Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 7, 2026

Lycoming O-320 series

27,315 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Lycoming O-320 series engine, rated at about 180 horsepower. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the model most often fitted with it (9,462 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1949 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 O-320 series (2 codes). FAA spellings: 0-320 SERIES · O-320 SERIES.

Fitted to model families

Cessna 172 Skyhawk9,462Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow6,844Piper PA-18 Super Cub2,393Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt1,660Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger566Bellanca 7 Citabria563Cessna 177 Cardinal398Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec347Robinson R22276Champion 7 Citabria and Champ266American Champion Aircraft 7 Citabria and Champ249Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser149

Cessna 172 Skyhawk · Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow · Piper PA-18 Super Cub · Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt · Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger · Bellanca 7 Citabria · Cessna 177 Cardinal · Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec · Robinson R22 · Champion 7 Citabria and Champ

Where they are owner's state

Texas2,350California2,123Florida2,076Alaska1,796Washington1,004Ohio731Georgia718Minnesota686North Carolina674Arizona659

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles26,597 (97%)Piston twins414 (2%)Helicopters303 (1%)Gliders1 (0.0%)

When the aircraft were built by decade

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Lycoming O-320 series the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E-274, held by Lycoming Engines). The FAA has issued 29 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 349 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 19 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 29 airworthiness directives · newest first

2026-04-082026-04-11 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine

2024-12-052024-21-02 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine

2022-08-152022-16-03 · Engine (RECIPROCATING) · engine

2012-03-272012-03-07 · Carburetor · engine

2008-10-202008-19-05 · Parallel Valve'' reciprocating engines · engine

2006-01-312005-26-10 · ECi cylinder assemblies. · engine

All orders naming the Lycoming O-320 series

Failure reports 349 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Spar18Tube17Cylinder15Bulkhead9Alternator8Control Cable8Bolt7Carburetor7Fitting6Float6

Latest reports

2026-09-03Gascolator: dirty

2026-05-19Impulse Coupling: unserviceable

2026-03-10Cylinder Head: cracked

2026-03-05Cylinder: cracked

2025-11-24Cylinder: cracked

Certificates and bulletins

E-274Type certificate held by Lycoming Engines · 60 models listed · revised April 30, 2013

Safety bulletins 17 · advice, not orders

2022-09-26NE-06-31R6 · Engine Lubricating Oils

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,...

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 9,462 with this engine series
Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 6,844 with this engine series
Piper PA-18 Super Cub 2,393 with this engine series
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 1,660 with this engine series
Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger 566 with this engine series
Bellanca 7 Citabria 563 with this engine series
Cessna 177 Cardinal 398 with this engine series
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec 347 with this engine series

Where they are

Texas 2,350 of these aircraft
California 2,123 of these aircraft
Florida 2,076 of these aircraft
Alaska 1,796 of these aircraft
Washington 1,004 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC 107 of these aircraft
American Patrols INC 61 of these aircraft
Paris Air INC 33 of these aircraft
Civil Air Patrol INC 33 of these aircraft
International Air Services INC Trustee 30 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Lycoming O-320 series 29 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Lycoming O-320 series 349 reports since 1995

Analytics

These connections as data: /graph/engine/lycoming-o-320-series.json · about the eFlight graph.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 27,315

