The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 9, 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
N801TC Cessna
206H
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2008-01-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9615C Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine D Wayne Hollar JR Dds Pa
Lenoir, North Carolina
Standard 2008-01-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N532P Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Penco Aviation LLC
Anchorage, Alaska
Standard 2008-01-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N321BY States T/Pagan C
RV-10
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Idaho
Experimental 2008-01-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N743KT Maule
MT-7-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2007-12-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N36555 Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard 2007-12-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N295SR Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Stokely Flying CORP
Indianapolis, Indiana
Standard 2007-11-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N260WT Maule
M-7-260C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-11-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N36129 Piper
PA-32RT-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Tjarks Heyo H
Dubuque, Iowa
Standard 2007-11-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N518JS Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-11-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4134M Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2007-11-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6167K Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2007-11-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7266M Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2007-10-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2417M Piper
PA-32R-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2007-10-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N60VW Wilkerson Vernon W
V W 1
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Experimental 2007-10-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N304JE Eiler John Edward
HARMON ROCKET II
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Experimental 2007-09-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8425P Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Saratoga 25 Papa LLC
Carmel, Indiana
Standard 2007-09-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3559X Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Spon Water Consulting LLC
South Beloit, Illinois
Standard 2007-09-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N98WY Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Cheyenne Flying Club LLC
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Standard 2007-09-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6777Y Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Plaquemines Parish Government
Belle Chasse, Louisiana
Multiple 2007-09-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N11UG Maule
MX-7-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2007-09-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N65966 Piper Aircraft Corporation
PA-60-601P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine
Standard 2007-09-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N540RS Lee R/Lee S
EAI BERKUT
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Utah
Experimental 2007-09-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N10662 Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2007-08-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N14009 Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Livingston Aviation INC
Waterloo, Iowa
Standard 2007-08-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4331B Piper
PA-32-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-08-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8147A Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Mcelroy Aviation LLC
Carrollton, Texas
Standard 2007-08-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N81858 Piper
PA-32-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Strohauer Farms INC
La Salle, Colorado
Standard 2007-07-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N341CH Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Ace Flight Center INC
St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Standard 2007-07-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N419BC Piper
PA-60-602P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Vagabond LLC
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Standard 2007-07-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N91TB Socata
TB-20 TRINIDAD
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-06-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8160A Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Kasw Aviation LLC
Warsaw, Indiana
Standard 2007-06-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N601PE Smith
AEROSTAR 601P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Vcs Transportation LLC
Hampton, Virginia
Special flight permit 2007-06-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4181D Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine N4181D CORP Trustee
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2007-06-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7275H Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Maryland
Standard 2007-06-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N104LD Masys Daniel R
VANS RV-10
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Experimental 2007-06-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N127SL Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Gulf Coast Helicopters INC
Pearland, Texas
Standard 2007-05-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N234WT Moore Walter T
SKYBOLT
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Experimental 2007-05-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N202BW Cessna
206H
Fixed-wing, single engine Coastal Defense INC
Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
Standard 2007-05-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N41838 Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 2007-05-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2967Q Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 2007-05-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N114KJ Commander Aircraft Co
114-B
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2007-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4152R Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Maryland
Standard 2007-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N441PR Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Huntingdon Valley Helicopter LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2007-04-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9253M Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Blue Eagle Air LLC
Singer Island, Florida
Standard 2007-04-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6023A Commander Aircraft Co
114-B
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2007-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N357ME Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Michigan Dept of Natural Resources
Roscommon, Michigan
Standard 2007-04-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2362J Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2007-04-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N90496 Piper
PA-32R-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Palmetto Aviation of Charleston LLC
Johns Island, South Carolina
Standard 2007-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3187Z Maule
MT-7-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2007-03-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N611TT Sutherland Mark V
