Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 8, 2026

Continental O-300 series

6,623 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Continental O-300 series engine, rated at about 145 horsepower. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the model most often fitted with it (6,073 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1949 and 2021.

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 O-300 series. FAA spelling: 0-300 SER.

Fitted to model families

Model families, as a table

	aircraft
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	6,073
Cessna 170	372
Maule M-4	47
Cessna 175 Skylark	41
Globe GC-1 Swift	28
Aeronca 15	8
Temco GC-1	8
Cessna 150	7
Maule BEE DEE M-4	3
Piper PA-18 Super Cub	2
Piper PA-24 Comanche	2
American Champion Aircraft 7 Citabria and Champ	1

Cessna 172 Skyhawk · Cessna 170 · Maule M-4 · Cessna 175 Skylark · Globe GC-1 Swift · Aeronca 15 · Temco GC-1 · Cessna 150 · Maule BEE DEE M-4 · Piper PA-18 Super Cub

Where they are owner's state

Texas622California469Florida340Washington306Alaska267Michigan223Ohio219Georgia202Oregon194North Carolina191

By state, as a table

	aircraft
Texas	622
California	469
Florida	340
Washington	306
Alaska	267
Michigan	223
Ohio	219
Georgia	202
Oregon	194
North Carolina	191

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles6,621 (100%)Piston twins1 (0.0%)Helicopters1 (0.0%)

By kind, as a table

	aircraft	share
Piston singles	6,621	100%
Piston twins	1	0.0%
Helicopters	1	0.0%

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table

	aircraft
1940	62
1950	1,889
1960	3,524
1970	14
1980	3
1990	2
2000	3
2020	1

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Continental O-300 series the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E-253, held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC.). The FAA has issued 7 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 38 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 5 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 7 airworthiness directives · newest first

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

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

2012-01-242011-26-07 · Engine · engine

2002-07-122002-13-04 · Magneto impulse coupling stop pin · engine

1996-02-1394-05-05 R1 · Cylinder Rocker · engine

1993-08-1293-10-02 · Missing Cylinder Valve Retainer Key · engine

All orders naming the Continental O-300 series

Failure reports 38 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

Failure reports by year, as a table

	reports
96	1
01	3
02	4
03	10
04	3
05	2
06	2
07	5
08	2
09	1
11	1
12	1
13	1
19	2

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Baffle4Cylinder3Bulkhead2Connecting Rod2Stringer2Wheel2Adapter1Axle1Battery1Bearing Cage1

Parts most reported, as a table

	reports
Baffle	4
Cylinder	3
Bulkhead	2
Connecting Rod	2
Stringer	2
Wheel	2
Adapter	1
Axle	1
Battery	1
Bearing Cage	1

Latest reports

2019-11-19Line: broken

2019-05-10Cylinder: cracked

2013-02-22Counterweight: loose

2012-07-10Cylinder: cracked

2011-08-08Cylinder: broken

Certificates and bulletins

E-253Type certificate held by Continental Aerospace Technologies, INC. · 8 models listed · revised September 19, 2022

Safety bulletins 3 · advice, not orders

2018-09-10NE-18-27 · POWERPLANT Rocker Shaft Boss Inspection

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

2012-10-31NE-13-04 · Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) Connecting Rod Piston Pin Bushing Inspection

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 172 Skyhawk 6,073 with this engine series
Cessna 170 372 with this engine series
Maule M-4 47 with this engine series
Cessna 175 Skylark 41 with this engine series
Globe GC-1 Swift 28 with this engine series
Aeronca 15 8 with this engine series
Temco GC-1 8 with this engine series
Cessna 150 7 with this engine series

Where they are

Texas 622 of these aircraft
California 469 of these aircraft
Florida 340 of these aircraft
Washington 306 of these aircraft
Alaska 267 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

United States Air Force Owner 10 of these aircraft
Bas Part Sales LLC 9 of these aircraft
Sutton Aircraft Salvage LLC 8 of these aircraft
Dmac Aircraft LLC 8 of these aircraft
United States Air Force 7 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Continental O-300 series 7 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Continental O-300 series 38 reports since 1995

Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/engine/continental-o-300-series.json.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 6,623

