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.

Fitted to model families

Model families, as a table

	aircraft
Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga	1,059
Cessna 182 Skylane	978
Robinson R44	294
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec	175
Daher (Socata) TB-20	151
Maule M-7	108
Cessna 206 Stationair	99
Piper AEROSTAR 601	84
Rockwell International 114	78
Commander Aircraft Co 114	63
Maule M-6	47
Maule MT-7	42

Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga · Cessna 182 Skylane · Robinson R44 · Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec · Daher (Socata) TB-20 · Maule M-7 · Cessna 206 Stationair · Piper AEROSTAR 601 · Rockwell International 114 · Commander Aircraft Co 114

Where they are owner's state

Texas420Florida398California295Delaware218North Carolina124Georgia123Michigan115Pennsylvania109Alaska109Alabama108

By state, as a table

	aircraft
Texas	420
Florida	398
California	295
Delaware	218
North Carolina	124
Georgia	123
Michigan	115
Pennsylvania	109
Alaska	109
Alabama	108

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles3,503 (83%)Piston twins410 (10%)Helicopters296 (7%)Turboprops9 (0.2%)

By kind, as a table

	aircraft	share
Piston singles	3,503	83%
Piston twins	410	10%
Helicopters	296	7%
Turboprops	9	0.2%

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table

	aircraft
1940	2
1950	13
1960	96
1970	797
1980	579
1990	748
2000	1,339
2010	78
2020	56

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

Failure reports by year, as a table

	reports
95	3
96	3
97	3
98	4
99	4
00	11
01	37
02	15
03	37
04	34
05	50
06	30
07	19
08	12
09	3
10	12
11	2
12	7
13	5
14	6
15	2
17	1
19	4
20	2
22	2
23	1
24	5
26	2

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Magneto19Cylinder10Bearing8Gasket8Bolt7Boot7Actuator6Line6Pump6Baffle5

Parts most reported, as a table

	reports
Magneto	19
Cylinder	10
Bearing	8
Gasket	8
Bolt	7
Boot	7
Actuator	6
Line	6
Pump	6
Baffle	5

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

Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 1,059 with this engine series
Cessna 182 Skylane 978 with this engine series
Robinson R44 294 with this engine series
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec 175 with this engine series
Daher (Socata) TB-20 151 with this engine series
Maule M-7 108 with this engine series
Cessna 206 Stationair 99 with this engine series
Piper AEROSTAR 601 84 with this engine series

Where they are

Texas 420 of these aircraft
Florida 398 of these aircraft
California 295 of these aircraft
Delaware 218 of these aircraft
North Carolina 124 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

Civil Air Patrol 55 of these aircraft
Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee 20 of these aircraft
Barr Air Patrol LLC 17 of these aircraft
International Air Services INC Trustee 16 of these aircraft
T A F Y Consulting 14 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Lycoming IO-540 series 49 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Lycoming IO-540 series 316 reports since 1995