VANS RV-10
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2007-03-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2180Z Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine M&M Aero LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2007-02-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N813DL Piper
PA-32R-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Boys Out Flying LLC
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Standard 2007-02-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N949WR Rose Wes
VELOCITY XL RG
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Experimental 2007-02-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6139A Maule
MX-7-235
Fixed-wing, single engine N6139A CORP Trustee
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2007-02-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N767DD Steen
SKYBOLT 1
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Experimental 2007-02-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N54EM Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Avirone LTD
Monsey, New York
Standard 2007-02-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N441NC Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Charlie Papa LLC
Van Nuys, California
Standard 2007-02-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N914JB Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2007-02-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N441SG Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2007-01-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N322TE Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 2007-01-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1137Y Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine 412 Jackson Site Development LLC
Oxford, Mississippi
Standard 2007-01-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N20DX Socata
TB-20 TRINIDAD
Fixed-wing, single engine Big Sur USA LLC
Boca Raton, Florida
Standard 2006-12-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N450DL Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Individual owner
California
Standard 2006-11-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N192RG Commander Aircraft Co
114-B
Fixed-wing, single engine Cinda Corporation
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Standard 2006-11-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N51784 Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2006-11-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N427JD Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Mule Air LLC
San Antonio, Texas
Standard 2006-11-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N472WC Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Joe Morten & Son INC
South Sioux City, Nebraska
Standard 2006-11-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N611LC Piper
AEROSTAR 601P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2006-11-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N469TC Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine East Pole Aviation LLC
E Setauket, New York
Standard 2006-10-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N65853 Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard 2006-10-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N118SL Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Joe Morten & Son INC
South Sioux City, Nebraska
Standard 2006-10-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N250RT Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Matthews Aviation LLC
Hardinsburg, Kentucky
Standard 2006-10-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N543MC Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Joe Morten & Son INC
S Sioux City, Nebraska
Standard 2006-10-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N234AJ Piper
PA-32R-301
Fixed-wing, single engine Mullins Land CO INC
Aiken, South Carolina
Standard 2006-09-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N427JL Maule
M-7-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2006-09-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N94AG Maule
M-7-235B
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Connecticut
Standard 2006-09-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N100LW Piper
PA-32-301
Fixed-wing, single engine N100Lw LLC
Hickory, North Carolina
Standard 2006-08-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2858H Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Pennsylvania
Standard 2006-08-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N342ME Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Aerostatics LLC
Gainesville, Florida
Standard 2006-08-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N555QR Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Carry On Leasing INC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2006-08-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N148DH Huntington Dennis
GLASAIR III
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Experimental 2006-08-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3178 Wilson J Stephen
COMP AIR 6
Fixed-wing, single engine High C Farms
St John, Kansas
Experimental 2006-08-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N241G Rockwell International
114
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2006-08-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N404SD Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Toms Aviation INC
Addison, Illinois
Standard 2006-08-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N355AS Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Pollux Aviation LTD
Wasilla, Alaska
Standard 2006-07-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7282A Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Bell Helicopters LLC
Melbourne, Florida
Standard 2006-07-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N75JR Aero Commander
500-B
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2006-07-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N549TS Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Aggregate Material Services LLC
Van Nuys, California
Standard 2006-06-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N551LA Robinson Helicopter
R44 II
Helicopter Hamlin CO
Long Beach, California
Standard 2006-06-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N784AC Cessna
182S
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2006-06-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N521TK Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Cato Air LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2006-06-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2367Z Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Brookie Aircraft LLC
Methuen, Massachusetts
Standard 2006-05-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N190AM Moghaddas Ali
AM-1
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Experimental 2006-05-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N251WH Hightower William A
GLASAIR III
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Experimental 2006-05-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5198T Cessna
206H
Fixed-wing, single engine Black Dog Aviation LLC
Troy, Michigan
Standard 2006-05-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N529VM Commander Aircraft Co
114-B
Fixed-wing, single engine Cgm Aviation LLC
Gainesville, Florida
Standard 2006-05-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N195FA Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 2006-05-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N729CP Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Civil Air Patrol
Maxwell Afb, Alabama
Standard 2006-05-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N738CP Cessna
182T
Fixed-wing, single engine Civil Air Patrol
Maxwell Afb, Alabama
Standard 2006-05-10 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.