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N3782S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2021-11-04	Valid
N3727F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2021-11-03	Valid
N7544X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Robert S Williams Dds Ps Grandview, Washington	Standard	2021-11-02	Valid
N8946B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lumberjack LLC Flagstaff, Arizona	Standard	2021-11-02	Valid
N2087Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2021-11-01	Valid
N7826U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Denton Aeroworx LLC Tucson, Arizona	Standard	2021-11-01	Valid
N7905U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-10-30	Valid
N4703T	Maule M-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2021-10-28	Valid
N7861T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kepo Aviation LLC Ball, Louisiana	Standard	2021-10-28	Valid
N197TC	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2021-10-27	Valid
N3911R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2021-10-27	Valid
N7532T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2021-10-27	Valid
N4126F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2021-10-26	Valid
N7130A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2021-10-25	Valid
N1428F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2021-10-23	Valid
N1661Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2021-10-21	Valid
N4175L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2021-10-21	Valid
N7916X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2021-10-21	Valid
N6877A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2021-10-20	Valid
N7100T	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2021-10-20	Valid
N7453X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2021-10-20	Valid
N8218L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2021-10-19	Valid
N1428H	Aeronca 15AC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2021-10-18	Valid
N1616F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2021-10-18	Valid
N2935D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2021-10-18	Valid
N5705R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-10-18	Valid
N7984U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-10-14	Valid
N8568Q	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skyhawk Aero LLC Montevideo, Minnesota	Standard	2021-10-13	Valid
N7001A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lkp Aviation LLC Montgomery, Indiana	Standard	2021-10-08	Valid
N2558D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2021-10-07	Valid
N1251	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2021-10-06	Valid
N7164A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2021-10-06	Valid
N7623X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dorman David L Garfield, Minnesota	Standard	2021-10-06	Valid
N5789R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2021-10-05	Valid
N5980R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Petes LLC Pompton Plains, New Jersey	Standard	2021-10-05	Valid
N6113E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Plane Old LLC Bristol, Vermont	Standard	2021-10-04	Valid
N3707L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Propwash Aviation LLC Midland, Michigan	Standard	2021-09-29	Valid
N4243L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	North Central Marketing INC Cranston, Rhode Island	Standard	2021-09-28	Valid
N9723T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2021-09-27	Valid
N7193T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2021-09-24	Valid
N2404L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2021-09-23	Valid
N3891R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	N3891R LLC Ogden, Iowa	Standard	2021-09-23	Valid
N4204F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2021-09-23	Valid
N4236L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-09-23	Valid
N6078R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2021-09-23	Valid
N8357B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2021-09-23	Valid
N2586L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2021-09-22	Valid
N8160L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2021-09-22	Valid
N21LS	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	7Ac Aviation LLC Fort Worth, Texas	Standard	2021-09-21	Valid
N1846Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2021-09-20	Valid
N2942D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2021-09-20	Valid
N7133A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2021-09-20	Valid
N5584T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2021-09-17	Valid
N7503X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2021-09-16	Valid
N8735U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jkh Aviation LLC Cumming, Georgia	Standard	2021-09-16	Valid
N5371R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airglas INC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2021-09-15	Valid
N6015R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2021-09-15	Valid
N6466E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner West Virginia	Standard	2021-09-15	Valid
N21103	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-09-13	Valid
N7538X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2021-09-13	Valid
N7727U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wingtip Aviation LLC Amarillo, Texas	Standard	2021-09-13	Valid
N8291U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2021-09-10	Valid
N3876L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2021-09-09	Valid
N5366T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tbl Aviation LLC Springfield, Oregon	Restricted	2021-09-09	Valid
N8297U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2021-09-09	Valid
N2068Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2021-09-08	Valid
N2842C	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2021-09-08	Valid
N6192E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-09-08	Valid
N6699A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2021-09-08	Valid
N7456T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2021-09-08	Valid
N7643X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Brackman Aviation LLC Twin Falls, Idaho	Standard	2021-09-08	Valid
N7497X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2021-09-07	Valid
N7705U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2021-09-01	Valid
N2646U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2021-08-31	Valid
N6338E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2021-08-31	Valid
N6778A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Michigan	Standard	2021-08-31	Valid
N7510X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2021-08-31	Valid
N2616V	Cessna 170	Fixed-wing, single engine	Stage One Associates LLC Oxford, Connecticut	Standard	2021-08-30	Valid
N9168B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2021-08-30	Valid
N413CD	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2021-08-28	Valid
N3344K	Globe GC-1B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kremmling Flying INC Kremmling, Colorado	Standard	2021-08-25	Valid
N5759A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying K & Associates INC Hawthorne, Florida	Multiple	2021-08-25	Valid
N8253X	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Masters Mission Robbinsville, North Carolina	Standard	2021-08-25	Valid
N904SW	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Gp INC Nashville, Tennessee	Standard	2021-08-25	Valid
N1672Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-08-24	Valid
N2807L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-08-24	Valid
N3700S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Musket Air LLC Page, Arizona	Standard	2021-08-24	Valid
N5751T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gordon Robert A North Pole, Alaska	Standard	2021-08-23	Valid
N8839B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Riberio Trucking LLC Stratford, Connecticut	Standard	2021-08-23	Valid
N9858M	Maule M-4C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oklahoma	Standard	2021-08-23	Valid
N6482E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2021-08-21	Valid
N7963B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2021-08-21	Valid
N8557U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2021-08-21	Valid
N6287E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2021-08-20	Valid
N3896R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2021-08-19	Valid
N4260L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2021-08-19	Valid
N2858U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Illinois	Standard	2021-08-18	Valid
N8154B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Westnyack Aviaiton LLC Sag Harbor, New York	Standard	2021-08-18	Valid
N1178F	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	True Course LLC West Monroe, New York	Standard	2021-08-17	Valid
N7566T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2021-08-16	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.