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N29221	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	King Management Systems INC Liverpool, Texas	Standard	2026-03-06	Valid
N2962U	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2026-03-06	Valid
N3574Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Multiple	2026-03-06	Valid
N424BW	Watkins Billy J RV-8	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skye Equipment LLC Asheboro, North Carolina	Experimental	2026-03-06	Valid
N4330Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southwest Aviation Specialties LLC Tulsa, Oklahoma	Standard	2026-03-06	Valid
N738RF	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Severe Clear Aviation LLC Alpine, California	Standard	2026-03-06	Valid
N917VK	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Northern Lights Ventures LLC Moose Pass, Alaska	Standard	2026-03-06	Valid
N429KE	Martinson Tim RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Experimental	2026-03-05	Valid
N4914F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Htm LLC Middletown, Connecticut	Standard	2026-03-05	Valid
N10034	Maule MX-7-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2026-03-04	Valid
N186JH	Heiring John H LONG-EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	Executive Transport Services LLC Santaquin, Utah	Experimental	2026-03-04	Valid
N46436	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aero Science International LLC Martinez, Georgia	Standard	2026-03-04	Valid
N733MV	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2026-03-04	Valid
N86752	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	J&M Aviation Supply INC Shreveport, Louisiana	Standard	2026-03-04	Valid
N9315E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2026-03-04	Valid
N9984W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2026-03-04	Valid
N4695Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2026-03-03	Valid
N49AV	Velette MUSTANG II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Experimental	2026-03-03	Valid
N1116P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N128SM	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N2356	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N2862A	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Precious Heir Holding Company LLC Tucson, Arizona	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N29320	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Triple G Aviation LLC South Point, Ohio	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N3854Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N9886V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2026-03-02	Valid
N3165Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2026-03-01	Valid
N5428W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bon Investment Holdings LLC Zephyrhills, Florida	Standard	2026-03-01	Valid
N6755J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bon Investment Holdings LLC Zephyrhills, Florida	Standard	2026-03-01	Valid
N73197	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2026-03-01	Valid
N82NB	Bingham Neil D BINGHAM VANS RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2026-03-01	Valid
N8736D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2026-03-01	Valid
N1247U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Delari INC Miramar, Florida	Standard	2026-02-28	Valid
N17DN	Giles F D RV4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Experimental	2026-02-28	Valid
N401FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2026-02-28	Valid
N4123Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	One2One LLC Westminster, California	Standard	2026-02-28	Valid
N4374Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Willaero LLC Union City, Tennessee	Standard	2026-02-28	Valid
N6365W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2026-02-28	Valid
N82644	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2026-02-28	Valid
N1820H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	5C1 Jet Center LLC Boerne, Texas	Standard	2026-02-27	Valid
N32988	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2026-02-27	Valid
N490GR	Greer Joseph B Jr BD-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Experimental	2026-02-27	Valid
N5GJ	Grumman American Avn. Corp. GA-7	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Northampton Lsa LLC Northampton, Massachusetts	Standard	2026-02-27	Valid
N1759J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bt Aero Precission Flight Accademy LLC Stockton, California	Standard	2026-02-26	Valid
N35741	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2026-02-26	Valid
N282MK	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alpe Holding LLC Van Nuys, California	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N41419	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N5055H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Shaka Skies LLC Kihei, Hawaii	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N5279W	Piper PA-28	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Aviator LLC Arlington, Texas	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N78657	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N7950G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rotormate LLC Royse City, Texas	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N8287J	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N90759	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	Kemp Acquisitions LLC Lone Jack, Missouri	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N9894G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	1S6 Flying Club INC Sandpoint, Idaho	Standard	2026-02-25	Valid
N150AK	P Z L Koliber 150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N2560P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N35701	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mcha Aviation LLC Vinita, Oklahoma	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N39953	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N556PA	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aviator CORP Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N5983M	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N9601Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Steel Aviation INC Walnut Cove, North Carolina	Standard	2026-02-24	Valid
N19753	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-23	Valid
N2812Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hammond David J Chesterfield, Virginia	Standard	2026-02-23	Valid
N32947	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alpe Holding LLC Van Nuys, California	Standard	2026-02-23	Valid
N3887F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	N3887F LLC Omaha, Nebraska	Standard	2026-02-23	Valid
N652P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-23	Valid
N94DL	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Whiskey November Aviation LLC Minneapolis, Minnesota	Standard	2026-02-23	Valid
N12706	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N1507E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N4771J	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Asx Flight Services LLC Ashland, Wisconsin	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N53293	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N542MA	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Daystar Aviation LLC Orange Park, Florida	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N8410E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N9777U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2026-02-22	Valid
N4064G	Mullaney Robert S RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Experimental	2026-02-21	Valid
N4792A	Dufault Mark V BUSH WAGON	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Experimental	2026-02-21	Valid
N56748	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N5738U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Florida Time Building LLC Port Saint Lucie, Florida	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N6409R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fly 365 LTD Montrose, Colorado	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N7249F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N7257D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Arctic Aero LLC North Pole, Alaska	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N7986L	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N8820E	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2026-02-21	Valid
N27LA	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-20	Valid
N40DC	Cargill Don A RV-3A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wright Innovators LLC Sebastian, Florida	Experimental	2026-02-20	Valid
N768GA	Grumman American Avn. Corp. GA-7	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2026-02-20	Valid
N8295H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Anywhere Atp LLC Mt Juliet, Tennessee	Standard	2026-02-20	Valid
N927JS	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-20	Valid
N35715	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kindblade Aeronautics LLC Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-19	Valid
N5588W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2026-02-19	Valid
N5894L	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2026-02-19	Valid
N8401L	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Black Baron Air LLC Kalispell, Montana	Standard	2026-02-19	Valid
N61709	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2026-02-18	Valid
N805EH	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2026-02-18	Valid
N8209E	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Anywhere Atp LLC Mount Juliet, Tennessee	Standard	2026-02-18	Valid
N9236Y	Maule MX-7-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee Casper, Wyoming	Standard	2026-02-18	Valid
N12192	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jet & Rotor Aviation LLC Sacramento, California	Standard	2026-02-17	Valid
N1933F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vidal Aviation LLC Gaithersburg, Maryland	Standard	2026-02-17	Valid
N3346P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Dramstad Flying Service LLC Helena, Montana	Standard	2026-02-17	Valid
N4293Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Super Cub N4293Z LLC Creston, California	Restricted	2026-02-17	Valid
N737LR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eagle Home Medical CORP Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina	Standard	2026-02-17	Valid

Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 7, 2026. Horsepower and thrust are the FAA's figures for the series, not for a particular aircraft.