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
N749DW	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Antler Aviation and Wildlife Service LLC Wasilla, Alaska	Standard	2020-02-20	Valid
N75600	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airspeed Marketing LLC Phoenix, Arizona	Standard	2020-02-20	Valid
N30YD	Boyd William E Jr VANS RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Experimental	2020-02-19	Valid
N49AK	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-02-19	Valid
N84367	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2020-02-19	Valid
N158SR	Ralston Samuel Sherman RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Experimental	2020-02-14	Valid
N257DF	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-02-13	Valid
N7267F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2020-02-13	Valid
N8492P	Peterson Ted R STARDUSTER-II SA300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2020-02-13	Valid
N9855G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Durant, Oklahoma	Standard	2020-02-13	Valid
N99396	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flightline Air Service LLC Pineville, Louisiana	Standard	2020-02-13	Valid
N996K	Glandt STARDUSTER 100	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hatbright Farm LLC Wilmington, Delaware	Experimental	2020-02-13	Valid
N5819W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2020-02-12	Valid
N6950W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ealp LLC Evansville, Indiana	Standard	2020-02-12	Valid
N8339R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2020-02-12	Valid
N2294Y	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Michigan	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N26788	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Redwood Aircraft LLC Santa Rosa, California	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N42363	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N46167	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N4672Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N62715	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	None on file	2020-02-11	Valid
N6973H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N8681D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wayward Willow LLC Wasilla, Alaska	Standard	2020-02-11	Valid
N20912	B/G Dart 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	None on file	2020-02-10	Valid
N4241J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N44LK	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cessna Skyhawk LLC Parker, Colorado	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N47929	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N512BW	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Montauk Catamaran CO LLC Montauk, New York	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N5206R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N5512W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N9228D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N9321D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2020-02-10	Valid
N4864D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Chiota Aviation LLC Waco, Texas	Standard	2020-02-07	Valid
N5137W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2020-02-07	Valid
N5633W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2020-02-07	Valid
N2203T	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gateway Flight Training LLC Saint Louis, Missouri	Standard	2020-02-06	Valid
N36267	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-02-06	Valid
N4454Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2020-02-06	Valid
N96100	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Trajectory Aviation LLC Hollywood, Florida	Standard	2020-02-06	Valid
N57VB	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Maryland	Standard	2020-02-04	Valid
N62488	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Leaf Air LLC Queensbury, New York	Standard	2020-02-04	Valid
N7738G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2020-02-04	Valid
N8195Y	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alabama	Standard	2020-02-04	Valid
N8536D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2020-02-04	Valid
N9579L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2020-02-04	Valid
N16547	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N18541	Nutting Pat BABY BELLE	Rotorcraft	Individual owner Nebraska	Experimental	2020-02-03	Valid
N20457	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gulf Atlantic Airways INC Gainesville, Florida	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N21HC	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N225BF	Martin Douglas E RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Experimental	2020-02-03	Valid
N2262D	Marrero Andres STARDUSTER TOO SA300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rcs Aeronautical INC San Antonio, Texas	Experimental	2020-02-03	Valid
N29159	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southridge Developments INC San Miguel, California	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N3365B	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N3747K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N424RN	Norvelle Ronald D REBEL SUPREME	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2020-02-03	Valid
N7152G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	J&B Aircraft Leasing LLC Lufkin, Texas	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N734UF	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N8ZK	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	California Aviation Services INC Riverside, California	Standard	2020-02-03	Valid
N1804P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N20045	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Massey Travel LLC Ozark, Missouri	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N2710S	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N2833Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N3925Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ferrin Aviation LLC Rome, Georgia	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N4934F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Affordale Aviation CORP Moriches, New York	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N5922E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aerial Scouting Solutions LLC Sioux Center, Iowa	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N739RD	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-01-31	Valid
N20621	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alabama	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N32610	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ambrose Air LLC Raleigh, North Carolina	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N5890L	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N6137W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Prepmasters INC Boynton Beach, Florida	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N64336	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N747PT	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N8522D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2020-01-30	Valid
N1854J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	M & D Aviation 2019 LLC Ocklawaha, Florida	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N2221P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N41593	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flyin LLC Hyde Park, Utah	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N4165Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N61761	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hawk Aviation INC Rush City, Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N6521D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N809ST	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Puerto Rico	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N9AL	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fly By Night LLC Lexington Park, Maryland	Standard	2020-01-29	Valid
N2944T	Aero Commander 100	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N29NA	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N515SR	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N5466D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	5466 Delta LLC Costa Mesa, California	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N7734D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N78142	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N79142	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-28	Valid
N115WT	Austerman Benjamin R W-10 WITTMAN TAILWIN	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2020-01-27	Valid
N147MT	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	Standard	2020-01-27	Valid
N20348	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Red Oak Hawks LLC Red Oak, Iowa	Multiple	2020-01-27	Valid
N20792	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Carolina	Standard	2020-01-27	Valid
N4147E	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-27	Valid
N734ZK	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-01-27	Valid
N8868J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New York	Standard	2020-01-27	Valid
N1027B	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2020-01-24	Valid
N12849	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ripa Christopher J East Harwich, Massachusetts	Standard	2020-01-24	Valid
N282EM	Miller Edward J RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Experimental	2020-01-24	Valid
N3514Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2020-01-24	Valid
N6048D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-24	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