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
N14721	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mcdonald Trading Post INC Plainview, Texas	Standard	1983-09-28	Valid
N2286L	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	1983-08-01	Valid
N9395N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Standard	1983-07-13	Valid
N3360R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	1983-07-12	Valid
N9987N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Standard	1983-06-27	Valid
N77JE	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	1983-06-15	Valid
N93343	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	1983-06-15	Valid
N49GC	Beech D55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	1983-06-03	Valid
N4849J	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	East Side Mosquito Abatement District Modesto, California	Restricted	1983-05-11	Valid
N185NJ	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	1983-03-29	Valid
N727	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Multiple	1983-03-19	Valid
N72050	Cessna U206D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Petty Line Const CO INC Clanton, Alabama	Standard	1983-03-05	Valid
N5812J	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1982-12-30	Valid
N3345S	Cessna 210J	Fixed-wing, single engine	Summit Foundry Systems INC Fort Wayne, Indiana	Standard	1982-12-17	Valid
N8807H	North American NAVION	Fixed-wing, single engine	R Douthitt Enterprises INC El Centro, California	Standard	1982-12-14	Valid
N3169W	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Coelho Enterprises INC Dayton, Nevada	Standard	1982-11-20	Valid
N542DS	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	1982-10-04	Valid
N6657Z	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vas Incorporated Reston, Virginia	Standard	1982-09-20	Valid
N185LS	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	L Sheffels & Son Wilbur, Washington	Standard	1982-09-08	Valid
N4834Q	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Restricted	1982-07-13	Valid
N6119U	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	1982-07-11	Valid
N20786	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska	None on file	1982-07-01	Valid
N5088E	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	S J Screw Company INC T/A Belvidere, New Jersey	Standard	1982-06-29	Valid
N9452N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alaska Department of Public Safety Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	1982-05-12	Valid
N53057	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1982-04-29	Valid
N321BW	Beech V35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aero Marine INC Westland, Michigan	Standard	1982-04-20	Valid
N3904Y	Cessna 210D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	1982-04-20	Valid
N731YR	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Restricted	1982-04-07	Valid
N24FG	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	California Department of Fish and Game Sacramento, California	Multiple	1982-04-05	Valid
N5807J	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	1982-03-11	Valid
N9380N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alaska Department of Public Safety Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	1982-02-18	Valid
N757	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Standard	1981-12-11	Valid
N7593N	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cenac Towing CO LLC Houma, Louisiana	Standard	1981-11-16	Valid
N5530E	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rovey Land & Cattle CO Parker, Arizona	Standard	1981-10-15	Valid
N7330H	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	1981-08-19	Valid
N93039	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Multiple	1981-08-13	Valid
N7813R	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	1981-07-07	Valid
N9075Q	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1981-06-15	Valid
N201WC	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	C W Swift and Associates INC Sherman Oaks, California	Standard	1981-05-06	Valid
N61423	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	Standard	1981-03-25	Valid
N731BG	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Restricted	1981-03-20	Valid
N4859C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1981-03-12	Valid
N5108Q	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	1981-02-23	Valid
N6695D	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Extrusions INC Fort Scott, Kansas	Standard	1981-01-20	Valid
N2363F	Cessna 210E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Columbus State Community College Columbus, Ohio	Standard	1981-01-06	Valid
N4273R	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	1980-10-28	Valid
N2303Y	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bentz Fence Company INC Lewiston, Idaho	Standard	1980-10-27	Valid
N4646C	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	1980-09-12	Valid
N8789Z	Cessna P206D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	1980-02-01	Valid
N6484A	Cessna 210N	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Illinois Springfield, Illinois	Standard	1980-01-30	Valid
N6675L	Beech F33A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	1980-01-19	Valid
N2882W	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	1979-10-18	Valid
N9770V	Cessna A188	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Multiple	1979-09-18	Valid
