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
N82398	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-08-28	Valid
N54165	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Marsh Flying Services LLC El Dorado, Kansas	Standard	2014-08-27	Valid
N6979Q	Beech 19A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2014-08-27	Valid
N88307	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	University of Alaska Anchorage Aviation Technology Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2014-08-27	Valid
N4630R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-08-26	Valid
N5214B	Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2014-08-26	Valid
N5791D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2014-08-26	Valid
N3093Z	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Standard	2014-08-25	Valid
N944M	Hutchins Frank RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Experimental	2014-08-25	Valid
N493DS	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Delaware State University Dover, Delaware	Standard	2014-08-22	Valid
N5546M	Aero Commander 100	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2014-08-22	Valid
N8762N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Klyc Aviation LLC Lake City, Florida	Standard	2014-08-22	Valid
N92548	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2014-08-22	Valid
N13117	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-08-21	Valid
N343WA	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-08-21	Valid
N738HA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-08-21	Valid
N819GH	Halverson Greg RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Experimental	2014-08-21	Valid
N83330	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2014-08-21	Valid
N14395	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eastern Stearman INC Trustee Leesburg, Virginia	Standard	2014-08-20	Valid
N5592F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eagle Air Flying Club INC Bowling Green, Ohio	Standard	2014-08-20	Valid
N8993D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2014-08-20	Valid
N2324L	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	2324L LLC Sharpsburg, Georgia	Standard	2014-08-19	Valid
N428RG	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gandolfo Air LLC Watertown, Connecticut	Standard	2014-08-19	Valid
N61752	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner West Virginia	Standard	2014-08-19	Valid
N7886G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Arctic Barnabas Ministries INC Kenai, Alaska	Standard	2014-08-19	Valid
N8543D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Idaho	Standard	2014-08-19	Valid
N8810D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-08-19	Valid
N2642M	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-08-18	Valid
N4534E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	34 Echo Group Spring Branch, Texas	Standard	2014-08-18	Valid
N7129Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	G Alaouie LLC Port Austin, Michigan	Standard	2014-08-18	Valid
N785AS	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	A S Flight Academy LLC Lantana, Florida	Standard	2014-08-18	Valid
N118JT	Tindell Jerry W THORP T18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Experimental	2014-08-14	Valid
N172KY	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Air Dogs LLC Mount Washington, Kentucky	Standard	2014-08-14	Valid
N6YQ	Langer Norbert J WITTMAN TAILWIND W10	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2014-08-14	Valid
N7202G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2014-08-14	Valid
N733CB	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2014-08-14	Valid
N733YY	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-08-14	Valid
N8195A	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nebraska	Standard	2014-08-14	Valid
N27DW	Winchester THORP T-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Experimental	2014-08-13	Valid
N43158	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	N43158 LLC Bay Shore, New York	Standard	2014-08-13	Valid
N44WM	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-08-13	Valid
N4660G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Advantage Aviation INC Palo Alto, California	Standard	2014-08-13	Valid
N6124N	Beech 19A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pacific Coast Air Museum Santa Rosa, California	Standard	2014-08-13	Valid
N75158	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bowman Aviation LLC Sebewaing, Michigan	Standard	2014-08-13	Valid
N8292J	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Brent Scott Properties LP Eagle, Colorado	Standard	2014-08-13	Valid
N2426J	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-08-12	Valid
N3526Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2014-08-12	Valid
N4157T	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Colorado	Standard	2014-08-12	Valid
N41619	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Charles City Aeronautics INC Charles City, Iowa	Standard	2014-08-12	Valid
N44176	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2014-08-12	Valid
N65752	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Owens Flight Training LLC Lafayette, Louisiana	Standard	2014-08-12	Valid
N54569	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-08-11	Valid
N6701J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Colorado	Standard	2014-08-11	Valid
N86796	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2014-08-11	Valid
N8701D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-08-08	Valid
N1466U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-08-07	Valid
N628RB	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2014-08-07	Valid
N4698D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Drm Aviation LLC Glencoe, Alabama	Multiple	2014-08-06	Valid
N61780	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Tennessee	Standard	2014-08-06	Valid
N75601	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sierra CORP Worthngtn Spg, Florida	Standard	2014-08-06	Valid
N113FS	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-08-05	Valid
N2370H	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2014-08-05	Valid
N4824G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2014-08-05	Valid
N8295T	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flight Services INC Headland, Alabama	Standard	2014-08-05	Valid
N9237J	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ormond Aircraft Leasing & Management INC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-08-04	Valid
N7241C	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2014-08-01	Valid
N79155	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2014-08-01	Valid
N20226	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Morris Aero Club Towaco, New Jersey	Standard	2014-07-31	Valid
N436PD	Piper PA-18A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-07-31	Valid
N46292	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Globetek Aviation LLC Raymond, Maine	Standard	2014-07-31	Valid
N734UV	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cavu Flying Club Wauwatosa, Wisconsin	Standard	2014-07-31	Valid
N8756D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Executive Holdings LLC Fairbanks, Alaska	Restricted	2014-07-31	Valid
N9614W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2014-07-31	Valid
N5266K	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Corsicana Aviation Training Services LLC Corsicana, Texas	Standard	2014-07-30	Valid
N70228	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eagle Sky Patrol INC Deadwood, South Dakota	Standard	2014-07-30	Valid
N7524G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Brandywine Sky Ramblers LLC West Chester, Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-07-30	Valid
N12169	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-07-29	Valid
N24660	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2014-07-29	Valid
N6435R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2014-07-29	Valid
N2956P	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2014-07-28	Valid
N50564	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Saratoga Seaplanes INC Saratoga Springs, New York	Standard	2014-07-28	Valid
N737UE	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-07-28	Valid
N1028V	Mosher PAZMANY PL-1A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Experimental	2014-07-25	Valid
N742TJ	Tomisin Thomas J RUTAN LONG EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	International Air Services INC Trustee Carson City, Nevada	Experimental	2014-07-25	Valid
N75740	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kingdom Air Corps Sutton, Alaska	Standard	2014-07-25	Valid
N1861D	Lammers Jeff MUSTANG II	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Experimental	2014-07-24	Valid
N5334D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Professionals Aviation CO INC Millersburg, Ohio	Standard	2014-07-24	Valid
N8191V	Lacourse Richard COZY MK IV	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2014-07-24	Valid
N54635	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Memphis Navy Flying Club Millington, Tennessee	Standard	2014-07-23	Valid
N85TT	Schneider Gerald R Jr COZY MARK IV	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Experimental	2014-07-23	Valid
N15ES	Beaudoin Henri Paul SUPER CUBY	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Experimental	2014-07-22	Valid
N31985	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ledge Aero INC Holt, Michigan	Standard	2014-07-22	Valid
N31CN	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skyland Aviation LLC Alpine, California	Standard	2014-07-22	Valid
N41379	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-07-22	Valid
N48RP	Paulsen PITTS S-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2014-07-22	Valid
N73977	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bfl Aviation LLC Bakersfield, California	Standard	2014-07-22	Valid
N3655N	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-07-21	Valid
N5956D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2014-07-21	Valid
N64411	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-07-21	Valid
N64TL	Benedict Tom VANS RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Experimental	2014-07-21	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