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
N1108F	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aom Aircraft LLC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2019-07-12	Valid
N7700U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jarvis Tree Service INC Heber Springs, Arkansas	Standard	2019-07-10	Valid
N2108U	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2019-07-03	Valid
N8468U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2019-07-03	Valid
N3961L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2019-07-02	Valid
N4468L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-06-28	Valid
N7827T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2019-06-28	Valid
N8035X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2019-06-28	Valid
N8170X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2019-06-28	Valid
N5007A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-06-27	Valid
N5910A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2019-06-26	Valid
N7074T	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2019-06-26	Valid
N7485A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Standard	2019-06-26	Valid
N9831M	Maule M-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2019-06-26	Valid
N7874X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2019-06-25	Valid
N4241L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ashland Flyers LLC Bayfield, Wisconsin	Standard	2019-06-24	Valid
N7496A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2019-06-24	Valid
N5729A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2019-06-21	Valid
N1825Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Round Engine Aero Nashville, Michigan	Standard	2019-06-20	Valid
N2593L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Vermont	Standard	2019-06-19	Valid
N8650B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2019-06-19	Valid
N9798T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2019-06-19	Valid
N2789U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2019-06-18	Valid
N5001A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2019-06-18	Valid
N6218G	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kentucky	Standard	2019-06-18	Valid
N8153X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-06-18	Valid
N8325B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-06-17	Valid
N8613B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2019-06-17	Valid
N7360A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2019-06-14	Valid
N7950U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2019-06-14	Valid
N4983R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Flight Museum Topeka, Kansas	Standard	2019-06-12	Valid
N2423L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big Hook Wilderness Camps LLC Snowmass Village, Colorado	Standard	2019-06-11	Valid
N7744U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2019-06-11	Valid
N4341L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cut and Snip Flyers LLC South Weber, Utah	Standard	2019-06-10	Valid
N4381B	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2019-06-10	Valid
N6035R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wings Over Waxhaw Flying Club INC Waxhaw, North Carolina	Standard	2019-06-10	Valid
N4037F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2019-06-07	Valid
N2470U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	T C I Aviators LLC Lewes, Delaware	Standard	2019-06-06	Valid
N8193L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2019-06-05	Valid
N8388B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Touch and Go INC Center, Colorado	Standard	2019-06-05	Valid
N5820A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Multiple	2019-06-04	Valid
N3795L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2019-06-03	Valid
N8201L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Longhorn Fligh Training LLC Midlothian, Texas	Standard	2019-05-31	Valid
N2584U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Utah	Standard	2019-05-29	Valid
N5163A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2019-05-23	Valid
N5518R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wings N' Nuts Bloomfield, New York	Standard	2019-05-23	Valid
N2536U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-05-22	Valid
N2915D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2019-05-22	Valid
N8681U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fly Around Alaska LLC Palmer, Alaska	Standard	2019-05-22	Valid
N8661U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2019-05-21	Valid
N3672G	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-05-16	Valid
N5701A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oklahoma	Standard	2019-05-16	Valid
N7521X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2019-05-16	Valid
N2585U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2019-05-14	Valid
N6712E	Cessna 175	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2019-05-14	Valid
N7428T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2019-05-14	Valid
N8496X	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	R & R Flight Services LLC Orange Grove, Texas	Standard	2019-05-14	Valid
N7852U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2019-05-13	Valid
N4366B	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-05-10	Valid
N8080B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Neton INC Bradenton, Florida	Standard	2019-05-10	Valid
N2651L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2019-05-09	Valid
N4492B	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2019-05-07	Valid
N7475A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-05-07	Valid
N7465A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-05-06	Valid
N8376B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bilton Aircraft Management INC Umatilla, Florida	Standard	2019-05-03	Valid
N7830U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2019-05-02	Valid
N7682X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2019-05-01	Valid
N1538Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2019-04-30	Valid
N2838U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cag Farms INC Angier, North Carolina	Standard	2019-04-30	Valid
N7708U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2019-04-30	Valid
N1402Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rg Enterprises LLC Tullahoma, Tennessee	Standard	2019-04-29	Valid
N6651A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2019-04-29	Valid
N6808A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2019-04-29	Valid
N7970U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2019-04-29	Valid
N8224U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Plane Fun INC Tr Trustee Snellville, Georgia	Standard	2019-04-26	Valid
N3464C	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-04-25	Valid
N2429L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Vermont	Standard	2019-04-24	Valid
N2675L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2019-04-23	Valid
N8391X	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Aviation INC North Wilkesboro, North Carolina	Standard	2019-04-23	Valid
N8450U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Just-Plane-Fun LLC Searcy, Arkansas	Standard	2019-04-23	Valid
N170HT	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jon Gibson CO Cameron Park, California	Standard	2019-04-22	Valid
N8537U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2019-04-22	Valid
N5961R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-04-18	Valid
N2411L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-04-17	Valid
N2875U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2019-04-17	Valid
N6281E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-04-17	Valid
N8192L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2019-04-17	Valid
N90325	Globe GC-1B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2019-04-17	Valid
N6809A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2019-04-16	Valid
N2815U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2019-04-15	Valid
N3949S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Standard	2019-04-15	Valid
N8137X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-04-15	Valid
N7982B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2019-04-12	Valid
N5927A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Samaritans Purse Boone, North Carolina	Standard	2019-04-11	Valid
N2197Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2019-04-10	Valid
N2556Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2019-04-10	Valid
N2885L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2019-04-10	Valid
N4005F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Round Engine Aero Nashville, Michigan	Standard	2019-04-10	Valid
N2602U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2019-04-09	Valid
N3866L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2019-04-08	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.