Analytics

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 model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N354CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Montgomery, Alabama	Standard	2005-03-30	Valid
N81481	Piper PA-32R-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bci Aviation LLC Dallas, Texas	Standard	2005-03-28	Valid
N704BC	Aerofab Inc LAKE 250	Fixed-wing, single engine	N8550Z LLC Grand Rapids, Michigan	Standard	2005-03-24	Valid
N8247G	Piper PA-23-250	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	City of Stuttgart Stuttgart, Arkansas	Standard	2005-03-21	Valid
N63921	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Nc Division of Marine Fisheries Morehead City, North Carolina	Standard	2005-03-14	Valid
N7279W	Cessna 182S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cj Aviation LLC Freeport, Maine	Standard	2005-03-09	Valid
N23807	Cessna 182S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Virginia	Standard	2005-03-08	Valid
N30919	Piper PA-32-300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Callahan Aviation LLC Clearwater, Florida	Standard	2005-03-04	Valid
N706TB	Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mha Flying LLC Annapolis, Maryland	Standard	2005-02-11	Valid
N6492G	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	State of North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina	Standard	2005-01-27	Valid
N420FW	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Lakeland, Florida	Standard	2005-01-26	Valid
N421FW	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Lakeland, Florida	Standard	2005-01-26	Valid
N274ME	Cessna 206H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sabra Davis CORP Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2005-01-19	Valid
N65507	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cora & Associates LLC Norcross, Georgia	Standard	2005-01-14	Valid
N700YM	Piper AEROSTAR 601P	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	2004-12-28	Valid
N685AC	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mullerhill INC Hillsboro Beach, Florida	Standard	2004-12-23	Valid
N38AL	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airloc LLC Atlanta, Georgia	Standard	2004-12-21	Valid
N514CB	Piper PA-32R-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ange LLC Honolulu, Hawaii	Standard	2004-12-17	Valid
N168GT	Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD	Fixed-wing, single engine	N168Gt LLC Newbury Park, California	Standard	2004-12-14	Valid
N441BJ	Robinson Helicopter R44 II	Helicopter	Co-owned owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2004-12-08	Valid
N38206	Piper PA-32R-300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2004-12-02	Valid
N206BC	Cessna 206H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2004-11-24	Valid
N345EM	Robinson Helicopter R44 II	Helicopter	Little J Aviation LLC Roswell, Georgia	Standard	2004-11-23	Valid
N603SA	Staudacher Aircraft Inc S600 F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Experimental	2004-11-22	Valid
N104LJ	Feldhousen Larry A VANS RV 10	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2004-11-17	Valid
N182SV	Cessna 182S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky-Vu Flyers INC Fishers, Indiana	Standard	2004-11-16	Valid
N9284Z	Piper PA-32R-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flex Aircraft Leasing CO LLC Detroit, Michigan	Standard	2004-11-16	Valid
N714ED	Piper PA-32R-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2004-11-15	Valid
N7007	Commander Aircraft Co 114TC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Command Aero LLC Newark, Delaware	Standard	2004-11-05	Valid
N2163J	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Portland Police Bureau Portland, Oregon	Standard	2004-11-03	Valid
N365WC	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2004-11-02	Valid
N2513Q	Carter Lester A STEEN SKYBOLT	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2004-10-25	Valid
N398SA	Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2004-10-06	Valid
N6197Z	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Clermont Management Services INC Marietta, Georgia	Standard	2004-10-04	Valid
N4898W	Rockwell International 114	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2004-10-01	Valid
N122DD	Piper PA-23-250	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Beacon Hill Leasing LLC Plymouth, Michigan	Standard	2004-09-28	Valid
N818SK	Klein R S/Ross H W HARMON ROCKET II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Experimental	2004-09-17	Valid
N82LE	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Collier County Sheriffs Office Naples, Florida	Standard	2004-09-14	Valid
N225ES	Kermanj Sohrab VANS RV10	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2004-09-08	Valid
N6167L	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eastern Cincinnati Aviation INC Batavia, Ohio	Standard	2004-09-07	Valid
N920BW	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2004-08-09	Valid
N115VS	Sei Vincent Joseph F-1D ROCKET	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Experimental	2004-08-04	Valid
N126RG	Staudacher Aircraft Inc S-300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Experimental	2004-08-03	Valid
N29268	Werner Russell D HARMON ROCKET II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Experimental	2004-07-28	Valid
N60046	Commander Aircraft Co 114-B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2004-07-19	Valid
N98FS	Simanek Ferdinand A GLASIR III	Fixed-wing, single engine	Little Nova Foundation Wilmington, Delaware	Experimental	2004-07-14	Valid
N7400S	Smith AEROSTAR 600	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	2004-07-06	Valid
