The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
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.

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table
aircraft
194012
195037
19602,627
19704,534
19801,114
1990189
20005
20102

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

016314662950005101520224
Failure reports by year, as a table
reports
9515
962
971
981
995
0037
0148
0258
0346
0435
0562
0617
0718
0817
0910
1020
1115
1213
139
1410
1512
164
172
181
192
202
221
242

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Cylinder26Cylinder Head25Relay20Hub14Circuit Breaker13Antenna12Line12Bolt10Bracket9Control Cable9
Parts most reported, as a table
reports
Cylinder26
Cylinder Head25
Relay20
Hub14
Circuit Breaker13
Antenna12
Line12
Bolt10
Bracket9
Control Cable9

Latest reports

2024-04-06Engine: power loss
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
Where they are
Biggest operators
Airworthiness

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 modelGroupOwner and baseCertificateRegisteredStatus
N5491U Beech
V35
Fixed-wing, single engine Aarestad Potato CO LTD
Halstad, Minnesota
Standard 1992-05-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N800WB Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 1992-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8379Q Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wyoming
Standard 1992-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N281T Beech
V35
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard 1992-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N763 Cessna
U206G
Fixed-wing, single engine United States Department of Interior
Boise, Idaho
Restricted 1992-04-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8594Q Cessna
U206F
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Alaska
Standard 1992-04-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8002Z Cessna
U206
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Montana
Standard 1992-03-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N447JL Beech
95-C55
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1992-03-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2GA Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 1992-03-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2551X Cessna
P206
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 1992-03-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7320H Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Alaska Trophy Safaris INC
Chugiak, Alaska
Restricted 1992-03-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8700Z Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 1992-02-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8761Z Cessna
P206D
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 1992-01-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5987G Cessna
A188B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Montana
Restricted 1992-01-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N36HZ Beech
36
Fixed-wing, single engine Mid America Sprayers INC
Ulysses, Kansas
Standard 1992-01-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N111MS Beech
V35
Fixed-wing, single engine Mid America Sprayers INC
Johnson, Kansas
Standard 1992-01-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1023W Beech
F33A
Fixed-wing, single engine Goldeagle Flyers INC
San Jose, California
Standard 1992-01-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6218V Beech
V35A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1992-01-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N324D Beech
V35
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Colorado
Standard 1991-12-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2541X Cessna
P206
Fixed-wing, single engine Eco Flite Service INC
Lake Elsinore, California
Standard 1991-12-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3896G Cessna
U206B
Fixed-wing, single engine Eco Flite Service INC
Lake Elsinore, California
Standard 1991-12-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6656G Cessna
A188B
Fixed-wing, single engine Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Restricted 1991-11-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7002N Beech
V35A
Fixed-wing, single engine Bfr Racing INC
Monticello, Arkansas
Standard 1991-11-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N780Y Beech
58
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 1991-11-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6114V Beech
S35
Fixed-wing, single engine Marc INC
Bolton, Mississippi
Standard 1991-11-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N210K Cessna
210K
Fixed-wing, single engine Hitchcock Mark James
Scottsdale, Arizona
Standard 1991-10-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4154S Beech
V35B
Fixed-wing, single engine Wilanco INC
Berkeley, California
Standard 1991-10-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6091S Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Air Transport INC
Liberal, Kansas
Standard 1991-09-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N98911 Cessna
310R
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Roettger Electric CO INC
Evansville, Indiana
Standard 1991-08-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N185RX Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 1991-08-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4991R Cessna
A188B
Fixed-wing, single engine East Side Mosquito Abatement District
Modesto, California
Restricted 1991-08-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N60597 Cessna
U206F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard 1991-08-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N185WS Cessna
A185E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 1991-07-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8982M Beech
S35
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 1991-07-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3874Y Beech
58
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
West Virginia
Standard 1991-07-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N997AK Cessna
207
Fixed-wing, single engine Lake Clark Air INC
Port Alsworth, Alaska
Standard 1991-07-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4197S Beech
V35B
Fixed-wing, single engine Independence Aviation INC
Scottsdale, Arizona
Standard 1991-06-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4710Q Cessna
A185E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 1991-06-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N732EP Cessna
210L
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Florida
Standard 1991-06-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1861F Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Kent Group INC
Hazelhurst, Wisconsin
Standard 1991-06-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5858J Beech
S35
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 1991-06-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N914BS Beech
F33A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nevada
Standard 1991-05-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9468Q Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Sunrise Aviation INC
Wrangell, Alaska
Standard 1991-05-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3747Q Beech
95-C55
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 1991-05-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N77GV Beech
S35
Fixed-wing, single engine Bon Vol LTD
Joliet, Illinois
Standard 1991-05-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8206R Bellanca
17-30A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 1991-05-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N457DF Beech
58
