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
N9690H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-08-19	Valid
N7441G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sussex Aero Maintenance INC Georgetown, Delaware	Standard	2016-08-18	Valid
N6411W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	His Promise Aviation Service Big Spring, Texas	Standard	2016-08-17	Valid
N7774G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-08-17	Valid
N8262J	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2016-08-17	Valid
N904U	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Alaskas Untamed Adventures LLC Soldotna, Alaska	Standard	2016-08-17	Valid
N4493J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2016-08-16	Valid
N5881D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Multiple	2016-08-16	Valid
N62550	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2016-08-16	Valid
N734RQ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flywell Flying Club INC Roseville, Minnesota	Standard	2016-08-16	Valid
N8009N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2016-08-16	Valid
N85RW	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jkg LLC Murfreesboro, Tennessee	Standard	2016-08-16	Valid
N104NP	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dv Aviation INC Brainerd, Minnesota	Standard	2016-08-15	Valid
N12517	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-08-15	Valid
N4154P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Boslough Construction INC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2016-08-15	Valid
N5201Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2016-08-15	Valid
N739PX	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2016-08-15	Valid
N7540G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kelley Aircraft LLC Weyers Cave, Virginia	Standard	2016-08-15	Valid
N7236Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2016-08-12	Valid
N14YL	Piper L-14	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-08-11	Valid
N173KM	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ld Enterprises LLP Roswell, Georgia	Standard	2016-08-11	Valid
N5112V	Morrisey 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Multiple	2016-08-11	Valid
N64016	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ponderosa Aviators LLC Baker, Montana	Standard	2016-08-11	Valid
N7363E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Restricted	2016-08-11	Valid
N830RC	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-08-11	Valid
N12574	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	2016-08-10	Valid
N298GB	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-08-10	Valid
N5501N	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Illinois	Standard	2016-08-10	Valid
N7155R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-08-10	Valid
N7317F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2016-08-10	Valid
N738VA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Five Rivers Flight Training LLC Livermore, California	Standard	2016-08-10	Valid
N381MB	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2016-08-09	Valid
N44497	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Iowa	Standard	2016-08-09	Valid
N6778E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2016-08-08	Valid
N8844N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-08-08	Valid
N977JT	Lamp Terry S LONG EZ TL	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Experimental	2016-08-08	Valid
N3161Z	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2016-08-05	Valid
N5838L	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2016-08-05	Valid
N8062Q	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	N8062Q LLC Fairgrove, Michigan	Standard	2016-08-04	Valid
N322DR	Rearden Paul VANS RV8-A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2016-08-03	Valid
N5178R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hampton Flying Services LLC Portsmouth, New Hampshire	Standard	2016-08-03	Valid
N5023R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Standard	2016-08-02	Valid
N9667P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2016-08-02	Valid
N8889V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Puerto Rico	Standard	2016-08-01	Valid
N9687Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-08-01	Valid
N772RA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kehmeyer Aviation LLC Bronson, Michigan	Standard	2016-07-29	Valid
N1571E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2016-07-28	Valid
N277RM	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southeast Design & Manufacturing LLC Sun City Center, Florida	Standard	2016-07-28	Valid
N32793	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2016-07-28	Valid
N6423R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Standard	2016-07-28	Valid
N738UT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wright Flyer LLC Palm Coast, Florida	Standard	2016-07-28	Valid
N79571	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2016-07-28	Valid
N2342L	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Williams James W Brush Prairie, Washington	Standard	2016-07-27	Valid
N2624A	Piper PA-22-135	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-07-27	Valid
N56783	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-07-27	Valid
N3119P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner New Hampshire	Standard	2016-07-26	Valid
N7505R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mil2Atp INC Pikeville, North Carolina	Standard	2016-07-26	Valid
N7643C	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2016-07-26	Valid
N20533	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big Sky Aviation LLC El Campo, Texas	Standard	2016-07-25	Valid
N4268P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-07-25	Valid
N9098D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-07-25	Valid
N3581K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vick Michael S Camden, Alabama	Standard	2016-07-23	Valid
N3971K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2016-07-23	Valid
N5JC	Corcoran James BUSHBY MUSTANG-II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2016-07-23	Valid
N73799	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-07-23	Valid
N5729D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2016-07-22	Valid
N8418J	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2016-07-22	Valid
N15842	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-07-21	Valid
N1889P	Piper PA-18S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Veatch William e Hood River, Oregon	Restricted	2016-07-21	Valid
N309D	David B Dunlop MURPHY REBEL	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Experimental	2016-07-21	Valid
N8100Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2016-07-21	Valid
N31WB	Goldman Norman C RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2016-07-20	Valid
N46620	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2016-07-20	Valid
N5475H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2016-07-20	Valid
N9976D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-07-20	Valid
N13549	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Big Sky Communication & Cable INC Billings, Montana	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N15822	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N5126R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airborne Investors CORP Buford, Georgia	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N5744D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2016-07-19	Valid
N29160	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2016-07-18	Valid
N3247T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-07-18	Valid
N376JS	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2016-07-18	Valid
N452AK	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-07-18	Valid
N9669C	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Quality Aero LLC East Aurora, New York	Standard	2016-07-18	Valid
N39G	Bede Aviation Inc. PITTS SPECIAL S1-C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2016-07-16	Valid
N2048M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-07-15	Valid
N2171W	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-07-15	Valid
N128KT	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2016-07-14	Valid
N3817Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N4056Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	G & L Airborne INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N6535G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bbjs Investments LLC Burlington, Wisconsin	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N733GZ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N92103	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pgd Flyers INC Cape Coral, Florida	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N9691V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2016-07-14	Valid
N2010T	Thurston TSC-1A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2016-07-13	Valid
N4925F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	A S Air LLC Lantana, Florida	Standard	2016-07-13	Valid
N738MZ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2016-07-13	Valid
N162AS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	A S Air LLC Lantana, Florida	Standard	2016-07-12	Valid
N601EA	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Executive Air Transport INC Norton Shores, Michigan	Standard	2016-07-12	Valid
N2308Y	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Mexico	Standard	2016-07-11	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