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
N92GC	Chancey Gerry M VANS RV-9	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2015-08-10	Valid
N1107H	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2015-08-07	Valid
N41896	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-08-07	Valid
N4777J	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2015-08-07	Valid
N9973D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2015-08-06	Valid
N107MR	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Meriden Aviation Center LLC Meriden, Connecticut	Standard	2015-08-05	Valid
N36116	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Meriden Aviation Center LLC Meriden, Connecticut	Standard	2015-08-05	Valid
N5572V	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-08-05	Valid
N2047E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Carolina	Standard	2015-08-04	Valid
N30823	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, Iowa	Standard	2015-08-04	Valid
N5874U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Wright Aviation LLC Henderson, Nevada	Standard	2015-08-04	Valid
N75776	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2015-08-04	Valid
N78489	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2015-08-04	Valid
N9684Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2015-08-04	Valid
N12520	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Hampshire	Standard	2015-08-03	Valid
N2150Z	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hilton Head Flyers LLC Liberty, South Carolina	Standard	2015-08-03	Valid
N41474	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, Iowa	Standard	2015-08-03	Valid
N9593H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2015-08-03	Valid
N1QS	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Universal Investment Group LLC Trustee La Crescenta, California	Standard	2015-07-31	Valid
N2124N	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Livestock Service INC Douglas, Arizona	Standard	2015-07-31	Valid
N3010Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2015-07-31	Valid
N3469T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Standard	2015-07-31	Valid
N8814N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2015-07-31	Valid
N56055	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-07-30	Valid
N7058G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dc Aerial Photos INC Fredericksburg, Virginia	Standard	2015-07-30	Valid
N8338L	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Treimer Aviation LLC Davenport, Iowa	Standard	2015-07-30	Valid
N2435P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2015-07-29	Valid
N6828W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2015-07-29	Valid
N8878N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2015-07-29	Valid
N129DD	Druckenbrodt Donald D LONG EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2015-07-28	Valid
N16304	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2015-07-27	Valid
N31586	Stinson 10A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2015-07-27	Valid
N33VL	Landry Virgil M RV-3	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Experimental	2015-07-27	Valid
N5035W	Piper PA-28	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2015-07-27	Valid
N656EZ	Mulvey Tim C LONG EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2015-07-27	Valid
N124ER	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2015-07-24	Valid
N734DV	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2015-07-24	Valid
N180AT	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2015-07-23	Valid
N32364	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Buffalo Ridge Aviation LLC White, South Dakota	Standard	2015-07-23	Valid
N371SA	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2015-07-23	Valid
N63822	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2015-07-23	Valid
N7294L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2015-07-23	Valid
N241DW	Wall Donald B GLASAIR RG	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Experimental	2015-07-22	Valid
N734GS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2015-07-22	Valid
N79212	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hudson Rae Air LLC San Marcos, California	Standard	2015-07-22	Valid
N8324U	Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER	Helicopter	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2015-07-22	Valid
N449PS	Rainbow PITTS SPECIAL S-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Experimental	2015-07-21	Valid
N739PR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wep Air LLC Portage, Wisconsin	Standard	2015-07-21	Valid
N2952E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2015-07-20	Valid
N6544T	Beech 19A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2015-07-20	Valid
N2AG	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Central Air Parts INC Staunton, Illinois	Restricted	2015-07-17	Valid
N3734P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2015-07-17	Valid
N41648	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2015-07-16	Valid
N4375J	Walden Manley William RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Experimental	2015-07-16	Valid
N560PU	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Purdue Aviation LLC West Lafayette, Indiana	Standard	2015-07-16	Valid
N4373P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2015-07-15	Valid
N36350	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hennager Eric D Langdon, North Dakota	Standard	2015-07-14	Valid
N4333C	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Smart 02 LLC Kissimmee, Florida	Standard	2015-07-14	Valid
N5519J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	2015-07-14	Valid
N564PU	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Purdue Aviation LLC West Lafayette, Indiana	Standard	2015-07-14	Valid
N63366	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Purdue Aviation LLC West Lafayette, Indiana	Standard	2015-07-14	Valid
N8558Y	Piper PA-30	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2015-07-14	Valid
N4567A	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2015-07-13	Valid
N48KS	Sheely Kevin J PITTS S-1C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2015-07-13	Valid
N566Q	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Butte Aviation INC Butte, Montana	Standard	2015-07-13	Valid
N738BR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2015-07-13	Valid
N1174M	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2015-07-10	Valid
N2362Q	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2015-07-10	Valid
N319FT	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2015-07-10	Valid
N33138	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2015-07-10	Valid
N5373Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2015-07-10	Valid
N5660U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2015-07-10	Valid
N667TC	Wiley Larry Lee RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	T J Aviation LLC Kennesaw, Georgia	Experimental	2015-07-09	Valid
N7796D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2015-07-08	Valid
N2455J	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Standard	2015-07-07	Valid
N6077D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2015-07-07	Valid
N98017	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2015-07-07	Valid
N35763	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2015-07-06	Valid
N4271T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2015-07-06	Valid
N8181X	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	2015-07-06	Valid
N8968V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2015-07-06	Valid
N12PZ	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	A5 Flight Club LLC Saint Cloud, Florida	Standard	2015-07-02	Valid
N32123	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2015-07-02	Valid
N5254K	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Stone To Glass LLC Lake Worth, Florida	Standard	2015-07-02	Valid
N12212	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-07-01	Valid
N234VR	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2015-06-30	Valid
N3129T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2015-06-30	Valid
N6016Z	Piper PA-25	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2015-06-30	Valid
N739VN	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	D & L Innovations LLC Hendersonville, Tennessee	Standard	2015-06-30	Valid
N929RV	Green Bobby R RV4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Stafford Tech INC Rehoboth, Massachusetts	Experimental	2015-06-30	Valid
N9941D	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2015-06-30	Valid
N129S	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aero Quest LLC Olive Branch, Mississippi	Standard	2015-06-29	Valid
N6547S	Cessna 150H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Multiple	2015-06-29	Valid
N2165E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Maravel Richard N Trinity, Florida	Standard	2015-06-26	Valid
N2312P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2015-06-26	Valid
N2385Y	Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER	Helicopter	Speedboat Photo Helicopter LLC Rehoboth Beach, Delaware	Standard	2015-06-26	Valid
N9186D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2015-06-26	Valid
N403RC	Cravens Ralph SPORTSMAN 2+2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, Utah	Experimental	2015-06-25	Valid
N4353Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2015-06-25	Valid
N4790E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mahon Enterprises LLC Gray Court, South Carolina	Standard	2015-06-25	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