Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 9, 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

Model families, as a table

	aircraft
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	9,462
Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow	6,844
Piper PA-18 Super Cub	2,393
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt	1,660
Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger	566
Bellanca 7 Citabria	563
Cessna 177 Cardinal	398
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec	347
Robinson R22	276
Champion 7 Citabria and Champ	266
American Champion Aircraft 7 Citabria and Champ	249
Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser	149

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

Texas2,351California2,123Florida2,077Alaska1,796Washington1,004Ohio731Georgia719Minnesota686North Carolina674Arizona659

By state, as a table

	aircraft
Texas	2,351
California	2,123
Florida	2,077
Alaska	1,796
Washington	1,004
Ohio	731
Georgia	719
Minnesota	686
North Carolina	674
Arizona	659

Kind of aircraft

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

By kind, as a table

	aircraft	share
Piston singles	26,597	97%
Piston twins	414	2%
Helicopters	303	1%
Gliders	1	0.0%

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table

	aircraft
1930	5
1940	234
1950	2,383
1960	5,444
1970	11,405
1980	1,935
1990	1,132
2000	831
2010	99
2020	55

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

Failure reports by year, as a table

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Spar18Tube17Cylinder15Bulkhead9Alternator8Control Cable8Bolt7Carburetor7Fitting6Float6

Parts most reported, as a table

	reports
Spar	18
Tube	17
Cylinder	15
Bulkhead	9
Alternator	8
Control Cable	8
Bolt	7
Carburetor	7
Fitting	6
Float	6

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 2,351 of these aircraft
California 2,123 of these aircraft
Florida 2,077 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

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/engine/lycoming-o-320-series.json.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 27,315

