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
N968RC	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Amelia Reid Aviation LLC San Jose, California	Standard	2014-03-24	Valid
N156CP	Peeples Cary B RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2014-03-21	Valid
N1763T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2014-03-21	Valid
N1488	Thorp T-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Experimental	2014-03-20	Valid
N7093B	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Backcountry Aviation LLC Berthoud, Colorado	Standard	2014-03-20	Valid
N9394H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Hampshire	Standard	2014-03-20	Valid
N14050	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	M & K Flying Service INC Hot Springs Vill, Arkansas	Standard	2014-03-19	Valid
N2RG	Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-03-18	Valid
N5710F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Oso Air LLC Missoula, Montana	Standard	2014-03-18	Valid
N9818G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2014-03-18	Valid
N1707T	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-03-17	Valid
N2241W	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2014-03-14	Valid
N32808	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2014-03-14	Valid
N738CX	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Moses Aviation Services LLC Uvalde, Texas	Standard	2014-03-14	Valid
N43627	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2014-03-13	Valid
N44285	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-03-13	Valid
N61760	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2014-03-13	Valid
N739RF	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sorbi Aviation INC El Cajon, California	Standard	2014-03-13	Valid
N19620	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-03-12	Valid
N42SP	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cw Air LLC Broken Bow, Nebraska	Standard	2014-03-12	Valid
N1688E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N43247	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aircraft Guaranty CORP Trustee Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N43PF	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Collum Aviation LLC Milton, Florida	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N5194K	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Howe'S Flight Concepts LLC Visalla, California	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N5240R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rico Aviation Services INC Miami, Florida	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N6286J	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N73899	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N9907Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Plasco Designs of Arkansas INC Texarkana, Arkansas	Standard	2014-03-11	Valid
N253TP	Howell Thomas P Iii SHA GLASAIR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2014-03-10	Valid
N3984Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Delaware	Standard	2014-03-10	Valid
N4030C	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-03-10	Valid
N64280	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-03-10	Valid
N9684P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2014-03-10	Valid
N739LD	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-03-07	Valid
N75820	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2014-03-07	Valid
N172FC	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wmrc Properties LLC Fort Pierce, Florida	Standard	2014-03-06	Valid
N3128X	Piper PA-18-135	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-03-06	Valid
N428AC	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-03-06	Valid
N9480E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Moyer Aviation INC Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-03-06	Valid
N12110	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Port Townsend Air LLC Puyallup, Washington	Standard	2014-03-05	Valid
N1873J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New York	Standard	2014-03-05	Valid
N419LK	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-03-05	Valid
N79172	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Colgan Aviation LLC La Crosse, Wisconsin	Standard	2014-03-05	Valid
N7988G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-03-05	Valid
N4517A	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2014-03-04	Valid
N5228E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mayberry Aviation INC Mount Airy, North Carolina	Standard	2014-03-04	Valid
N1301U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-02-28	Valid
N2867X	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Thrush Air Lc Mason City, Iowa	Standard	2014-02-28	Valid
N29584	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eagle Sky Patrol INC Deadwood, South Dakota	Standard	2014-02-28	Valid
N30JK	Kennedy Joe RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2014-02-28	Valid
N3355B	Piper PA-18A-135	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gar Aviation INC Lexington, Oregon	Standard	2014-02-28	Valid
N3539P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2014-02-28	Valid
N63WF	Howe David RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-02-28	Valid
N149CG	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-02-27	Valid
N2452P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2014-02-27	Valid
N31HJ	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Aero Tech Academy INC Redlands, California	Standard	2014-02-27	Reports overdue
N56380	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2014-02-27	Valid
N80363	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2014-02-27	Valid
N813KM	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-02-27	Valid
N9344H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Barnstormers Flying Club INC Pulaski, Tennessee	Standard	2014-02-27	Valid
N26387	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2014-02-26	Valid
N13249	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2014-02-25	Valid
N161SM	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Morcom Aviation Services INC DBA Everett, Washington	Standard	2014-02-25	Valid
N1627E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-02-25	Valid
N182RP	Bone Russell P SH-2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-02-25	Valid
N97045	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2014-02-25	Valid
N2988P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Multiple	2014-02-24	Valid
N3359Z	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2014-02-24	Valid
N3826Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wyoming	Multiple	2014-02-24	Valid
N3462E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Nc86 Flying Club INC Mooresville, North Carolina	Standard	2014-02-21	Valid
N733MT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2014-02-21	Valid
N8752	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2014-02-21	Valid
N9833V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-02-21	Valid
N12245	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2014-02-20	Valid
N168R	Ridge Lowell & Jane RIDGEAIRE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2014-02-20	Valid
N3532Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New York	Standard	2014-02-20	Valid
N6817B	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-02-20	Valid
N772ZZ	Cessna 150F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2014-02-20	Valid
N15122	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-02-19	Valid
N3062Z	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	2014-02-19	Valid
N47JL	Lance Jay K RV4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-02-19	Valid
N733PQ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-02-19	Valid
N4198B	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Aero Flight Flying Club Minneapolis, Minnesota	Standard	2014-02-18	Valid
N7410D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hampton Michael D Marshfield, Missouri	Standard	2014-02-18	Valid
N8231E	Piper PA-18A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Arctic Backcountry Flying Service LLC Kotzebue, Alaska	Multiple	2014-02-18	Valid
N2333Q	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lawarch LLC Hollywood, Florida	Standard	2014-02-14	Valid
N3858M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Machias Auto Parts INC Jonesport, Maine	Standard	2014-02-14	Valid
N5386J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Naylor-Adams Aviation LLC York, Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-02-14	Valid
N1474P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-02-13	Valid
N2642D	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Burchard Farms LLC Melber, Kentucky	Standard	2014-02-13	Valid
N62982	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2014-02-13	Valid
N64162	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2014-02-13	Valid
N9206D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-02-13	Valid
N9232T	Maule MX-7-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Standard	2014-02-13	Valid
N143CH	Hiers Craig Lanier VANS RV 4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Experimental	2014-02-12	Valid
N147MA	American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2014-02-12	Valid
N250DS	Sipp Richard L VANS RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2014-02-12	Valid
N1522J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2014-02-11	Valid
N366KB	Crausby Maxwell R RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2014-02-11	Valid
N53456	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Amelia Reid Aviation LLC San Jose, California	Standard	2014-02-11	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