The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 9, 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.

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table
aircraft
194062
19501,889
19603,524
197014
19803
19902
20003
20201

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

025810960511219
Failure reports by year, as a table
reports
961
013
024
0310
043
052
062
075
082
091
111
121
131
192

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Baffle4Cylinder3Bulkhead2Connecting Rod2Stringer2Wheel2Adapter1Axle1Battery1Bearing Cage1
Parts most reported, as a table
reports
Baffle4
Cylinder3
Bulkhead2
Connecting Rod2
Stringer2
Wheel2
Adapter1
Axle1
Battery1
Bearing Cage1

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
Where they are
Biggest operators
Airworthiness

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 modelGroupOwner and baseCertificateRegisteredStatus
N2831L Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Jkj Flying LLC
Chittenango, New York
Standard 2008-04-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1564Y Cessna
172C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2008-02-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2987U Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2008-02-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7773U Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 2008-02-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4718T Maule
M-4
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2008-02-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7204T Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2008-02-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3670L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2008-02-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9855T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Jkc Farm LLC
Chinook, Montana
Standard 2008-01-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4382B Cessna
170B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2008-01-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8021X Cessna
172B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Restricted 2008-01-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8318U Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2007-12-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7032A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2007-12-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N172TN Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-12-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8345U Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine 45U Leasing LLC
Beavercreek, Ohio
Standard 2007-12-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2497Y Cessna
172D
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Restricted 2007-11-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5870A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oklahoma
Standard 2007-11-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7707U Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-11-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N173VF Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Florida
Standard 2007-11-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8275X Cessna
172C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard 2007-11-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4163L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2007-11-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3597S Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2007-11-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8134U Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2007-11-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N222TX Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine J M Williams LLC
Stockton, California
Standard 2007-11-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2740U Cessna
172D
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Pennsylvania
Standard 2007-11-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4610L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-11-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8825U Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2007-10-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7053A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2007-10-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2834L Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2007-10-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N814BM Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 2007-10-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3585S Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2007-09-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3852R Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Alaska
Standard 2007-09-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5120A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2007-09-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9852T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2007-09-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7577T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2007-09-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3645L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2007-09-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3968S Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nebraska
Standard 2007-09-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2624U Cessna
172D
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2007-08-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8134X Cessna
172B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2007-08-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5671A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Connecticut
Standard 2007-08-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N170JG Cessna
170B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2007-08-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5192A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2007-08-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3628S Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Wright Way Air Venture LLC
Westville, Indiana
Standard 2007-08-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8502B Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2007-08-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5699A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2007-08-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7426A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Iowa
Standard 2007-08-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5800A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 2007-07-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1130F Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2007-07-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7002A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-07-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6848X Cessna
172B
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Alabama
Standard 2007-07-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1608F Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 2007-07-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6742A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2007-07-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1680F Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 2007-07-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9845M Maule
M-4C
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Minnesota
Standard 2007-07-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1352Y Cessna
172C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-06-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5642R Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-06-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2762U Cessna
172D
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2007-06-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8422X Cessna
172C
Fixed-wing, single engine Dundee Flying Club INC
Rock Stream, New York
Standard 2007-06-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3949F Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Reed Systems LTD
Ellenville, New York
Standard 2007-06-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7919X Cessna
172B
Fixed-wing, single engine Airheads LLC
Lake City, Michigan
Standard 2007-06-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8218U Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-06-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5123A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-05-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4392B Cessna
170B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2007-05-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3715R Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Hawaii
Standard 2007-05-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8849Z Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2007-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5466T Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2007-05-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6795A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Kelley Aviation Services INC
Halifax, Pennsylvania
Standard 2007-05-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7834T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-05-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3866S Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2007-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6747A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Dakota
Standard 2007-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5116F Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3782F Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine 82 Foxtrot LLC
Tucson, Arizona
Standard 2007-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8463U Cessna
172F
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2007-04-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3947F Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2007-04-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3976S Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Nevada
Standard 2007-04-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3795R Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2007-03-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7241T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2007-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7871T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-02-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5067A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2007-02-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3821L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Sky Bryce Flying Club LLC
Basye, Virginia
Standard 2007-02-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4371L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Prisk Jack J
Pride, Louisiana
Standard 2007-02-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6433E Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Idaho
Standard 2007-02-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8096T Cessna
175B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-02-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8565B Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Massachusetts
Standard 2007-02-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2498Y Cessna
172D
Fixed-wing, single engine Bargabos Earthworks INC
Peterboro, New York
Standard 2007-02-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8234B Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2007-02-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3883L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
West Virginia
Standard 2007-02-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N671VH Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Robert and Andrea van Hofwegen LLC
Buckeye, Arizona
Standard 2007-01-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N172H Cessna
172H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nevada
Standard 2007-01-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8497X Cessna
172C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2007-01-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3646S Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2007-01-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9805T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2006-12-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7064A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 2006-12-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8114B Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Nevada
Standard 2006-12-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8127X Cessna
172B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2006-12-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5685T Cessna
172E
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2006-11-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7397A Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2006-11-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6124E Cessna
172
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2006-11-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7766T Cessna
172A
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 2006-11-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3605L Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Unger Aviation LLC
Saint Clair, Michigan
Standard 2006-11-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5767R Cessna
172G
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2006-10-16 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.