Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 8, 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
N6492U	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Pennsylvania	Standard	1994-09-22	Valid
N7379R	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Sunny Skies INC Columbus, Georgia	Standard	1994-09-01	Valid
N44DA	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Duncan Aviation INC Lincoln, Nebraska	Standard	1994-08-26	Valid
N888BL	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	1994-08-26	Valid
N60871	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	1994-08-24	Valid
N244JH	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Decca Aviation Operations INC Lincoln, Nebraska	Standard	1994-08-05	Valid
N2514T	Navion NAVION H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1994-08-05	Valid
N756FN	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	1994-08-04	Valid
N17980	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Illinois	Standard	1994-08-02	Valid
N6686X	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1994-07-28	Valid
N72106	Cessna U206D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1994-07-25	Valid
N2063C	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Khumbu Flying Club Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1994-07-23	Valid
N6570V	Bellanca 17-30	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	1994-07-20	Valid
N19MJ	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol INC Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	1994-07-14	Valid
N7646N	Beech 36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1994-07-11	Valid
N4700F	Cessna P206A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Associated Equip Representatives INC Yakima, Washington	Standard	1994-06-30	Valid
N1830W	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1994-06-27	Valid
N3182W	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Outstate Air Taxi INC Windom, Minnesota	Standard	1994-06-24	Valid
N4737F	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1994-06-20	Valid
N58TP	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Diamond Aircraft Corporation Miami, Florida	Standard	1994-05-20	Valid
N5180U	Cessna 206	Fixed-wing, single engine	Association of Baptists for World Evangelism INC Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	Standard	1994-04-06	Valid
N647TM	Beech B-55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	United States Air Force Owner Hanscom Afb, Massachusetts	Standard	1994-03-21	Valid
N60945	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1994-03-09	Valid
N6171F	Cessna 210J	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dohrenwend Mark G Owensboro, Kentucky	Standard	1994-03-07	Valid
N4833C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1994-02-22	Valid
N950MC	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	L C Cattle INC Garden City, Kansas	Standard	1994-02-22	Valid
N18BE	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	1994-02-14	Valid
N6649L	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1994-02-09	Valid
N111GS	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	1994-02-07	Valid
N138G	Beech S35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	1994-02-07	Valid
N800NL	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Newhalen Lodge INC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	1994-02-02	Valid
N1802R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Montaska Management INC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	1994-02-01	Valid
N733BY	Beech 95-B55 (T42A)	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	United States Air Force Owner Colorado Springs, Colorado	Standard	1994-01-28	Valid
N82964	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, Washington	Standard	1994-01-21	Valid
N3114V	Beech 35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	1994-01-14	Valid
N82966	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, Washington	Standard	1994-01-10	Valid
N1592F	Cessna 185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1994-01-06	Valid
N3163W	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skye Peak CORP Greenfield, Massachusetts	Standard	1993-12-02	Valid
N741LF	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Valley Aviation INC Lake Lillian, Minnesota	Standard	1993-11-23	Valid
N5504M	Aero Commander 200D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	1993-11-16	Valid
N4708Q	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1993-11-12	Valid
N4871F	Cessna U206A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	1993-11-10	Valid
N1979T	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1993-11-05	Valid
N319RF	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	1993-11-04	Valid
N206YS	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Hampshire	Standard	1993-10-22	Valid
N1822R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1993-10-15	Valid
N500PF	Beech S35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1993-09-11	Valid
N520T	Beech 95-C55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1993-08-27	Valid
N56JL	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sea Air INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	1993-08-12	Valid
N2681X	Cessna P206A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1993-08-03	Valid
N56581	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Multiple	1993-08-03	Valid
N24159	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	1993-07-23	Valid
N9472M	Cessna T210K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	1993-07-20	Valid
N5285U	Cessna U206	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	1993-07-16	Valid
N70713	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska	Multiple	1993-07-15	Valid
N7073X	Beech T42	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	United States Air Force - Owner Peterson Afb, Colorado	Standard	1993-07-14	Valid
N7672N	Beech 36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kruco INC Spring Valley, Minnesota	Standard	1993-07-02	Valid
N185MJ	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	1993-06-14	Valid
N9412N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Beechinor Cattle Feeding CO INC Bakersfield, California	Standard	1993-05-26	Valid
N731GP	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Restricted	1993-05-19	Valid
N11811	Bellanca 17-30	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	1993-05-10	Valid
N29CP	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1993-05-06	Valid
N70822	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Seaplane INC Belle Chasse, Louisiana	Standard	1993-05-06	Valid
N2972T	Aero Commander 200D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	1993-05-03	Valid
N82MS	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Mississippi	Standard	1993-05-03	Valid
N18VU	Cessna 310R	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Vincennes University Vincennes, Indiana	Standard	1993-04-28	Valid
N17816	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Legal Flying Service INC Pembroke Pines, Florida	Standard	1993-04-27	Valid
N82JG	Beech D55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Total Aircraft Management INC Acworth, Georgia	Standard	1993-04-23	Valid
N7146N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	1993-04-22	Valid
N7274R	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	1993-04-20	Valid
N761UP	Cessna 210M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Chilhowee Trailer Sales INC Alcoa, Tennessee	Standard	1993-04-15	Valid
N740	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Standard	1993-04-07	Valid
N22069	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	1993-03-12	Valid
N378SP	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol INC Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	1993-03-09	Valid
N8009R	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	1993-03-08	Valid
N562EL	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Carolina	Standard	1993-02-10	Valid
N924V	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	1993-02-09	Valid
N7083N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Carolina	Standard	1993-02-08	Valid
N7995K	Beech S35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Tennessee	Standard	1993-02-07	Valid
N17829	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	1993-01-25	Valid
N777BA	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	1992-12-21	Valid
N1978U	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	1992-12-16	Valid
N9BN	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Brookfield Bonanza CORP Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin	Standard	1992-12-01	Valid
N219RP	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1992-10-09	Valid
N999CW	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Crinklaw Farm Services INC Kingsburg, California	Standard	1992-10-09	Valid
N992P	Cessna 310R	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1992-10-05	Valid
N8488N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	1992-07-17	Valid
N468A	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	1992-07-16	Valid
N4937R	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Restricted	1992-07-16	Valid
N99WP	Beech 58	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Marco Investments Ripley, Mississippi	Standard	1992-07-15	Valid
N2226S	Cessna 210L	Fixed-wing, single engine	210 Flier INC Orlando, Florida	Restricted	1992-07-07	Valid
N2994T	Aero Commander 200D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Utah	Standard	1992-07-02	Valid
N27LH	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	1992-06-26	Valid
N8173R	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	1992-06-25	Valid
N61562	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airhound INC Indian Lake, New York	Standard	1992-06-22	Valid
N4471R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	1992-06-13	Valid
N3YP	Beech 35-C33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	1992-06-04	Valid
N756LC	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Taiga Mining Company INC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	1992-05-27	Valid
N136PJ	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pj Helicopters Red Bluff, California	Standard	1992-05-26	Valid
N6927R	Cessna T210H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	1992-05-19	Valid

Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 8, 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