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Usda Forest Service Fepp
Mcclellan, California
Standard 1991-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3105W Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard 1991-04-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9048Q Beech
V35B
Fixed-wing, single engine Nogle and Black Aviation INC
Champaign, Illinois
Standard 1991-04-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3458Q Cessna
320E
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1991-03-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7336H Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 1991-03-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N888HD Beech
F33A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1991-03-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3337S Cessna
210J
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 1991-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3123W Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 1991-02-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6552V Beech
V35A
Fixed-wing, single engine Satellite Airways LTD
Pella, Iowa
Standard 1991-02-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N497A Beech
D55
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Co-owned owner
Maryland
Standard 1991-02-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4432Y Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 1991-01-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6388P Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Murfin Drilling CO INC
Wichita, Kansas
Standard 1991-01-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N14709 Bellanca
17-30A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1991-01-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9DW Beech
V35B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Vermont
Standard 1991-01-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8560Q Cessna
U206F
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Florida
Standard 1990-12-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5008J Cessna
310R
Fixed-wing, multi-engine R C Construction CO INC
Greenwood, Mississippi
Standard 1990-11-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N13AK Beech
58
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Tailwinds INC
Toms River, New Jersey
Standard 1990-11-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9583M Cessna
U206G
Fixed-wing, single engine Usda Aphis Ppq
Edinburg, Texas
Multiple 1990-11-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9480S Beech
35-C33A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Mississippi
Standard 1990-11-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N191CT Cessna
310R
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Bessemer Plywood CORP
Bessemer, Michigan
Standard 1990-10-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2327F Cessna
210E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 1990-10-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5086C Cessna
310R
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1990-09-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N732NC Cessna
210M
Fixed-wing, single engine M and N Aviation INC
Perkasie, Pennsylvania
Standard 1990-09-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N200SH Cessna
310R
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Co-owned owner
Missouri
Standard 1990-09-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9199Q Beech
F33A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 1990-08-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N32TA Beech
36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Iowa
Standard 1990-08-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N185DF Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Multiple 1990-07-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9144M Cessna
210M
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 1990-07-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N333TH Beech
F33A
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 1990-07-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N35VB Beech
V35B
Fixed-wing, single engine Equipment Lessors INC
Lake Hawatha, New Jersey
Standard 1990-07-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3748H Cessna
210D
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 1990-06-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N81DL Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1990-06-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3366S Cessna
210J
Fixed-wing, single engine T R Webster and Son INC
Rexburg, Idaho
Standard 1990-06-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6151R Cessna
T210F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1990-05-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N24KH Beech
E-55
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 1990-05-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N756CL Cessna
U206G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 1990-05-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5411X Cessna
U206G
Fixed-wing, single engine Usda Aphis Ppq
Edinburg, Texas
Multiple 1990-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N61158 Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Robert N Shadduck INC
Annandale, Minnesota
Standard 1990-05-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N21ET Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Connecticut
Standard 1990-04-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N80093 Cessna
A185F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 1990-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9598V Beech
V35
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Massachusetts
Standard 1990-04-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N110YD Cessna
210L
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Oregon
Standard 1990-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5437U Beech
95-C55
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Co-owned owner
Florida
Standard 1990-04-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N788BT Cessna
A188B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Restricted 1990-04-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N40MW Beech
A36
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Massachusetts
Standard 1990-03-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4661Z Cessna
U206G
Fixed-wing, single engine Rustair INC
Anchorage, Alaska
Multiple 1990-03-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5842K Beech
S35
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 1990-03-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N78WH Beech
V35B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 1990-03-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4939C Cessna
210N
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Tennessee
Standard 1990-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6187F Cessna
210J
Fixed-wing, single engine Nuxoll Builders
Clarkston, Washington
Standard 1990-03-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N281BM Bellanca
17-30A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 1990-03-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4085B Bellanca
17-30A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 1990-02-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N107JS Beech
F33C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 1990-02-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6126F Cessna
210H
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Oklahoma
Standard 1990-02-02 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 9, 2026. Horsepower and thrust are the FAA's figures for the series, not for a particular aircraft.