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
N101V	Aero Commander 100	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2016-02-29	Valid
N330MM	Pitts Special S-1C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2016-02-29	Valid
N53858	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-02-29	Valid
N67KB	Briegleb Kenneth B RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Experimental	2016-02-29	Valid
N9582W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Utah	Standard	2016-02-29	Valid
N5150W	Piper PA-28	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-02-26	Valid
N738PX	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Macomb County Sheriffs Aviation Division Oakland, Michigan	Standard	2016-02-26	Valid
N88311	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	2016-02-26	Valid
N2428B	Temco GC-1B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-02-25	Valid
N211X	Mull Raymond L ACRO SPORT II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Experimental	2016-02-24	Valid
N5545U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2016-02-24	Valid
N80239	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2016-02-24	Valid
N8013F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-02-23	Valid
N186AS	Shappley Arnold Jr RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2016-02-22	Valid
N5354D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-02-22	Valid
N6519J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dms Defense LLC Annapolis, Maryland	Standard	2016-02-22	Valid
N73504	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-02-22	Valid
N808RK	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-02-22	Valid
N7036F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-02-19	Valid
N6777J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Seven Seven Juliet LLC Palmer, Alaska	Standard	2016-02-18	Valid
N7264J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2016-02-18	Valid
N49TP	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2016-02-17	Valid
N11RG	Pitts Special S-1C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Experimental	2016-02-16	Valid
N61LE	Lorimor Jeffery RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Experimental	2016-02-16	Valid
N4315Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Central Arkansas Flying Club INC Bryant, Arkansas	Standard	2016-02-12	Valid
N5669U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2016-02-12	Valid
N234BM	Rhodes Mike Andrew LONG-EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2016-02-11	Valid
N33149	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Great Lakes Air Ventures LLC Mason, Michigan	Standard	2016-02-11	Valid
N8340R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2016-02-11	Valid
N2880P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-02-10	Valid
N3507Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N65772	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky Adventure LLC Bartlett, Tennessee	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N7298F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N8403L	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	Aarow Aircraft Leasing LLC Mcminnville, Oregon	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N8435L	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aarow Aircraft Leasing LLC Mcminnville, Oregon	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N8491A	Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA	Helicopter	Aarow Aircraft Leasing LLC Dallas, Texas	Standard	2016-02-09	Valid
N2150E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2016-02-08	Valid
N3855P	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-02-08	Valid
N2411F	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Aarow Aircraft Leasing LLC Mcminnville, Oregon	Standard	2016-02-05	Valid
N8305V	Champion 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Multiple	2016-02-05	Valid
N83299	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-02-05	Valid
N9015V	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	Aarow Aircraft Leasing LLC Mcminnville, Oregon	Standard	2016-02-05	Valid
N3288Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-02-04	Valid
N4394M	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2016-02-04	Valid
N172WB	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tumbleweed Leasing Company INC Salt Lake City, Utah	Standard	2016-02-03	Valid
N1271U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Experimental Aircraft Association INC Oshkosh, Wisconsin	Standard	2016-02-02	Valid
N20451	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mcmillan Custom Service INC Waynesboro, Georgia	Standard	2016-02-02	Valid
N2859Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-02-02	Valid
N46694	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2016-02-02	Valid
N3934Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2016-01-29	Valid
N4383Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2016-01-29	Valid
N70392	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gateway Flying Club INC Blaine, Minnesota	Standard	2016-01-29	Valid
N1010M	Hautamaki Charles A GLASAIR SH-2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2016-01-28	Valid
N33CB	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2016-01-27	Valid
N1004H	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Smtm Holdings INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2016-01-26	Valid
N3465Z	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2016-01-26	Valid
N34DE	Grammont Derel L STARDUSTER SIX	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2016-01-25	Valid
N20005	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lmbi INC Sierra Vista, Arizona	Standard	2016-01-22	Valid
N114DC	Christiansen Don E Do RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Experimental	2016-01-21	Valid
N13004	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N356TA	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flyktoc LLC Lavonia, Georgia	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N46497	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tones Trucking INC Cassopolis, Michigan	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N5076X	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2016-01-21	Valid
N7193D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N737HV	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N737XM	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	J F P INC Ellsworth, Maine	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N78574	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-01-21	Valid
N3126T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2016-01-20	Valid
N35330	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2016-01-20	Valid
N47WL	Mahan Monte R SPORT TRAINER	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Experimental	2016-01-20	Valid
N5762U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-01-20	Valid
N660RW	Workman Randall L MARCHETTI	Rotorcraft	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2016-01-20	Valid
N909A	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-01-20	Valid
N2749M	Boyd Robert L GLASTAR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Experimental	2016-01-19	Valid
N1221A	Piper PA-18-125	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Multiple	2016-01-14	Valid
N26722	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-01-14	Valid
N444PH	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Lansing Community College Mason, Michigan	Standard	2016-01-14	Valid
N8976D	Piper PA-18A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Williams Aircraft LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Multiple	2016-01-14	Valid
N9470D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-01-14	Valid
N2868Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rutherford Services INC Plains, Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-01-13	Valid
N486FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2016-01-13	Valid
N6892J	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Utah	Standard	2016-01-13	Valid
N79256	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2016-01-13	Valid
N9534H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2016-01-13	Valid
N54247	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-01-12	Valid
N6291Z	Piper PA-25	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Restricted	2016-01-12	Valid
N474DW	Widby Dennis A RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Experimental	2016-01-11	Valid
N5597W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2016-01-11	Valid
N31VS	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New York	Standard	2016-01-08	Valid
N9786W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kentucky	Standard	2016-01-08	Valid
N160TP	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Contrail Aviation INC Cheboygan, Michigan	Standard	2016-01-07	Valid
N439AC	American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2016-01-07	Valid
N46338	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Triad Aviation Academy LLC Greensboro, North Carolina	Standard	2016-01-07	Valid
N9868G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2016-01-07	Valid
N70493	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2016-01-06	Valid
N127R	Knaack Russell J M-II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Experimental	2016-01-05	Valid
N3866Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ocala Aviation Services INC Ocala, Florida	Standard	2016-01-05	Valid
N4003G	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-01-05	Valid
N8218	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-01-05	Valid
N1560E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Airman INC Stony Brook, New York	Standard	2016-01-04	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