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
N370KH	Huwe M K RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Experimental	2015-03-20	Valid
N8061N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	North Florida Flyers LLC Green Cove Springs, Florida	Standard	2015-03-20	Valid
N25S	Sprenger Michael T RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Experimental	2015-03-19	Valid
N61969	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine		Standard	2015-03-19	Valid
N8521Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2015-03-19	Valid
N1222L	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2015-03-18	Valid
N4342Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Illinois	Standard	2015-03-18	Valid
N772JT	Brooker John M VANS AIRCRAFT RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Experimental	2015-03-18	Valid
N7846W	Piper PA-28-180	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2015-03-18	Valid
N1483U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Tennessee	Standard	2015-03-17	Valid
N1504T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2015-03-17	Valid
N5125V	Morrisey 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2015-03-17	Valid
N95198	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2015-03-17	Valid
N6382Z	Dawes BREEZY RLU-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ozarks Auto Show INC Hollister, Missouri	Experimental	2015-03-16	Valid
N15427	Monocoupe 90A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2015-03-13	Valid
N369DM	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2015-03-13	Valid
N4839W	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2015-03-13	Valid
N41739	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Triple Nickel INC Muleshoe, Texas	Standard	2015-03-12	Valid
N4818A	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2015-03-12	Valid
N737AW	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Finland Leasing CO INC Quakertown, Pennsylvania	Standard	2015-03-12	Valid
N81398	Johnson Jerry F RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2015-03-12	Valid
N9928U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2015-03-12	Valid
N2888Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2015-03-11	Valid
N64163	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Good Airplanes LLC Oshkosh, Wisconsin	Standard	2015-03-11	Valid
N5875U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2015-03-10	Valid
N20262	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sherman Aviation INC Redmond, Oregon	Standard	2015-03-09	Valid
N3002M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2015-03-09	Valid
N310FS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2015-03-09	Valid
N620GW	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-03-09	Valid
N7437D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	M and e Ventures LLC Pingree Grove, Illinois	Standard	2015-03-09	Valid
N8957C	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tracon Aviation LLC Winter Springs, Florida	Standard	2015-03-09	Valid
N38433	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Global Aviation Center INC Farmingdale, New York	Standard	2015-03-06	Valid
N5362X	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky West Aviation INC Trustee Albuquerque, New Mexico	Standard	2015-03-06	Valid
N584LK	Nelson Gary A MAGNUM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Carolina	Experimental	2015-03-06	Valid
N22DE	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2015-03-05	Valid
N4115E	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bcs Properties LLC Mead, Colorado	Standard	2015-03-05	Valid
N8151D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2015-03-05	Valid
N19982	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-03-04	Valid
N42WC	Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER	Helicopter	N42Wc LLC Rehoboth Beach, Delaware	Standard	2015-03-04	Valid
N739HH	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Above and Beyond Aviation LLC Austin, Texas	Standard	2015-03-04	Valid
N277BC	Calivas C/Calivas B E RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oklahoma	Experimental	2015-03-03	Valid
N53869	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Vermont	Restricted	2015-03-03	Valid
N54381	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Paradise South Ventures LLC Marco Island, Florida	Standard	2015-03-03	Valid
N13093	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Multiflight II INC Lakeville, Minnesota	Standard	2015-03-02	Valid
N2987P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Small Mark B Walla Walla, Washington	Standard	2015-03-02	Valid
N2828Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2015-02-27	Valid
N38477	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	California In Nice INC San Jose, California	Standard	2015-02-27	Valid
N51580	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Middletown Regional Flight Training Institute LLC Middletown, Ohio	Standard	2015-02-27	Valid
N2375L	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2015-02-26	Valid
N3045A	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Essex Air LLC Franklin Lakes, New Jersey	Standard	2015-02-26	Valid
N5184J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Riverside Flight Academy LLC Riverside, California	Standard	2015-02-25	Valid
N24590	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Nice Flying LLC Williamsburg, Virginia	Standard	2015-02-24	Valid
N212SF	Aeromere F.8L FALCO	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Georgia	Standard	2015-02-23	Valid
N733RT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	661Pc LLC New Rockford, North Dakota	Standard	2015-02-20	Valid
N3957Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2015-02-19	Valid
N33AT	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2015-02-18	Valid
N7377J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2015-02-18	Valid
N9906U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2015-02-18	Valid
N88424	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Iowa Aerial Advertising LLC Perry, Iowa	Multiple	2015-02-17	Valid
N9961E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2015-02-17	Valid
N13751	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2015-02-13	Valid
N4856A	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Standard	2015-02-13	Valid
N39472	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2015-02-12	Valid
N5318E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bishops LTD Virginia Beach, Virginia	Standard	2015-02-12	Valid
N2574X	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N4655R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N484AC	American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N54273	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N61772	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N79202	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N8894D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2015-02-10	Valid
N97BM	Mason W B/Mason P E GLASTAR GS-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Experimental	2015-02-10	Valid
N3473Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Restricted	2015-02-06	Valid
N733UJ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2015-02-06	Valid
N9345L	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Haynie Aviation LLC Alexander City, Alabama	Standard	2015-02-06	Valid
N737DD	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sorbi Aviation INC El Cajon, California	Standard	2015-02-05	Valid
N2961P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2015-02-04	Valid
N993DB	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2015-02-04	Valid
N1395R	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2015-02-03	Valid
N3752Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2015-02-03	Valid
N43084	Leins Ballard PITTS S1S	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Experimental	2015-02-03	Valid
N61494	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2015-02-03	Valid
N2604L	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	E W Eaken & CO LLC Columbiana, Ohio	Standard	2015-02-02	Valid
N57777	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Restricted	2015-02-02	Valid
N9110H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sierra Aero LLC Truckee, California	Standard	2015-02-02	Valid
N1504J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2015-01-30	Valid
N172SZ	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2015-01-30	Valid
N7270D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Restricted	2015-01-30	Valid
N95463	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2015-01-30	Valid
N146JW	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dodge INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2015-01-29	Valid
N83596	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Carlson Farms INC Plentywood, Montana	Restricted	2015-01-29	Valid
N8907Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	2015-01-29	Valid
N4052Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Metro Service Air Fairbanks, Alaska	Standard	2015-01-28	Valid
N4257J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2015-01-28	Valid
N62953	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dodge INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2015-01-28	Valid
N12649	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2015-01-27	Valid
N32NC	Kidd Ronald Howard RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Echo 7 Systems LLC Lewes, Delaware	Experimental	2015-01-27	Valid
N30650	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Elite Flight Training and Aircraft Management LLC Kankakee, Illinois	Standard	2015-01-26	Valid
N3227P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2015-01-26	Valid
N40MU	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Oracle Aviation LLC Omaha, Nebraska	Standard	2015-01-26	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