N80ER	Rouse Eric HARMON ROCKET	Fixed-wing, single engine	Modular Solutions INC Kinston, North Carolina	Experimental	2004-07-02	Valid
N482MB	Piper PA-32-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Jersey	Standard	2004-06-29	Valid
N641JM	Cessna 206H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2004-06-08	Valid
N2313Z	Piper PA-23-250	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	T R Gemelli Holding CO LLC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2004-06-07	Valid
N7524W	Robinson Helicopter R44 II	Helicopter	N7524W LLC Grand Ledge, Michigan	Standard	2004-06-01	Valid
N831BB	Piper PA-32R-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ventec LLC Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Standard	2004-05-25	Valid
N8203K	Cessna 206H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Handy Air INC Douglas, Georgia	Standard	2004-05-21	Valid
N1893S	Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2004-05-13	Valid
N88SA	Babcock Lynn D GLASAIR III	Fixed-wing, single engine	ABC Aviation LLC Oakland, California	Experimental	2004-05-05	Valid
N114EL	Piper PA-32-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Naperville Flying Club Woodridge, Illinois	Standard	2004-04-30	Valid
N336FS	Robinson Charles M EXPRESS FT (AURIGA)	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2004-04-28	Valid
N75TB	Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2004-04-28	Valid
N797SP	Cessna 172S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sundowners INC Fort Myers, Florida	Standard	2004-04-27	Valid
N3RT	Tews K Richard SWEARINGEN SX300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2004-04-16	Valid
N83763	Piper PA-32-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Stingerpower INC San Jose, California	Standard	2004-04-12	Valid
N9FV	Cessna 182S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Georgia Forestry Commission Macon, Georgia	Standard	2004-04-12	Valid
N830CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-04-08	Valid
N832CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-04-08	Valid
N833CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-04-08	Valid
N835CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-04-08	Valid
N836CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-04-08	Valid
N8247T	Piper PA-32R-301	Fixed-wing, single engine	Saratoga Skies LLC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2004-03-29	Valid
N4176X	Piper PA32-301FT	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jack & Cole Airline INC Norcross, Georgia	Standard	2004-03-25	Valid
N44AK	Smith AEROSTAR 601P	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2004-03-25	Valid
N8XL	Greaves Thomas W RV-8	Fixed-wing, single engine	High C Farms Saint John, Kansas	Experimental	2004-03-24	Valid
N2147K	Piper PA-32-300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Agati INC Chicago, Illinois	Standard	2004-03-01	Valid
N72692	Cessna 206H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2004-02-26	Valid
N797MS	Siai-Marchetti F.260	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2004-02-18	Valid
N4199T	Cessna 182S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N809CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N813CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N818CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N819CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N820CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N821CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N826CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N827CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N828CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N829CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-02-11	Valid
N163MM	Mooney M20M	Fixed-wing, single engine	J & L Avstar CORP Paducah, Kentucky	Standard	2004-02-10	Valid
N182KH	Cessna 182S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2004-01-29	Valid
N31VC	Johnson Robert A 1731RG-XL	Fixed-wing, single engine	Velocity Cruisers LLC Mabank, Texas	Experimental	2004-01-29	Valid
N810CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-01-16	Valid
N811CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-01-16	Valid
N815CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-01-16	Valid
N816CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-01-16	Valid
N817CP	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Civil Air Patrol Maxwell Afb, Alabama	Standard	2004-01-16	Valid
N21369	Cessna 182T	Fixed-wing, single engine	Smk Holdings LLC Sandy, Utah	Standard	2004-01-13	Valid
N2061B	Cessna 206H	Fixed-wing, single engine	M R O Drug Test Results LLC Wintersville, Ohio	Standard	2004-01-12	Valid
N477R	Piper PA32-301FT	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2004-01-09	Valid
N417DS	Schmiesing Don C VANS ACFT RV-8	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Experimental	2004-01-08	Valid
N722TB	Socata TB20	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rettig Air LLC Riverside, California	Standard	2004-01-08	Valid
N21WK	King Wesley A ROCKET	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2004-01-05	Valid

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.

	reports
95	3
96	3
97	3
98	4
99	4
00	11
01	37
02	15
03	37
04	34
05	50
06	30
07	19
08	12
09	3
10	12
11	2
12	7
13	5
14	6
15	2
17	1
19	4
20	2
22	2
23	1
24	5
26	2

	reports
95	3
96	3
97	3
98	4
99	4
00	11
01	37
02	15
03	37
04	34
05	50
06	30
07	19
08	12
09	3
10	12
11	2
12	7
13	5
14	6
15	2
17	1
19	4
20	2
22	2
23	1
24	5
26	2

	reports
95	3
96	3
97	3
98	4
99	4
00	11
01	37
02	15
03	37
04	34
05	50
06	30
07	19
08	12
09	3
10	12
11	2
12	7
13	5
14	6
15	2
17	1
19	4
20	2
22	2
23	1
24	5
26	2