The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 8, 2026

Lycoming IO-540 series

4,218 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Lycoming IO-540 series engine, rated at about 300 horsepower. The Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga is the model most often fitted with it (1,059 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1965 and 2026.

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 Lycoming IO-540 series (2 codes). FAA spellings: IO-540 SER · IO 540 SER.

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table
aircraft
19402
195013
196096
1970797
1980579
1990748
20001,339
201078
202056

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Lycoming IO-540 series the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (1E4, held by Lycoming Engines). The FAA has issued 49 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 316 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 17 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 49 airworthiness directives · newest first

2026-09-142026-17-10 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section · engine
2026-04-082026-04-11 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine
2024-12-052024-21-02 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine
2022-08-152022-16-03 · Engine (RECIPROCATING) · engine
2017-08-152017-16-11 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · engine
2015-11-032015-19-07 · Fuel injector fuel lines · engine

All orders naming the Lycoming IO-540 series

Failure reports 316 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

012253850950005101523226
Failure reports by year, as a table
reports
953
963
973
984
994
0011
0137
0215
0337
0434
0550
0630
0719
0812
093
1012
112
127
135
146
152
171
194
202
222
231
245
262

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Magneto19Cylinder10Bearing8Gasket8Bolt7Boot7Actuator6Line6Pump6Baffle5
Parts most reported, as a table
reports
Magneto19
Cylinder10
Bearing8
Gasket8
Bolt7
Boot7
Actuator6
Line6
Pump6
Baffle5

Latest reports

2026-05-09Thrust Button: faulted
2026-01-29Magneto: failed
2024-08-07Magneto: failed
2024-08-06Magneto: failed
2024-03-14Magneto: failed

Certificates and bulletins

1E4Type certificate held by Lycoming Engines · 81 models listed · revised February 28, 2018

Safety bulletins 14 · advice, not orders

2019-05-02NE-19-08 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section - Lycoming Engines Parallel Valve Cylinders
2016-05-13NE-08-32R1 · Propeller Governor Idler Gear Shaft Set Screw
2014-03-24NE-14-13 · Reciprocating Engine - Cylinder Mounting Studs
2012-11-21NE-13-06 · Pushrod Shroud Spring Retainers, Engine Components Part No. AEL14995, for Lycoming Engines 320,...
2011-03-31NE-08-26R3 · Magneto/Distributor

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/lycoming-io-540-series.json.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 4,218

