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
N5258Z	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	St Pete Aviation Services LLC Saint Petersburg, Florida	Standard	2013-12-20	Valid
N1184C	Piper PA-18-135	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Restricted	2013-12-19	Valid
N9619W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Id Rather Knot LLC Louisville, Kentucky	Standard	2013-12-19	Valid
N73423	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2013-12-17	Valid
N8530D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2013-12-17	Valid
N2476M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Premier Flight Center LLC Hartford, Connecticut	Standard	2013-12-16	Valid
N5034K	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2013-12-16	Valid
N54306	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Rhode Island	Standard	2013-12-16	Valid
N8235F	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2013-12-16	Valid
N734XP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Iowa	Standard	2013-12-13	Valid
N9967Y	Champion 7GCB	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Multiple	2013-12-13	Valid
N32H	Pitts Special S-1C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Experimental	2013-12-12	Valid
N2071P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Aviation Business CORP Saint Louis, Missouri	Standard	2013-12-11	Valid
N73028	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Hawaii	Standard	2013-12-10	Valid
N734XQ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sumter County Sheriffs Office Sumter, South Carolina	Standard	2013-12-10	Valid
N5637U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2013-12-09	Valid
N1453U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tri-County Flyers LLC Morgantown, Pennsylvania	Standard	2013-12-05	Valid
N4084T	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2013-12-05	Valid
N23GV	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Congressional Flying Club Gaithersburg, Maryland	Standard	2013-12-03	Valid
N50PF	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2013-12-03	Valid
N1426U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2013-12-02	Valid
N4267T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2013-12-02	Valid
N453PT	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Henrie Aviation LLC Fairfield, New Jersey	Standard	2013-12-02	Valid
N5545M	Aero Commander 100	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-12-02	Valid
N128AV	Piper PA-28	Fixed-wing, single engine	Macair Aviation LLC Xenia, Ohio	Standard	2013-11-27	Valid
N6098D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2013-11-27	Valid
N70046	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-11-27	Valid
N7713G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2013-11-27	Valid
N8674V	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Iberlin Ranch Gillette, Wyoming	Standard	2013-11-27	Valid
N218RA	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2013-11-26	Valid
N2859T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-11-26	Valid
N789CE	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2013-11-26	Valid
N8480D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Multiple	2013-11-26	Valid
N28216	Socata TAMPICO TB 9C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2013-11-25	Valid
N6000P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2013-11-25	Valid
N6262W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2013-11-25	Valid
N7025E	Lyon Emery F ELITE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Experimental	2013-11-25	Valid
N1423X	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2013-11-22	Valid
N4357P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2013-11-22	Valid
N1175A	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2013-11-21	Valid
N1443V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2013-11-21	Valid
N2240E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2013-11-21	Valid
N3784K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Michigan	Standard	2013-11-21	Valid
N3040X	Socata TAMPICO TB 9C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2013-11-20	Valid
N30GS	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2013-11-20	Valid
N3921P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2013-11-20	Valid
N710LG	Goodwin N/Goodwin F RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Experimental	2013-11-20	Valid
N2577M	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2013-11-19	Valid
N52MR	Richardson Michael L RV 4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Experimental	2013-11-18	Valid
N76YB	Rosenau FALCONAR F-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Experimental	2013-11-14	Valid
N8352D	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Scarlet Wings LLC Brunswick, Ohio	Standard	2013-11-14	Valid
N50AC	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2013-11-13	Valid
N5543E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-11-13	Valid
N7230J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner West Virginia	Standard	2013-11-13	Valid
N9341H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2013-11-13	Valid
N41677	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Northern Aviation LLC Palmer, Alaska	Standard	2013-11-08	Valid
N101SC	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Experimental	2013-11-07	Valid
N2203V	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2013-11-07	Valid
N2223F	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2013-11-07	Valid
N733TR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wenatchee Sport Flyers Wenatchee, Washington	Standard	2013-11-07	Valid
N738WJ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2013-11-07	Valid
N30NK	Klapmeier/Klapmeier/Klapmeier SHA GLASAIR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Experimental	2013-11-06	Valid
N614ED	Debruyn Edmund T RV6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Experimental	2013-11-06	Valid
N9542H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-11-06	Valid
N1076X	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-11-05	Valid
N19681	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	J & J Shop Heliair LLC Laurel, Delaware	Standard	2013-11-05	Valid
N62RM	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Employment Services INC Virginia Beach, Virginia	Standard	2013-11-05	Valid
N8226V	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2013-11-05	Valid
N141PF	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fordham Aviation INC Eastman, Georgia	Standard	2013-11-04	Valid
N2343T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Manire Christine D Ruidoso, New Mexico	Standard	2013-11-04	Valid
N29330	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2013-11-04	Valid
N46047	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Tennessee	Standard	2013-11-04	Valid
N5147E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dirty Side Down LLC Noblesville, Indiana	Standard	2013-11-04	Valid
N80742	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2013-11-04	Valid
N19624	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jlinn Aviation INC Quinlan, Texas	Standard	2013-11-01	Valid
N2390H	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2013-11-01	Valid
N721JW	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Blue Water Aviation INC Jupiter, Florida	Standard	2013-11-01	Valid
N13725	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2013-10-31	Valid
N3639Z	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2013-10-31	Valid
N51BJ	Erskine James L RV6AS	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Experimental	2013-10-31	Valid
N5909W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2013-10-31	Valid
N75586	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Adventist World Aviation Wilson, North Carolina	Standard	2013-10-31	Valid
N87AF	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Multiple	2013-10-30	Valid
N8910D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2013-10-30	Valid
N46189	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2013-10-29	Valid
N78513	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2013-10-29	Valid
N9578P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2013-10-29	Valid
N7097G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2013-10-28	Valid
N82613	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wammen Ranch LLP Reva, South Dakota	Standard	2013-10-28	Valid
N1304F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2013-10-25	Valid
N131RJ	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2013-10-25	Valid
N27TX	Champion 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2013-10-25	Valid
N641PT	Wollerson Peter E GLASAIR I TD	Fixed-wing, single engine	Papa Tango LLC West Monroe, Louisiana	Experimental	2013-10-25	Valid
N9780D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tubreaux Aviation Services LLC Shreveport, Louisiana	Standard	2013-10-25	Valid
N13157	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Red River Flyers INC Wahpeton, North Dakota	Standard	2013-10-24	Valid
N13938	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Seattle Offshore Dmi INC Bothell, Washington	Standard	2013-10-24	Valid
N3JA	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2013-10-22	Valid
N79448	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2013-10-22	Valid
N8613D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2013-10-22	Valid
N12148	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2013-10-21	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