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N53886	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	2020-07-30	Valid
N61594	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hawk Aviation INC Rush City, Minnesota	Standard	2020-07-30	Valid
N64608	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	A S Air LLC Lantana, Florida	Standard	2020-07-30	Valid
N7192L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cheek Donald Ocala, Florida	Standard	2020-07-30	Valid
N84449	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Mexico	Standard	2020-07-30	Valid
N1103M	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying M Enterprises Loomis, Nebraska	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N1329Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N2KF	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N6133J	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N6332R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N6767B	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N884PS	Spainhower Paul GLASAIR SUPER-II-FT	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Experimental	2020-07-29	Valid
N92855	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Falcon Flying Club Mesa, Arizona	Standard	2020-07-29	Valid
N214BW	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kansas Farm & Ranch INC Seneca, Kansas	Standard	2020-07-28	Valid
N30285	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Galena City School District Galena, Alaska	Standard	2020-07-28	Valid
N5069H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-07-28	Valid
N5238W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-07-28	Valid
N55197	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bartlett Aviation LLC Louisville, Kentucky	Standard	2020-07-28	Valid
N7618S	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2020-07-28	Valid
N2239T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	2020-07-27	Valid
N6395R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Foundation of Wayne Community College INC Goldsboro, North Carolina	Standard	2020-07-27	Valid
N916MH	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2020-07-27	Valid
N13805	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gateway Flight Center LLC Port Lavaca, Texas	Standard	2020-07-24	Valid
N3015E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2020-07-24	Valid
N64964	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dodson International Parts INC Rantoul, Kansas	Standard	2020-07-24	Valid
N987E	Eslinger Carl RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Experimental	2020-07-24	Valid
N3021C	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Air Force Owner Hanscom Afb, Massachusetts	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N31632	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mikerich LLC Laguna Hills, California	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N60GA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Glidewell Aviation INC Parkland, Florida	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N8092H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	United States Air Force Owner Hanscom Afb, Massachusetts	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N80941	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N881RD	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N9628H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	T3 Aerosports LLC Vian, Oklahoma	Standard	2020-07-23	Valid
N193DM	Martin Dennis C RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Experimental	2020-07-22	Valid
N21543	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lima Bravo Group CORP Miami, Florida	Standard	2020-07-22	Valid
N5133V	Morrisey 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Monkey LLC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2020-07-22	Valid
N6358R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2020-07-22	Valid
N7226J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-07-22	Valid
N3471Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Multiple	2020-07-21	Valid
N38FR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2020-07-21	Valid
N97674	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Oc Flight Lessons LLC Costa Mesa, California	Standard	2020-07-21	Valid
N46420	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Frontier Environmental Solutions INC Inyokern, California	Standard	2020-07-20	Valid
N5868D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2020-07-20	Valid
N645RD	Drachenberg Ronald F RV9-A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Veterinary Surgical Supply (Vss) LLC Kalispell, Montana	Experimental	2020-07-20	Valid
N9042D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-07-20	Valid
N986	Mcdaniel Lemuel D Jr MIDGET MUSTANG MM-I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2020-07-20	Valid
N1396R	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-07-17	Valid
N4887T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-07-17	Valid
N6119D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2020-07-17	Valid
N777VA	Rice Knowlton P VOLANTE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Volante Aircraft LLC South Jordan, Utah	Experimental	2020-07-17	Valid
N12931	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N1336R	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N2214P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N5626W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N6511W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N7035Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Early Bird Aviation LLC Phoenix, Arizona	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N739QH	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skywarrior Flight Training INC Pensacola, Florida	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N78195	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mishawaka Pilots Club INC Osceola, Indiana	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N8823C	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N8903D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2020-07-16	Valid
N1973H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Allen Quandt INC Grand Island, Nebraska	Standard	2020-07-15	Valid
N2818E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	T e W INC Lexington, North Carolina	Standard	2020-07-15	Valid
N4304A	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2020-07-15	Valid
N66KY	Verderame Ronald LONG-EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Experimental	2020-07-15	Valid
N739RN	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2020-07-15	Valid
N629B	Burleigh Ron GLASTAR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Experimental	2020-07-14	Valid
N78388	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2020-07-14	Valid
N95427	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2020-07-14	Valid
N13059	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Zev Aviation LLC Morristown, New Jersey	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N305XX	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ds Group LLC Miami, Florida	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N37EZ	Nunn Kenneth E LONG-EZE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2020-07-13	Valid
N5506L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N56HC	Cornelison STARDUSTER SA300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Experimental	2020-07-13	Valid
N68564	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Multiple	2020-07-13	Valid
N70699	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N8396Z	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Saflite Pilot Training INC Hooksett, New Hampshire	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N84097	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N8493R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Capital City Flyers LLC Thomasville, Georgia	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N9698H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eagle Simulator LLC Lake Oswego, Oregon	Standard	2020-07-13	Valid
N65753	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Bulldogs LLC Joplin, Missouri	Standard	2020-07-09	Valid
N6942K	Piper PA-18-135	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gold Cap LLC Bremerton, Washington	Restricted	2020-07-09	Valid
N734JS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2020-07-09	Valid
N739ZG	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	R & R Aero Services Llcc Eden Prairie, Minnesota	Standard	2020-07-09	Valid
N9406P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-07-09	Valid
N9685H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Boys Will Fly LLC Mapleton, Utah	Standard	2020-07-09	Valid
N19830	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2020-07-08	Valid
N26944	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2020-07-08	Valid
N97528	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky Warrior Flight Training INC Pensacola, Florida	Standard	2020-07-08	Valid
N3127P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N3383T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N5505F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N5811E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N59WL	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N6019D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N716K	Patterson Kelly J VANS RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Experimental	2020-07-07	Valid
N737MU	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Trade Winds Aviation Holdings LLC Lewes, Delaware	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N774HA	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Extreme Helicopter Service LLC Alice, Texas	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N8469H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bolter Aviation INC Lewisville, Texas	Standard	2020-07-07	Valid
N7063B	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-07-06	Valid
N2774J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2020-07-02	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	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4