard	1998-10-21	Valid
N2236T	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	1998-10-19	Valid
N185FK	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Talkeetna Air Taxi INC Talkeetna, Alaska	Standard	1998-10-17	Valid
N619CH	Cessna U206D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Orion Works Limited Denali Park, Alaska	Standard	1998-10-17	Valid
N8845Q	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	1998-10-15	Valid
N6654Y	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	1998-10-14	Valid
N3187W	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	G S Aviation INC Stilwell, Kansas	Standard	1998-10-13	Valid
N7598Z	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol INC Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	1998-09-29	Valid
N2149L	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rocky Hill Airshows INC San Jose, California	Standard	1998-09-22	Valid
N5209C	Cessna 210N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	1998-09-22	Valid
N368JH	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ursine L Attitudes LTD Richland, Washington	Standard	1998-09-21	Valid
N9081Q	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	1998-09-17	Valid
N93323	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	1998-09-16	Valid
N1274R	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Polyspray Corporation Asheboro, North Carolina	Standard	1998-08-31	Valid
N6233G	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Cardinals Aircraft Group INC Stow, Massachusetts	Standard	1998-08-28	Valid
N216M	Meyers Industries Inc 200D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-08-21	Valid
N930G	Cessna 210M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1998-08-18	Valid
N18763	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-08-15	Valid
N206Q	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1998-08-13	Valid
N6607V	Bellanca 17-30	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	1998-08-07	Valid
N4178S	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Glad Aviation LLC Gilford, New Hampshire	Standard	1998-08-06	Valid
N4XP	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	1998-07-24	Valid
N7235H	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Clover Crest II INC Key Largo, Florida	Standard	1998-07-16	Valid
N1814F	Cessna 210E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alpine Cable and Construction INC Grand Junction, Colorado	Standard	1998-07-15	Valid
N4629F	Cessna P206A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	1998-07-07	Valid
N819MC	Beech D55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Hagar Corporation Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Standard	1998-06-29	Valid
N185RB	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-06-17	Valid
N1321G	Cessna 310R	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Polar Star Company Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1998-06-09	Valid
N8638Z	Cessna P206C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	1998-06-05	Valid
N175L	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kern Charter Service INC Bakersfield, California	Standard	1998-06-02	Valid
N7222N	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	N B Tweet & Sons Nome, Alaska	Standard	1998-05-29	Valid
N185LP	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	1998-05-08	Valid
N7127N	Beech D55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	1998-05-08	Valid
N3144H	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	T and C CORP Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1998-05-06	Valid
N3002W	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rio Concho Aviation INC Weatherford, Texas	Standard	1998-05-05	Valid
N39849	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lowe Kenneth e JR Wooster, Ohio	Standard	1998-05-01	Valid
N115AW	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1998-04-30	Valid
N2319F	Cessna 210E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1998-04-29	Valid
N9974M	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	1998-04-29	Valid
N8140N	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	1998-04-22	Valid
N9613Z	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alosanel Charter INC Concord, New Hampshire	Standard	1998-04-22	Valid
N4418A	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1998-04-16	Valid
N5813S	Beech S35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	1998-04-15	Valid
N5060R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Restricted	1998-04-03	Valid
N790JW	Beech A45	Fixed-wing, single engine	Workman Properties LLC Muskegon, Michigan	Standard	1998-04-03	Valid
N7194N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1998-04-02	Valid
N7483Q	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	1998-04-01	Valid
N666RR	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-03-31	Valid
N9873F	Cessna 402	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Airswiss INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1998-03-31	Valid
N3763Q	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-03-30	Valid
N231CZ	Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1998-03-28	Valid
N239M	Meyers Industries Inc 200D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-03-23	Valid
N301DB	Cessna 310R	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Don Davis Aviation INC Henderson, Kentucky	Standard	1998-03-20	Valid
N4896Q	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Becker Flying Service INC Hartington, Nebraska	Restricted	1998-03-18	Valid
N23723	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1998-03-17	Valid
N182HL	Cessna 182P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Belles Flyers INC Wilmington, Ohio	Standard	1998-03-04	Valid
N9192M	Cessna U206E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	1998-03-04	Valid
N70071	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	1998-03-03	Valid
N995GP	Cessna 310R	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Quest Aviation INC Lake City, Florida	Standard	1998-02-26	Valid
N34MM	Cessna 401	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Schubee Air INC Watkins, Colorado	Standard	1998-02-25	Valid
N4750F	Cessna P206B	Fixed-wing, single engine	South Dakota Skydivers INC Sioux Falls, South Dakota	Standard	1998-02-24	Valid
N3192W	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	J M Beech INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1998-02-23	Valid
N11EC	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Basler Turbo Conversions LLC Oshkosh, Wisconsin	Standard	1998-02-20	Valid
N1675M	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1998-02-10	Valid
N4077S	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Standard	1998-02-09	Valid
N7461N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Universal Coatings INC Fresno, California	Standard	1998-02-06	Valid
N8598M	Beech P35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-02-05	Valid
N1893L	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1998-01-27	Valid
N33PC	Beech 95-C55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	1998-01-27	Valid
N28061	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jug Aviation INC Detroit, Michigan	Standard	1998-01-26	Valid
N5525U	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sheriffs Department Oakland, California	Standard	1998-01-21	Valid
N28067	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	1998-01-20	Valid
N8220F	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	1998-01-20	Valid
N111EZ	Cessna 185C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Idaho	Standard	1997-12-16	Valid

Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 9, 2026. Horsepower and thrust are the FAA's figures for the series, not for a particular aircraft.

	reports
95	15
96	2
97	1
98	1
99	5
00	37
01	48
02	58
03	46
04	35
05	62
06	17
07	18
08	17
09	10
10	20
11	15
12	13
13	9
14	10
15	12
16	4
17	2
18	1
19	2
20	2
22	1
24	2

	reports
95	15
96	2
97	1
98	1
99	5
00	37
01	48
02	58
03	46
04	35
05	62
06	17
07	18
08	17
09	10
10	20
11	15
12	13
13	9
14	10
15	12
16	4
17	2
18	1
19	2
20	2
22	1
24	2

	reports
95	15
96	2
97	1
98	1
99	5
00	37
01	48
02	58
03	46
04	35
05	62
06	17
07	18
08	17
09	10
10	20
11	15
12	13
13	9
14	10
15	12
16	4
17	2
18	1
19	2
20	2
22	1
24	2