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
N73473	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2014-07-21	Valid
N8295E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Frump Leasing INC Newburgh Heights, Ohio	Standard	2014-07-21	Valid
N5249J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Whitgo LLC Lucas, Texas	Standard	2014-07-18	Valid
N9683U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-07-18	Valid
N15010	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2014-07-17	Valid
N1550E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-07-17	Valid
N26412	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pelican Fisheries CORP Mount Pleasant, South Carolina	Standard	2014-07-17	Valid
N4404Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2014-07-17	Valid
N8405S	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-07-17	Valid
N9735U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2014-07-17	Valid
N53507	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flight School of Gwinnett Lawrenceville, Georgia	Standard	2014-07-16	Valid
N62855	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pterosaur LLC Cumming, Georgia	Standard	2014-07-16	Valid
N3829Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-07-15	Valid
N5363S	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2014-07-14	Valid
N605FT	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ormond Aircraft Leasing & Management INC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-07-14	Valid
N9201Z	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ormond Aircraft Leasing & Management INC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-07-14	Valid
N9205X	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ormond Aircraft Leasing & Management INC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-07-14	Valid
N9221D	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ormond Aircraft Leasing & Management INC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-07-14	Valid
N92719	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-07-14	Valid
N75860	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eastern Cincinnati Aviation INC Batavia, Ohio	Standard	2014-07-11	Valid
N84839	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2014-07-11	Valid
N22759	Cessna 150H	Fixed-wing, single engine	Park Forest South Aviation Group Mount Prospect, Illinois	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N476FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N5140Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N5479D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Spanaflight LLC Puyallup, Washington	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N6092F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jasper Aviation INC Jasper, Alabama	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N6133D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Thomas Aviation Granada Hills, California	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N9841L	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2014-07-10	Valid
N3674Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Multiple	2014-07-09	Valid
N53262	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fort Leavenworth Flying Activity Fort Leavenworth, Kansas	Standard	2014-07-09	Valid
N8786N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2014-07-09	Valid
N710EH	Heil Eric RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Experimental	2014-07-08	Valid
N738PT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Colorado	Standard	2014-07-08	Valid
N787CP	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Indiana	Standard	2014-07-08	Valid
N2209E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ingersoll George P Lakewood, Colorado	Standard	2014-07-07	Valid
N41798	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2014-07-07	Valid
N5795V	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tech Specialty Services LLC Killeen, Texas	Standard	2014-07-03	Valid
N54120	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Carastro Enterprises LLC Montgomery, Alabama	Standard	2014-07-02	Valid
N5605U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	N5605U LLC Nottingham, New Hampshire	Standard	2014-07-02	Valid
N79884	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-07-02	Valid
N9783D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Restricted	2014-07-02	Valid
N5314E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	57D Flyers LLC Shelby Township, Michigan	Standard	2014-07-01	Valid
N53223	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-07-01	Valid
N7593R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-07-01	Valid
N8081P	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2014-07-01	Valid
N8298J	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Colorado	Standard	2014-07-01	Valid
N9695D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	PC Flyers LLC Post Falls, Idaho	Standard	2014-07-01	Valid
N165DH	Hain Dennis D RV-9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Experimental	2014-06-30	Valid
N5942D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Four for Flying INC Holyoke, Colorado	Standard	2014-06-30	Valid
N6864H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-06-30	Valid
N8822N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-06-30	Valid
N9730D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flood Ashley Gibbstown, New Jersey	Multiple	2014-06-30	Valid
N734WN	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Boerne Flight Options LLC Boerne, Texas	Special flight permit	2014-06-27	Valid
N750Y	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Two Bar Aviation INC Lincoln, Nebraska	Standard	2014-06-27	Valid
N20470	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2014-06-26	Valid
N4280Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-06-26	Valid
N4438Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Can-Am Aero LLC Tulsa, Oklahoma	Standard	2014-06-26	Valid
N5647U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-06-26	Valid
N75BF	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Restricted	2014-06-26	Valid
N82972	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Supercub LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2014-06-26	Valid
N1178M	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-06-25	Valid
N525CS	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-06-25	Valid
N713GA	Grumman American Avn. Corp. GA-7	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Mustang Sally Aviation LLC Camden, South Carolina	Standard	2014-06-25	Valid
N734QT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Virginia	Standard	2014-06-25	Valid
N3389Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Torgerson'S LLC Ethridge, Montana	Multiple	2014-06-24	Valid
N3401W	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aerial Crop Protection INC Belle Glade, Florida	Restricted	2014-06-24	Valid
N4307M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2014-06-24	Valid
N74945	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Idaho	Standard	2014-06-24	Valid
N801FS	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-06-24	Valid
N8684D	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-06-24	Valid
N95089	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-06-24	Valid
N514DM	Mason Daniel R LONG-EZ	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2014-06-23	Valid
N739DD	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Puerto Rico	Standard	2014-06-23	Valid
N9885V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2014-06-23	Valid
N22640	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Advanced Helicopter Concepts INC Frederick, Maryland	Standard	2014-06-19	Valid
N2444J	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-06-19	Valid
N26401	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2014-06-19	Valid
N26688	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Kirker Edmund J Omaha, Nebraska	Standard	2014-06-19	Valid
N4111Z	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-06-19	Valid
N7673G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2014-06-19	Valid
N116AV	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2014-06-17	Valid
N1819	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Peters Sean T Oak Harbor, Ohio	Standard	2014-06-17	Valid
N5758J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-06-17	Valid
N131RB	Bendure Ryan RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lochman Construction LLC Prosper, Texas	Experimental	2014-06-16	Valid
N35425	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2014-06-16	Valid
N705CF	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2014-06-16	Valid
N746TJ	Piper PA-18-135 (L-21B)	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sta-Kel CORP Westbrook, Maine	Standard	2014-06-16	Valid
N16340	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-06-12	Valid
N20552	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2014-06-12	Valid
N2582S	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	High Exposure INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2014-06-12	Valid
N51070	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rabbit Hill Industries INC Bedford, New York	Standard	2014-06-12	Valid
N6468D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Massachusetts	Standard	2014-06-12	Valid
N7484L	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2014-06-12	Valid
N1150X	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Venture North Aviation LLC Cloquet, Minnesota	Standard	2014-06-11	Valid
N2373J	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2014-06-11	Valid
N2971Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2014-06-11	Valid
N30475	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-06-11	Valid
N80803	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-06-10	Valid
N144DH	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky 1 INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2014-06-09	Valid
N3831P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2014-06-09	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