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
N1523V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2012-11-02	Valid
N20SC	Casper Steve E VANS RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Triple S Air LLC Atchison, Kansas	Experimental	2012-11-02	Valid
N442ND	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ari Ben Aviator INC Fort Pierce, Florida	Standard	2012-11-02	Valid
N446ND	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ari Ben Aviator INC Fort Pierce, Florida	Standard	2012-11-02	Valid
N447ND	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ari Ben Aviator INC Fort Pierce, Florida	Standard	2012-11-02	Valid
N9722D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, Illinois	Standard	2012-11-02	Valid
N19739	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-11-01	Valid
N5087W	Piper PA-28	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-11-01	Valid
N53968	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Martin John H Wasco, California	Standard	2012-11-01	Valid
N192FC	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-10-31	Valid
N6AL	Dean Alfred H GLASTAR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Rhode Island	Experimental	2012-10-31	Valid
N7125L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2012-10-31	Valid
N2012K	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Maine Instrument Flight Augusta, Maine	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N228WB	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N339JC	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N3537K	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N43661	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N44421	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Rhode Island	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N7082Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Patrols INC Midland, Texas	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N73930	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N8444D	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2012-10-30	Valid
N4504Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Cronin Monty A Gettysburg, South Dakota	Restricted	2012-10-29	Valid
N81713	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-10-29	Valid
N4372X	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2012-10-25	Valid
N61697	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	L&W Aircraft Investment LLC Homestead, Florida	Standard	2012-10-25	Valid
N9722V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tck Services LLC Millington, Michigan	Standard	2012-10-25	Valid
N1857T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-10-24	Valid
N5331S	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2012-10-24	Valid
N98041	Piper J3C-65	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-10-24	Valid
N3578P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2012-10-23	Valid
N3631P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-10-23	Valid
N5045X	Selby George P SPORTSMAN 2+2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Experimental	2012-10-23	Valid
N65339	Buente B E / Worley J M LONG EZ B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Experimental	2012-10-23	Valid
N160CB	Cessna 150F	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-10-22	Valid
N3066H	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2012-10-22	Valid
N55973	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Ohio	Standard	2012-10-22	Valid
N8398A	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	Individual owner California	Multiple	2012-10-22	Valid
N8993Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airglas INC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2012-10-22	Valid
N9617D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kansas	Standard	2012-10-22	Valid
N68511	Bellanca 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-10-18	Valid
N7175R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-10-17	Valid
N84849	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-10-15	Valid
N9800P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2012-10-15	Valid
N7601P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Victory Holdings LLC Anacortes, Washington	Standard	2012-10-12	Valid
N83421	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2012-10-12	Valid
N26822	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-10-11	Valid
N62606	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2012-10-11	Valid
N75844	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Command Aviation INC Bellingham, Washington	Standard	2012-10-10	Valid
N1121C	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Supercub LLC Ormond Beach, Florida	Standard	2012-10-05	Valid
N95069	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tower Aviation of Reading INC Reading, Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-10-05	Valid
N1956F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2012-10-04	Valid
N32779	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bcm Enterprise LLC Phoenix, Arizona	Standard	2012-10-04	Valid
N733YH	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2012-10-03	Valid
N2989X	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2012-10-02	Valid
N37687	Burghduff Lex DAKOTA COYOTE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Williams Lee e Oshoto, Wyoming	Experimental	2012-10-02	Valid
N9743W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Foster Jay W Marshfield, Missouri	Standard	2012-10-02	Valid
N391RD	Dillard Ray E VANS ACFT RV9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Experimental	2012-09-28	Valid
N5644U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-09-28	Valid
N24TS	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airquest Aviation LP Butler, Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-09-27	Valid
N2828P	Piper PA-22	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2012-09-27	Valid
N6120Z	Piper PA-25	Fixed-wing, single engine	H & H AG Aviation INC New Underwood, South Dakota	Restricted	2012-09-26	Valid
N6196Z	Piper PA-25	Fixed-wing, single engine	H&H Ag-Aviation INC New Underwood, South Dakota	Restricted	2012-09-26	Valid
N7292F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2012-09-26	Valid
N9043H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2012-09-26	Valid
N1357U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-09-24	Valid
N3008E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-09-24	Valid
N5281J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2012-09-24	Valid
N78804	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2012-09-24	Valid
N3670N	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2012-09-21	Valid
N5437H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Buena Vista Flying Club INC Richland Center, Wisconsin	Standard	2012-09-21	Valid
N2152A	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2012-09-19	Valid
N4856D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2012-09-19	Valid
N101WS	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2012-09-18	Valid
N220RF	Ferrin Rick L RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Uninsured N220Rf LLC Jacksonville, Florida	Experimental	2012-09-17	Valid
N27156	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2012-09-17	Valid
N383HR	Diehl William A INTERSTATE S1B4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Experimental	2012-09-17	Valid
N56713	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2012-09-17	Valid
N5884D	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2012-09-17	Valid
N706DA	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flycarolina LLC Charlotte, North Carolina	Standard	2012-09-17	Valid
N3461W	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bplj LLC Old Monroe, Missouri	Standard	2012-09-14	Valid
N116FP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2012-09-13	Valid
N177NW	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Indiana	Standard	2012-09-13	Valid
N64198	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Randy Goering INC Bend, Oregon	Standard	2012-09-13	Valid
N7577D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-09-13	Valid
N738RP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2012-09-12	Valid
N172MK	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Puerto Rico	Standard	2012-09-11	Valid
N6407D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Walo Enterprises LLC Aurora, Colorado	Standard	2012-09-07	Valid
N7661L	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-09-07	Valid
N810CL	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2012-09-07	Valid
N9151H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	First Flight CORP San Diego, California	Standard	2012-09-07	Valid
N6983W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2012-09-06	Valid
N789U	Harden David H RV-6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tradewinds Aero INC Traverse City, Michigan	Experimental	2012-09-06	Valid
N1JL	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Montana	Restricted	2012-09-05	Valid
N53611	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aero Mobil INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2012-09-05	Valid
N4001Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-09-04	Valid
N224ND	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Good Flight Aviation LLC Stockton, California	Standard	2012-08-31	Valid
N13960	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	John Mark Air Repair LLC Chugiak, Alaska	Standard	2012-08-30	Valid
N5045G	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Glen Allan Farm Service INC Glen Allan, Mississippi	Standard	2012-08-30	Valid
N61642	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	N61642 LLC Lowell, Michigan	Standard	2012-08-30	Valid
N7801D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2012-08-30	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