Tail no.Maker and modelGroupOwner and baseCertificateRegisteredStatus
N16BJ Piper
PA-32RT-300T
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2018-08-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N21836 Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine C & S Development Services LLC
Weatherford, Texas
Standard 2018-08-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6WE Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine High Flight Aviation LLC
Harwinton, Connecticut
Standard 2018-08-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N521AF Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Chhh LLC
Raleigh, North Carolina
Standard 2018-08-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8139F Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alabama
Standard 2018-08-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1942J Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Flybird LLC
East Northport, New York
Standard 2018-08-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N71PA Siai-Marchetti
SF260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New Jersey
Experimental 2018-08-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N380ES Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2018-08-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N84ED Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Ams Aviation LLC
Brashear, Texas
Standard 2018-07-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N226MC Maule
M-7-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2018-07-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N990AP Massey Aircraft/Poteete Andy
HARMON ROCKET II
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Experimental 2018-07-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N36781 Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2018-07-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N237CA Cessna
206H
Fixed-wing, single engine Central Aviation
Coronado, California
Standard 2018-07-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N619TV Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Orlando Aircraft Sales LLC
Orlando, Florida
Standard 2018-07-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N151TL Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Alpine Air Alaska LLC
Girdwood, Alaska
Standard 2018-07-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2185G Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Gateway Flying Club INC
Blaine, Minnesota
Standard 2018-07-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N303GT Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Delta Bravo Aviation LLC
Cleveland, Mississippi
Standard 2018-07-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N992PC Calhoun Paul
VELOCITY 173/RG-XL
Fixed-wing, single engine Ambkj LLC
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Experimental 2018-07-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6029B Commander Aircraft Co
114-B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2018-06-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N14183 Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Nebraska
Standard 2018-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N408ZW Linett Michael J
RV10
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Delaware
Experimental 2018-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N821RF Piper
PA-32-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Alaska Island Air INC
Togiak, Alaska
Standard 2018-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N417RG Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Wagner Aviation LLC
Laura, Ohio
Standard 2018-06-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N81052 Piper
PA-32-301
Fixed-wing, single engine True North Air LLC
Anchorage, Alaska
Standard 2018-06-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N115JW Rockwell International
114
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2018-06-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N235RF Maule
M-7-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2018-06-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N98JZ Zidek John
HARMON ROCKET II
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2018-06-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N855BD Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Thompson Contracting INC
Peachtree City, Georgia
Standard 2018-06-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5656B Maule
M-7-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 2018-06-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9918T Maule
M-6-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Alaska
Standard 2018-05-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N69WW Thurmond Robert Lee
F1 ROCKET
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2018-05-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N975BE Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Saucerman & Company LLC
Hampstead, North Carolina
Standard 2018-05-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N694SA Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Mile High Ventures INC
Palm Harbor, Florida
Standard 2018-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N540J Johns
SA-29
Fixed-wing, single engine Next Aviation LLC - Aether Machinis
Evanston, Illinois
Experimental 2018-05-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N540MP Prezbindowski Michael
WHEELER EXPRESS
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Experimental 2018-05-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N20540 Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2018-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4102B Bellanca
17-31ATC
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Nevada
Standard 2018-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N605AC Cessna
T182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Arizona
Standard 2018-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N643PE Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Coliseum Aviation LLC
Little Rock, Arkansas
Standard 2018-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N64LT Thomas R Meyer
MEYERS SPCL BIG TOOT
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2018-05-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N292V Socata
TB-20 TRINIDAD
Fixed-wing, single engine Sandaric LLC
Wittman, Maryland
Standard 2018-05-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N164SJ Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2018-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7244C Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 2018-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N10JG Smith
AEROSTAR 601P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Total Aircraft Management INC
Acworth, Georgia
Standard 2018-04-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2576X Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2018-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N882LB Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Arizona Flyers Club INC
Tucson, Arizona
Standard 2018-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9506W Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Attitude Aviation INC
Livermore, California
Standard 2018-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2377Y Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Louisiana
Standard 2018-04-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N53KP Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2018-04-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9210X Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2018-04-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N159RR Randall L Ratliff
RV-10
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oklahoma
Experimental 2018-04-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N219MC Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Washington
Standard 2018-04-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N458ES Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine B R S Leasing INC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2018-04-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N484SH Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter November Alpha LLC
Dover, Delaware
Standard 2018-04-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N59SW Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Lg Services LLC
Chino, California
Standard 2018-04-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N301KK Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard 2018-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N30486 Socata
TB-20 TRINIDAD
Fixed-wing, single engine N30486 Partners LLC
San Luis Obispo, California
Standard 2018-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N713JH Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2018-04-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N105JM Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2018-04-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N957DJ Peterson Darrell M
GLASAIR III
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Experimental 2018-04-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N118PT Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Bengal Aviation LLC
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Standard 2018-04-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9236J Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Thunderbird Air LLC
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Standard 2018-04-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N104RG Garrison F R
FROG 4
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2018-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3043U Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Minnesota
Standard 2018-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N698MA Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2018-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N412RB Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Reel Believers II LLC
Palm City, Florida
Standard 2018-03-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N30314 Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Tropic Breeze Leasing and Management LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2018-03-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N81698 Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine 3000 Summer Street LLC
Brookfield, Connecticut
Standard 2018-03-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N411JS Socata
TB-20 TRINIDAD
Fixed-wing, single engine Penniless Pilots INC
Bowie, Maryland
Standard 2018-03-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N104MF Donald E Eccker/Ronald D Willi
RV-10
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Experimental 2018-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N128PS Dornier
DO28 B-1
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Nevada
Standard 2018-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N246PK Commander Aircraft Co
114TC
Fixed-wing, single engine Geneva1 Aviation LLC
Mars, Pennsylvania
Standard 2018-03-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2905B Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2018-03-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1123F Cessna
206H
Fixed-wing, single engine Ursus Air Services
Anchorage, Alaska
Standard 2018-02-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6UK Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine N6Uk LLC
Goshen, Indiana
Standard 2018-02-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N21653 Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Skyhawk Holdings LLC
Waco, Texas
Standard 2018-02-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N73TL Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arkansas
Standard 2018-02-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N422EN Socata
TB-20 TRINIDAD
Fixed-wing, single engine Hicks Avionics LLC
Dawson, Georgia
Standard 2018-02-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N108J Found Acft Canada Inc
FBA-2C1
Fixed-wing, single engine Kustatan Leasing LLC
Nikiski, Alaska
Standard 2018-02-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N184DG Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2018-02-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2360Y Piper
PA-36-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Restricted 2018-02-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N91HA Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Honeybee Air LLC
Newark, New Jersey
Standard 2018-02-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N920MA Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Perry Castonguay Farms INC
Omega, Oklahoma
Standard 2018-02-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N298HP Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Pendergrass INC
Demopolis, Alabama
Standard 2018-01-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5652H Maule
M-6-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2018-01-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6645A Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Almost There Air LLC
Daytona Beach, Florida
Standard 2018-01-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8144Y Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2018-01-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N122DT Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Fine Point Aviation LLC
Carrollton, Georgia
Standard 2018-01-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N258SC Piper
PA-32-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Blue Border LLC
Blue Earth, Minnesota
Standard 2018-01-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N36387 Piper
AEROSTAR 600
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2018-01-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N51785 Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Photos Unlimited
Rancho Cordova, California
Standard 2018-01-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N760MA Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Sandpiper Air LLC
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Standard 2018-01-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5895N Rockwell International
114A
Fixed-wing, single engine Commander Club LLC
Hudson, Wisconsin
Standard 2018-01-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N330JD Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2018-01-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N411SF Piper
PA-32R-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Techniflyte Services LLC
Southbury, Connecticut
Standard 2018-01-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9879F Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2018-01-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N18MQ Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Cr Helicopters INC
Nashua, New Hampshire
Standard 2018-01-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N182JD Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine
Standard 2018-01-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3552Q Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine
Standard 2018-01-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N281DK Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine N281Dk LLC
Brandywine, Maryland
Standard 2018-01-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
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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.