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
N46661	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2014-02-10	Valid
N7167B	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-02-10	Valid
N7869H	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-02-10	Valid
N6127Z	Piper PA-25	Fixed-wing, single engine	Simmons Aviation Services LLC Pawcatuck, Connecticut	Restricted	2014-02-07	Valid
N80471	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dairy Air INC Wyoming, Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-02-07	Valid
N4433Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Multiple	2014-02-05	Valid
N4580R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-02-05	Valid
N84815	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	International Air Services INC Trustee Carson City, Nevada	Standard	2014-02-05	Valid
N53907	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2014-02-04	Valid
N6029W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Walsh Robert D Somerset, California	Standard	2014-02-04	Valid
N754RK	Newlin R W/Newlin K M VANS RV-9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Osprey Nest Investments LLC Heathsville, Virginia	Experimental	2014-02-04	Valid
N8744N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-02-04	Valid
N2675T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2014-02-03	Valid
N5706U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2014-02-03	Valid
N786M	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-02-03	Valid
N50633	Cessna 150J	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2014-01-31	Valid
N1264A	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-01-30	Valid
N4343Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	K M Air Enterprises INC Corona, California	Standard	2014-01-30	Valid
N600AV	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mountain Top Aviation INC Ebensburg, Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-01-30	Valid
N79316	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	C & B Flying Club LLC Camden, Arkansas	Standard	2014-01-30	Valid
N3938Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Standard	2014-01-29	Valid
N5197J	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Eide Paul Moses Lake, Washington	Standard	2014-01-29	Valid
N5545K	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-01-29	Valid
N94SB	Blomquist Steven Wayne VANS RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bernatz Gerald F Highland, Illinois	Experimental	2014-01-29	Valid
N4331R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Consolidated Aviation Services LLC Seymour, Tennessee	Multiple	2014-01-28	Valid
N4780J	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-01-28	Valid
N6995D	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-01-28	Valid
N8026N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2014-01-28	Valid
N8569C	Piper PA-18-135	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2014-01-28	Valid
N229ND	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ari Ben Aviator INC Fort Pierce, Florida	Standard	2014-01-27	Valid
N42BL	Lindeke Robert L RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-01-27	Valid
N4314Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Puerto Rico	Standard	2014-01-27	Valid
N4388R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sunrise Aviation INC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2014-01-27	Valid
N586ES	Smith Emory J GLASAIR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Experimental	2014-01-27	Valid
N8021N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Iowa	Standard	2014-01-27	Valid
N8492F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vintage Wings Aircraft LLC Centerpoint, Indiana	Standard	2014-01-27	Valid
N99554	Carter BAKENG DUCE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Experimental	2014-01-27	Valid
N2244Y	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-01-24	Valid
N4440L	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2014-01-24	Valid
N64305	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skyhaven Flying Club INC Dover, New Hampshire	Standard	2014-01-24	Valid
N739KS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Plane One LLC Kokomo, Indiana	Standard	2014-01-24	Valid
N7938W	Piper PA-28-180	Fixed-wing, single engine	Piper Club LLC Atkinson, Nebraska	Standard	2014-01-24	Valid
N6213W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-01-23	Valid
N9642D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2014-01-23	Valid
N1182U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2014-01-22	Valid
N2357B	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-01-21	Valid
N2390L	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2014-01-21	Valid
N2848Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Columbus Sign CO INC Columbus, Georgia	Standard	2014-01-21	Valid
N3077M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Premier Flight Center LLC Hartford, Connecticut	Standard	2014-01-21	Valid
N5093T	Beech 19A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-01-21	Valid
N46312	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2014-01-17	Valid
N4110Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Johnson Airspray INC Argyle, Minnesota	Multiple	2014-01-16	Valid
N5565F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2014-01-16	Valid
N12404	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Zook Farm Equipment INC Alto, Michigan	Standard	2014-01-15	Valid
N7180B	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2014-01-15	Valid
N739EY	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lease Aviation INC Waterford, Michigan	Standard	2014-01-15	Valid
N8808D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2014-01-15	Valid
N3411T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Southern Aero LLC Theodore, Alabama	Standard	2014-01-14	Valid
N5805W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2014-01-14	Valid
N7289J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2014-01-14	Valid
N738FM	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2014-01-14	Valid
N90931	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2014-01-14	Valid
N226SP	Piper PA-28-181	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner New Jersey	Standard	2014-01-13	Valid
N88385	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skywords Advertising LLC Lantana, Florida	Standard	2014-01-13	Valid
N4172J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ascension Enterprises INC Saint Augustine, Florida	Standard	2014-01-10	Valid
N6726B	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-01-10	Valid
N6803J	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2014-01-10	Valid
N4923D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Harrier Aviation LLC South Saint Paul, Minnesota	Standard	2014-01-09	Valid
N950ME	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	N950Me LLC Manassas, Virginia	Standard	2014-01-09	Valid
N1706B	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2014-01-08	Valid
N3489K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Gfh LLC Zillah, Washington	Standard	2014-01-08	Valid
N4055Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2014-01-08	Valid
N6990D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2014-01-08	Valid
N78424	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Acapulco Flying Club LLC New Brighton, Minnesota	Standard	2014-01-08	Valid
N1616P	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2014-01-07	Valid
N172PR	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Park Rapids Aviation INC Park Rapids, Minnesota	Standard	2014-01-07	Valid
N9255D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Restricted	2014-01-07	Valid
N141TJ	James Timothy H GLASTAR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-01-06	Valid
N433JD	Paynter James R RV-9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2014-01-06	Valid
N8316C	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Uplands Aviation Management LLC Mineral Point, Wisconsin	Standard	2014-01-06	Valid
N8421R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2014-01-06	Valid
N9718L	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2014-01-06	Valid
N1197P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2014-01-02	Valid
N46276	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2014-01-02	Valid
N53965	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Standard	2014-01-02	Valid
N6211D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mcdonald Air Services LLC Saint Johns, Michigan	Standard	2014-01-02	Valid
N345HH	Hinton Roy OSPREY-2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Experimental	2013-12-31	Valid
N57408	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2013-12-31	Valid
N78494	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2013-12-31	Valid
N110JA	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	3Mw Farms INC Hallock, Minnesota	Standard	2013-12-30	Valid
N33158	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mc Aviation LLC Paducah, Kentucky	Standard	2013-12-30	Valid
N57370	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Nj Aviation LLC Forest, Virginia	Standard	2013-12-30	Valid
N734TX	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2013-12-27	Valid
N92889	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2013-12-26	Valid
N9399E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	9 Echo LLC Muskogee, Oklahoma	Standard	2013-12-26	Valid
N12210	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Exclusive Motors INC Grand Prairie, Texas	Standard	2013-12-24	Valid
N737SB	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cothren Graff Smoak Engineering INC Shreveport, Louisiana	Standard	2013-12-24	Valid
N11GE	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2013-12-23	Valid
N6645W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Utah	Standard	2013-12-23	Valid
N79163	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2013-12-23	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