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
N23982	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Maine Instrument Flight Augusta, Maine	Standard	2014-12-04	Valid
N39TS	Strub Theodore W HATZ LB1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Experimental	2014-12-04	Valid
N999MW	Mann-Robert SUPER EMERAUDE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2014-12-04	Valid
N3141Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Iowa	Standard	2014-12-03	Valid
N95405	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Vermont	Standard	2014-12-03	Valid
N5459L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2014-12-02	Valid
N1864V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2014-12-01	Valid
N9571V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-12-01	Valid
N11090	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-11-26	Valid
N5BJ	Champion 7KCAB	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Restricted	2014-11-26	Valid
N9772W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cow Dog Flyers LLC Bozeman, Montana	Standard	2014-11-26	Valid
N327BE	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Black Swamp Flyers LLC Fremont, Ohio	Standard	2014-11-25	Valid
N46442	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2014-11-25	Valid
N9826W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2014-11-25	Valid
N32GV	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eastern Cincinnati Aviation INC Batavia, Ohio	Standard	2014-11-21	Valid
N7817G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner District of Columbia	Standard	2014-11-21	Valid
N8488R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-11-21	Valid
N1405X	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2014-11-20	Valid
N52546	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-11-20	Valid
N5031Y	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hyldburg Aviation INC Plymouth, Massachusetts	Standard	2014-11-19	Valid
N2868P	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2014-11-18	Valid
N6431R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2014-11-18	Valid
N8344L	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Heir Borne Flying Club INC Minot, North Dakota	Standard	2014-11-18	Valid
N79879	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oklahoma	Standard	2014-11-17	Valid
N12692	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2014-11-13	Valid
N1471W	Wilson Clayton A WAG-AERO SPORT TRNR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Experimental	2014-11-13	Valid
N4WJ	Johnson William H RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Experimental	2014-11-13	Valid
N7120D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2014-11-13	Valid
N737DP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aero Photo Spicewood, Texas	Standard	2014-11-13	Valid
N8450L	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2014-11-13	Valid
N95315	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-11-13	Valid
N2163A	Piper PA-20	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N25511	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N5034G	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N7110B	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Seven-Eleven Brick INC Dalton, Minnesota	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N733GK	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N78978	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N923SM	Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER	Helicopter	N923Sm LLC Rehoboth Beach, Delaware	Standard	2014-11-10	Valid
N88065	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Obx Airplanes LLC Manteo, North Carolina	Standard	2014-11-07	Valid
N3004Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2014-11-06	Valid
N161PT	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pilot Training Center LLC Miami, Florida	Standard	2014-11-05	Valid
N424FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-11-05	Valid
N6768F	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2014-11-05	Valid
N9625D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Central Products INC Gladwin, Michigan	Standard	2014-11-05	Valid
N13527	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N138BR	Socata TB 9 TAMPICO	Fixed-wing, single engine	Elk River Consulting INC Fayetteville, Tennessee	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N172GT	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aileron Buzz LLC Daytona Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N3125Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N5473L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Plane Fun INC Tr Trustee Snellville, Georgia	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N73091	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rudder33 LLC Grantham, New Hampshire	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N73428	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-11-04	Valid
N4157C	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-11-03	Valid
N433PT	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pilot Training Center LLC Miami, Florida	Standard	2014-11-03	Valid
N4702F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aces LLC Geneva, Florida	Standard	2014-11-03	Valid
N7094G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Johnson and Assoc Davenport, Iowa	Standard	2014-11-03	Valid
N8GV	Vandeputte Gregory C RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Experimental	2014-11-03	Valid
N13672	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cape Aerial Tours DBA Chatham, Massachusetts	Standard	2014-10-31	Valid
N3426E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jts Management INC Lincoln, Nebraska	Standard	2014-10-31	Valid
N4220Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Multiple	2014-10-31	Valid
N46283	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	West Kentucky Flyers CORP Murray, Kentucky	Standard	2014-10-31	Valid
N4735Z	Piper PA-22-108	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-10-31	Valid
N5038W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-10-31	Valid
N7537R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-10-31	Valid
N62TD	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Con Air LLC Monument, Colorado	Standard	2014-10-30	Valid
N6919J	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Is Fun LLC Atlanta, Georgia	Standard	2014-10-30	Valid
N1585J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Anderson Aviation LLC Eatonville, Washington	Standard	2014-10-29	Valid
N4963G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sunwest Aviation INC Santa Ynez, California	Standard	2014-10-29	Valid
N56HJ	Jakel Helmut Leo RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Experimental	2014-10-29	Valid
N107CG	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Puerto Rico	Standard	2014-10-28	Valid
N2217K	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2014-10-28	Valid
N23GF	Francis Ronald E RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2014-10-28	Valid
N292K	Mcree Cecil Allen RV 4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rv4Us LLC Manchester, Michigan	Experimental	2014-10-28	Valid
N4811J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2014-10-28	Valid
N629PK	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oklahoma	Standard	2014-10-28	Valid
N26780	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2014-10-27	Valid
N40FA	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-10-27	Valid
N1237U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-10-24	Valid
N2318Z	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2014-10-24	Valid
N347GW	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Allen Air LLC Creola, Alabama	Standard	2014-10-24	Valid
N7216Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-10-24	Valid
N9384D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Del Aero Service INC Delta, Utah	Multiple	2014-10-24	Valid
N29485	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lily Anne Aviation LLC Bad Axe, Michigan	Standard	2014-10-23	Valid
N5538U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aircraft Sales LLC Caledonia, Michigan	Standard	2014-10-22	Valid
N9659S	Champion 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2014-10-22	Valid
N3170Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-10-21	Valid
N4579J	Johnson John C GLASTAR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Snagwood CORP Brentwood, California	Experimental	2014-10-21	Valid
N5444L	Brady John A BUSHBY MUSTANG II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Experimental	2014-10-21	Valid
N7120L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-10-21	Valid
N9693V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2014-10-21	Valid
N12630	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skywarrior Flight Training Pensacola, Florida	Standard	2014-10-20	Valid
N61947	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2014-10-20	Valid
N738WZ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2014-10-20	Valid
N202MB	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-10-17	Valid
N2841Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2014-10-17	Valid
N5105S	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2014-10-16	Valid
N8269Z	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2014-10-16	Valid
N9082D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Multiple	2014-10-16	Valid
N9588V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kachemak Bay Flying Service INC Temple, Texas	Standard	2014-10-16	Valid
N5241E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-10-15	Valid
N75327	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2014-10-15	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