Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 8, 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

Texas2,351California2,123Florida2,077Alaska1,796Washington1,004Ohio731Georgia718Minnesota686North 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	718
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
N9816G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Maine	Standard	2013-01-17	Valid
N13KE	Overholser Brad A RV-3	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2013-01-16	Valid
N79162	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2013-01-16	Valid
N79269	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2013-01-16	Valid
N7957G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying L Aircraft INC Fort Denaud, Florida	Standard	2013-01-16	Valid
N9338H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2013-01-16	Valid
N9818U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2013-01-16	Valid
N646FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2013-01-14	Valid
N8855N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Indy Distributors INC Noblesville, Indiana	Standard	2013-01-14	Valid
N26330	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maryland	Standard	2013-01-11	Valid
N13719	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Precious Metal Aviation LLC Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin	Standard	2013-01-10	Valid
N5931D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2013-01-10	Valid
N78668	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Standard	2013-01-10	Valid
N3198F	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2013-01-09	Valid
N8330V	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Idaho	Standard	2013-01-09	Valid
N2KP	Patsch-Kenneth THORP T-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2013-01-08	Valid
N733RN	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2013-01-04	Valid
N264ND	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pars Avn CORP Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2013-01-03	Valid
N4359Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Dakota	Multiple	2013-01-03	Valid
N54EL	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cascade Air LLC Trout Run, Pennsylvania	Standard	2013-01-03	Valid
N48443	Interstate S-1B1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2013-01-02	Valid
N30BM	Moore William E PROTECH PROSTAR PT-2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2012-12-27	Valid
N6458W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2012-12-27	Valid
N733BK	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	B & R Aircraft LLC Wadsworth, Ohio	Standard	2012-12-27	Valid
N4292H	Piper PA-14	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2012-12-21	Valid
N79139	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2012-12-19	Valid
N84390	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-12-19	Valid
N270AM	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Code 1 Flight Training LLC Wills Point, Texas	Standard	2012-12-18	Valid
N4100Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mountain Escape LLC Pullman, Washington	Standard	2012-12-18	Valid
N4005Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mills Air Service INC Marstons Mills, Massachusetts	Standard	2012-12-17	Valid
N5742W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2012-12-17	Valid
N323TP	Kohler Terry RV9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Experimental	2012-12-14	Valid
N5097E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2012-12-14	Valid
N5135H	Piper PA-14	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-12-14	Valid
N9706Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-12-13	Valid
N2377U	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cardinal Flight Systems LLC Cary, North Carolina	Standard	2012-12-12	Valid
N8817C	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2012-12-12	Valid
N737AC	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	U56Fliers LLC Idaho Falls, Idaho	Standard	2012-12-11	Valid
N7963F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Macair Aviation LLC Xenia, Ohio	Standard	2012-12-10	Valid
N5310W	Piper PA-28	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2012-12-07	Valid
N55136	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2012-12-07	Valid
N20921	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2012-12-06	Valid
N44060	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pilatus Aircraft USA LTD Broomfield, Colorado	Standard	2012-12-06	Valid
N971SE	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2012-12-06	Valid
N15753	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-12-05	Valid
N61GW	Wilkins Robert G RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Experimental	2012-12-05	Valid
N7210J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2012-12-05	Valid
N7842B	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2012-12-05	Valid
N20544	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	Standard	2012-12-04	Valid
N8BK	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aeroparatus LLC Monterey, California	Standard	2012-12-04	Valid
N92908	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	C-140 Company LLC Pensacola, Florida	Standard	2012-12-04	Valid
N9504D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-12-04	Valid
N20019	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2012-12-03	Valid
N2704P	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2012-12-03	Valid
N40006	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2012-12-03	Valid
N2551P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2012-11-30	Valid
N739DP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2012-11-30	Valid
N84474	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2012-11-30	Valid
N4224Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pressley Aviation LLC New London, North Carolina	Standard	2012-11-29	Valid
N140MD	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2012-11-28	Valid
N1788P	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-11-28	Valid
N2973P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Delaware	Standard	2012-11-28	Valid
N9872J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-11-28	Valid
N6358N	Champion 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Dakota	Restricted	2012-11-27	Valid
N2642Q	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N35690	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N4130P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Vermont	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N6AB	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Centerline Holdings INC Camden, Delaware	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N72448	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N78473	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pps1 LLC Duluth, Minnesota	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N83424	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2012-11-26	Valid
N164DV	Thomas Dennis RV-9	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Experimental	2012-11-21	Valid
N21DS	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Johnson Brothers Enterprises CORP Eldridge, Alabama	Standard	2012-11-21	Valid
N54257	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Meridian Airport Authority Meridian, Mississippi	Standard	2012-11-21	Valid
N9119L	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-11-21	Valid
N78351	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Restricted	2012-11-19	Valid
N412PC	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2012-11-16	Valid
N4029B	Diebel Dean L VANS RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2012-11-15	Valid
N11YC	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2012-11-14	Valid
N6426F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	High Anxiety LLC Kokomo, Indiana	Standard	2012-11-14	Valid
N1968J	John Donovan Reid RV6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2012-11-13	Valid
N36141	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Standard	2012-11-13	Valid
N8445B	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2012-11-13	Valid
N2359P	Piper PA-18A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ryan Good Aviation LLC Sioux Falls, South Dakota	Standard	2012-11-09	Valid
N6447Z	Piper PA-25	Fixed-wing, single engine	H&H AG Aviation INC New Underwood, South Dakota	Restricted	2012-11-09	Valid
N1820V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2012-11-08	Valid
N1974F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-11-08	Valid
N5551F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wisconsin	Standard	2012-11-08	Valid
N8208E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Champlain Island Hoppers Burlington, Vermont	Standard	2012-11-08	Valid
N112RA	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2012-11-07	Valid
N411SS	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2012-11-07	Valid
N5157K	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wifa (Washington International Flight Academy) LLC Gaithersburg, Maryland	Standard	2012-11-07	Valid
N6714W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-11-07	Valid
N13GH	Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2012-11-06	Valid
N35402	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2012-11-06	Valid
N6291T	Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft & Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2012-11-06	Valid
N8080Y	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2012-11-06	Valid
N8518W	Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2012-11-06	Valid
N2849Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Silver Ranch Airpark INC Jaffrey, New Hampshire	Standard	2012-11-05	Valid
N5445F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mikeco LLC Pine Bluff, Arkansas	Standard	2012-11-05	Valid

Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 8, 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