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
N6510L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Purpose Flight INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2020-01-24	Valid
N1770T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cherryhill Aviation INC Freetown, Indiana	Standard	2020-01-23	Valid
N52671	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Carver Aero LLC Muscatine, Iowa	Restricted	2020-01-23	Valid
N73298	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-23	Valid
N80FP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Carastro Enterprises LLC Montgomery, Alabama	Standard	2020-01-23	Valid
N9827U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2020-01-23	Valid
N9881Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky Drivers LLC Lavalette, West Virginia	Standard	2020-01-23	Valid
N13096	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flights Cool LLC La Conner, Washington	Standard	2020-01-22	Valid
N1763J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-22	Valid
N7319G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2020-01-22	Valid
N16RK	Koger Ralph H RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	4Bravo9 LLC Simsbury, Connecticut	Experimental	2020-01-21	Valid
N237LS	South Florida Ultralights Inc RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	South Florida Ultralights INC Mulberry, Florida	Experimental	2020-01-21	Valid
N3672K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	2020-01-21	Valid
N41557	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2020-01-21	Valid
N5271R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-01-21	Valid
N733FA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	JR Imaging Logistics INC Pasco, Washington	Standard	2020-01-21	Valid
N217AW	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hobart Aviation INC Akron, Ohio	Standard	2020-01-17	Valid
N3043Z	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Maria A Sklar Pa DBA Sklar Law Trustee Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Standard	2020-01-17	Valid
N4337Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hobart Aviation INC Akron, Ohio	Standard	2020-01-17	Valid
N64081	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2020-01-17	Valid
N1089P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N160FS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N16XP	Mcholland C L MCHOLLAND-GLASTAR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Experimental	2020-01-16	Valid
N2373T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N3076E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Mexico	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N41530	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dahl Ranch INC Camp Crook, South Dakota	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N4368H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Muskogee Airmen INC Muskogee, Oklahoma	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N6396R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N70000	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N7306E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	G & M Aircraft INC Wheat Ridge, Colorado	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N7387E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N8761M	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2020-01-16	Valid
N13370	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N22LF	Green BEDE BD-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Experimental	2020-01-15	Valid
N26FP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N2959U	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Smart5 LLC Kissimmee, Florida	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N4451P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Upper Apache LLC Titusville, Florida	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N5057Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N6346W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N6608W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Grant Hooks LLC Middleburg, Florida	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N7617F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N91813	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fallbrook Fly Girl LLC Lakeside, Oregon	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N95237	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2020-01-15	Valid
N20216	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N20389	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kcn Aero Club INC Overland Park, Kansas	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N30017	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N3563Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Godoy Aviation INC Parkland, Florida	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N5026E	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N555SM	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N5VY	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-14	Valid
N1188U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aurotel Aviation INC Trustee Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N283WM	Bagwill Wayne RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2020-01-13	Valid
N4305J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N50947	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bend Aircraft Mechanics LLC Bend, Oregon	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N5234R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N56704	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Anderson Aviation LLC Wadesboro, North Carolina	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N64313	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aerial Scouting Solutions LLC Sioux Center, Iowa	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N8579	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N92424	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2020-01-13	Valid
N41573	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-01-10	Valid
N1042S	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N1206E	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N2063L	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N227MJ	Rausch Richard RV4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2020-01-09	Valid
N24HT	Tibbets A. H. RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2020-01-09	Valid
N3795Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N4234Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Multiple	2020-01-09	Valid
N4582R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N56134	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N6006W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N80158	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N8027F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N80396	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Osprey Holding Company LLC Foley, Alabama	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N8785D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Multiple	2020-01-09	Valid
N9586D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Delaware	Standard	2020-01-09	Valid
N4896G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Vermont	Standard	2020-01-08	Valid
N8343R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2020-01-08	Valid
N321JB	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2020-01-07	Valid
N5110X	Champion 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	T & M Aerial Spraying Garland, North Carolina	Standard	2020-01-07	Valid
N6272A	Mader William J WAG-AERO 2+2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Experimental	2020-01-07	Valid
N632DW	Stanish-Joseph MUSTANG-II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Experimental	2020-01-07	Valid
N7075Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2020-01-07	Valid
N79932	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2020-01-07	Valid
N8439M	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	Steel Supply CO Rolling Meadows, Illinois	Standard	2020-01-07	Valid
N84793	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aviation Partners 1 LLC Lewes, Delaware	Standard	2020-01-07	Valid
N1487V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	First Flight Corporation San Diego, California	Standard	2020-01-06	Valid
N46219	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2020-01-06	Valid
N6554W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tpc Air LLC Colleyville, Texas	Standard	2020-01-06	Valid
N733QX	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2020-01-06	Valid
N145HP	Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N29538	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	29538 Aviation LLC Fernandina Beach, Florida	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N2999T	Aero Commander 100	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N4182Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	King Air INC Naknek, Alaska	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N4839G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Paw Lifter Aero LLC Madison, Indiana	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N739NG	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum INC Detroit, Michigan	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N7750D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N801V	Cassman Mark Thomas RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Experimental	2020-01-03	Valid
N84267	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N8912D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2020-01-03	Valid
N934GR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2020-01-03	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