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
N4656L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2016-08-04	Valid
N44RC	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2016-08-03	Valid
N6753A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	2016-08-03	Valid
N3669L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-08-02	Valid
N4442L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2016-08-01	Valid
N4387B	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	N4387B LLC Sheridan, Arkansas	Standard	2016-07-29	Valid
N7781U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-07-29	Valid
N8030L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-07-23	Valid
N6255E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-07-20	Valid
N6827X	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-07-20	Valid
N1303Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N1737F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N2575Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky Unlimited Portland, Oregon	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N2754L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N7314T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N7147G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Affordable Flying LLC Cedar Park, Texas	Standard	2016-07-08	Valid
N2168Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2016-07-01	Valid
N2493Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2016-06-30	Valid
N7258T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Colorado	Standard	2016-06-30	Valid
N9149B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2016-06-30	Valid
N8168B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-06-28	Valid
N8810U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Webesharing LLC Orange Beach, Alabama	Standard	2016-06-28	Valid
N3838R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aviation Rentals LLC Oakman, Georgia	Standard	2016-06-22	Valid
N4522C	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Evans Michael R Nome, Alaska	Standard	2016-06-22	Valid
N6168E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2016-06-20	Valid
N6796A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2016-06-17	Valid
N43490	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Phillips Aviation LLC Winnemucca, Nevada	Standard	2016-06-16	Valid
N2589Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ortner Airport LLC Wakeman, Ohio	Standard	2016-06-13	Valid
N3875S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying M Enterprises Loomis, Nebraska	Standard	2016-06-10	Valid
N8222U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2016-06-06	Valid
N4310L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-06-03	Valid
N7018A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2016-06-01	Valid
N4261L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2016-05-19	Valid
N5874R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2016-05-19	Valid
N8229B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2016-05-18	Valid
N7776X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vista I INC Smithville, Ohio	Standard	2016-05-17	Valid
N461DY	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-05-13	Valid
N2478Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-05-10	Valid
N2539U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2016-05-10	Valid
N5544R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dijon Aviation LLC Wadsworth, Illinois	Standard	2016-05-10	Valid
N8722B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2016-04-27	Valid
N5680R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2016-04-25	Valid
N8076B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Zurinsky Richard Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2016-04-21	Valid
N2390U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2016-04-19	Valid
N2513L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-04-18	Valid
N7844X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Feather Farms INC Griffithville, Arkansas	Standard	2016-04-18	Valid
N2954D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-04-06	Valid
N7342T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2016-04-06	Valid
N8056X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2016-03-31	Valid
N7913B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2016-03-28	Valid
N172TP	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Contrail Aviation INC Cheboygan, Michigan	Standard	2016-03-23	Valid
N4039F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Blue Ice Aviation INC Wasilla, Alaska	Standard	2016-03-21	Valid
N8803U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-03-21	Valid
N2767U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-03-19	Valid
N4361L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fairbault Sky Club INC Waseca, Minnesota	Standard	2016-03-14	Valid
N6813A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-03-14	Valid
N5956A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Times of Refreshing World Outreach Ministry INC Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Standard	2016-03-09	Valid
N4484B	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alabama	Standard	2016-03-08	Valid
N3911F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2016-03-05	Valid
N2573Y	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	2016-03-04	Valid
N6471E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-03-04	Valid
N6887A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-02-16	Valid
N4989R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lansing Community College Mason, Michigan	Standard	2016-02-11	Valid
N8532U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N7691X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2016-02-08	Valid
N2893U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-02-04	Valid
N3428C	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ridgeline Aviation INC Cordova, Alaska	Standard	2016-02-04	Valid
N7017A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2016-02-03	Valid
N8551U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-01-26	Valid
N7167A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kentucky	Standard	2016-01-22	Valid
N4624L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sfc LLC Minden, Nebraska	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N8541U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N3758R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-01-20	Valid
N1363Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2016-01-19	Valid
N2874L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2016-01-15	Valid
N2037Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Argos Retail LLC Mcallen, Texas	Standard	2016-01-14	Valid
N6955A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-01-12	Valid
N3517D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Idaho	Standard	2016-01-07	Valid
N2319U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2016-01-04	Valid
N2991U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Illinois	Standard	2016-01-04	Valid
N489EC	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-01-04	Valid
N3788R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2015-12-29	Valid
N6824A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2015-12-24	Valid
N8660B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2015-12-22	Valid
N2504L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2015-12-19	Valid
N5529R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2015-12-14	Valid
N3955F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Springfield Flying Service LLC Columbia, California	Standard	2015-12-12	Valid
N4622L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Chp Group LLC Semmes, Alabama	Standard	2015-12-12	Valid
N3744L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Air Jeffery LLC Aledo, Texas	Standard	2015-12-11	Valid
N2549Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2015-12-10	Valid
N34264	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2015-12-10	Valid
N7398T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2015-12-10	Valid
N8337U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2015-12-10	Valid
N8414U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2015-12-09	Valid
N5438T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2015-12-07	Valid
N4249L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2015-12-05	Valid
N6395E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2015-12-05	Valid
N5440T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Island Lady LLC Iowa Falls, Iowa	Standard	2015-12-04	Valid
N5969R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2015-12-04	Valid
N7079A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Derbe LLC Durham, North Carolina	Standard	2015-11-20	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.