N266PD	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Liberty Garden Center INC Norwich, New York	Standard	1979-08-15	Valid
N2753A	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	1979-07-23	Valid
N771X	Cessna A185E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	1979-07-14	Valid
N60394	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sears Brothers Farming Joes, Colorado	Standard	1979-07-06	Valid
N4640E	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	Standard	1979-06-19	Valid
N734WE	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	1979-06-14	Valid
N1539W	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	M P W D INC Saint Charles, Illinois	Standard	1979-05-21	Valid
N8717Q	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Alaska Nome, Alaska	Standard	1979-05-03	Valid
N1875F	Cessna 210F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1979-04-20	Valid
N61276	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sonnys Aviation INC Miami, Florida	Standard	1979-04-13	Valid
N6WB	Cessna 310R	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	1979-03-27	Valid
N7RD	Cessna 210G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Schipper Properties INC San Jose, California	Standard	1979-03-22	Valid
N444AF	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Continental Aero Associates INC Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan	Standard	1979-03-05	Valid
N70063	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Restricted	1979-01-26	Valid
N732RU	Cessna U206G	Fixed-wing, single engine		Standard	1978-11-30	Valid
N29FC	Cessna U206C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Usda Forest Service Fepp Raleigh, North Carolina	Standard	1978-11-14	Valid
N7391R	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Edm Corporation Nevada, Missouri	Standard	1978-10-30	Valid
N731WV	Cessna A188B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Restricted	1978-10-26	Valid
N33HP	Beech 35-C33	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	1978-07-19	Valid
N7379U	Cessna 207A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Iliamna Air Taxi INC Iliamna, Alaska	Standard	1978-05-31	Valid
N761AN	Cessna 210M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Winger Cattle Company INC Johnson, Kansas	Standard	1978-03-20	Valid
N93827	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources Denver, Colorado	Multiple	1977-02-22	Valid
N14LV	Cessna 210K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	1977-02-15	Valid
N7WA	Beech S35	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	1976-11-24	Valid
N86109	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	Standard	1976-11-20	Valid
N8646Q	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Poe Asphalt Paving INC Lewiston, Idaho	Standard	1976-11-10	Valid
N59060	Cessna 210L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Agriflite Services INC Wakarusa, Indiana	Standard	1976-11-02	Valid
N5VA	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Virginia Department of Aviation Richmond, Virginia	Standard	1976-10-06	Valid
N6097S	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Donbee Farms INC Brawley, California	Standard	1976-09-23	Valid
N1217F	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Multiple	1976-07-23	Valid
N8300N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Erect A Tube INC Harvard, Illinois	Standard	1976-05-12	Valid
N1853Q	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Send North Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	1976-05-07	Valid
N1754X	Cessna 210L	Fixed-wing, single engine	West Alabama Lime CO INC Livingston, Alabama	Standard	1975-11-04	Valid
N4086S	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	80'S Associates INC Pittstown, New Jersey	Standard	1975-11-04	Valid
N714	Cessna A185F	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Department of Interior Boise, Idaho	Standard	1975-09-26	Valid
N447MA	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of Montana Helena, Montana	Standard	1975-09-16	Valid
N35945	Cessna U206F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Illinois Department of Transportation Springfield, Illinois	Standard	1975-08-05	Valid
N3HF	Beech V35B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hughes Farms INC Fayette, Missouri	Standard	1975-07-02	Valid
N7943R	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Olivia Flying Service INC Olivia, Minnesota	Standard	1975-01-10	Valid
N906V	Beech E-55	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	State of Alabama Montgomery, Alabama	Standard	1974-09-12	Valid
N7128N	Beech V35A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Martin Automatic INC Rockford, Illinois	Standard	1974-03-05	Valid
N1755W	Beech A36	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ais Construction Equip CORP Grand Rapids, Michigan	Standard	1974-01-08	Valid
N8843V	Bellanca 17-30A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1973-12-04	Valid
N6137F	Cessna 210H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wingland INC Los Angeles, California	Standard	1973-06-19	Valid
N3783Y	Cessna 210D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1971-11-17	Valid
N2551T	Navion NAVION H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Illinois Aviation INC Englewood, Florida	Standard	1971-05-03	Valid
N5296U	Cessna U206	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	1970-06-17	Revoked

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