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
N2490U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	1963-04-16	Valid
N8151B	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big Valley Flying Club Lookout, California	Standard	1962-05-03	Valid
N6900A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Northwind Flying Club Traverse City, Michigan	Standard	1962-02-13	Valid
N3530D	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	1960-05-02	Valid
N1114F	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard		Pending
N1137F	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard		Sale reported
N1161F	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N1167F	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard		Pending
N1402F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Restricted		Pending
N1523Y	Cessna 172C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Regional Air INC Lawton, Oklahoma	Standard		Valid
N172BX	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N172PH	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Delaware	Standard		Pending
N1773F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard		Pending
N1785F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard		Sale reported
N2084Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard		Pending
N2093Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard		Sale reported
N2145Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard		Pending
N2152Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard		Sale reported
N2358U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard		Pending
N2404Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard		Pending cancellation
N2413Y	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard		Pending
N2450L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard		Canceled
N2468U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner West Virginia	Standard		Pending
N2498U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard		Pending
N2514L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard		Pending
N2567U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard		Pending
N2663U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N2666U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard		Pending
N2701L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard		Pending
N2812U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N2832U	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard		Pending
N3071U	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard		Pending
N345QA	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard		Sale reported
N3587S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	No owner on file	Standard		Assigned, not yet registered
N3722R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard		Pending
N3761L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N3776F	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard		Pending cancellation
N3789R	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard		Pending cancellation
N3794L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Searcy Moto-Air INC Searcy, Arkansas	Standard		Valid
N3796S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard		Sale reported
N3809L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard		Sale reported
N3863S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard		Pending cancellation
N3865S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Indy Air Sales LLC Anderson, Indiana	Standard		Valid
N3879L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard		Canceled
N3886L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	No owner on file	Standard		Assigned, not yet registered
N3953F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard		Pending
N3958F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard		Pending
N3977S	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard		Pending
N4125F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard		Sale reported
N4149L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard		Pending
N4150F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard		Pending
N4354L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard		Sale reported
N4378L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard		Pending
N4442F	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard		Pending
N4460L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard		Pending
N4641L	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard		Pending
N46940	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard		Pending
N5061A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Smith Aviation LLC Springer, Oklahoma	Standard		Valid
N5261F	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard		Pending
N5353T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard		Pending
N5448T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard		Pending
N5477T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard		Pending
N5498T	Cessna 172E	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Delaware	Standard		Sale reported
N5561C	Cessna 170A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard		Pending
N5621R	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner West Virginia	Standard		Canceled
N5719A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard		Sale reported
N5737R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Multiple		Pending
N5877R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard		Pending
N5896R	Cessna 172G	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard		Pending
N6079A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard		Pending
N6237E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard		Sale reported
N6412E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard		Sale reported
N6454E	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard		Pending
N6723A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard		Sale reported
N6879X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard		Pending
N6910X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard		Pending
N7023A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard		Pending cancellation
N717AB	Waszak Arthur B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Experimental		Valid
N7203T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard		Pending
N7222T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard		Pending
N7229A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard		Sale reported
N7320T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard		Pending
N7331A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Multiple		Pending
N73L	Cessna 172D	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard		Pending
N7458A	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard		Pending
N7492T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard		Sale reported
N7530T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N7533X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard		Pending
N7564T	Cessna 172	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard		Pending
N7572T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Colors Airparts INC Leesburg, Florida	Standard		Valid
N7588T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard		Sale reported
N7672X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard		Pending
N769M	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	No owner on file	Standard		Pending cancellation
N7738X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard		Pending
N7780X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard		Pending
N7844T	Cessna 172A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard		Pending
N8051X	Cessna 172B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bas Part Sales LLC Greeley, Colorado	Standard		Valid
N8057L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard		Sale reported
N8078L	Cessna 172H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner	Standard		Sale reported
N8118U	Cessna 172F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard		Pending

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.