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
N1KZ	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Multiple	2012-08-29	Valid
N4487K	Temco D-16	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Mid Atlantic Air Museum Reading, Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-08-29	Valid
N628AW	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Hobart Aviation INC Akron, Ohio	Standard	2012-08-29	Valid
N272DK	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-08-28	Valid
N46087	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2012-08-28	Valid
N8528Y	Piper PA-30	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2012-08-28	Valid
N9079N	Robinson Helicopter R22	Helicopter	Florida State College At Jacksonville Jacksonville, Florida	Restricted	2012-08-28	Valid
N2207E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Teton Leasing LLC Pocatello, Idaho	Standard	2012-08-27	Valid
N8897N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2012-08-27	Valid
N98348	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Industrial Transportation & Distr Consulting LLC Franklin, Ohio	Standard	2012-08-27	Valid
N191PF	Finateri Paulo RV-9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Experimental	2012-08-24	Valid
N2491T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Virginia	Standard	2012-08-24	Valid
N1187M	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nevada	Standard	2012-08-23	Valid
N185L	Liberty Sport-Orval N. Lloyd A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nevada	Experimental	2012-08-23	Valid
N8370C	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2012-08-23	Valid
N2894Z	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Rs Specialties LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Restricted	2012-08-22	Valid
N3573P	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-08-22	Valid
N46493	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2012-08-22	Valid
N80525	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dunkin Aviation LLC Hensley, Arkansas	Standard	2012-08-22	Valid
N8867P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-08-22	Valid
N9577D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-08-21	Valid
N109BL	Leider Robert G LEIDER THORP T-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Nevada	Experimental	2012-08-20	Valid
N4522A	Piper PA-22S-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-08-20	Valid
N527AW	Wyland Alvin D STARDUSTER TOO	Fixed-wing, single engine	Skyhawk Td LLC Siloam Springs, Arkansas	Experimental	2012-08-20	Valid
N1955V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jd Kracl Aircraft LLC Gretna, Nebraska	Standard	2012-08-16	Valid
N251RB	Mason Charles D GLASAIR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Experimental	2012-08-16	Valid
N300QR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pdq Flight INC Garden City, New York	Standard	2012-08-16	Valid
N4807T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2012-08-16	Valid
N522RG	Martin Gene R LANCAIR	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Experimental	2012-08-16	Valid
N578FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2012-08-15	Valid
N7209D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2012-08-15	Valid
N8869N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-08-15	Valid
N8912V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2012-08-15	Valid
N738YT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	B2Fh LTD Allentown, New Jersey	Standard	2012-08-14	Valid
N20636	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Mississippi	Standard	2012-08-13	Valid
N649GC	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aviation Paradise LLC Homestead, Florida	Standard	2012-08-13	Valid
N21320	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-08-10	Valid
N61974	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Proclaim Aviation Ministries Worthington, Minnesota	Standard	2012-08-10	Valid
N738XA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hyldburg Aviation Plymouth, Massachusetts	Standard	2012-08-10	Valid
N738KG	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	738 Kilo Golf LLC Southern Shores, North Carolina	Standard	2012-08-09	Valid
N8285B	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hyldburg Aviation INC Plymouth, Massachusetts	Standard	2012-08-09	Valid
N155MB	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2012-08-08	Valid
N218KK	Piper PA-44-180	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Skymates INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2012-08-08	Valid
N4082J	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Emerald City Aircraft Leasing INC Port Orchard, Washington	Standard	2012-08-08	Valid
N5496W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2012-08-08	Valid
N6988W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lowe-Wing Aviation INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2012-08-08	Valid
N5753Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2012-08-07	Valid
N734US	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-08-07	Valid
N9561L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2012-08-07	Valid
N9448D	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Linear Farming INC Pleasant Grove, California	Standard	2012-08-03	Valid
N101LG	Grover Lloyd E CLOUD NINE	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Experimental	2012-08-01	Valid
N1351E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	J & S Air Ventures LLC Eagle Lake, Florida	Standard	2012-08-01	Valid
N5057R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2012-08-01	Valid
N7136Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Pa Lawrence LLC Anchorage, Alaska	Standard	2012-08-01	Valid
N7227G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-08-01	Valid
N78766	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oklahoma	Standard	2012-08-01	Valid
N2423E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Good Flight Aviation LLC Stockton, California	Standard	2012-07-31	Valid
N400RN	Taunton Raymond F STORM 400 SP	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2012-07-31	Valid
N1723P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-07-30	Valid
N2976C	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-07-27	Valid
N98092	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-07-27	Valid
N9505D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-07-26	Valid
N162	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-07-25	Valid
N3331Q	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2012-07-25	Valid
N35514	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Services INC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2012-07-25	Valid
N55302	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Coastl Air INC Groton, Connecticut	Standard	2012-07-25	Valid
N9745C	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Washington State Community College District 17 Spokane, Washington	Standard	2012-07-25	Valid
N3525Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Tennessee	Standard	2012-07-24	Valid
N28TL	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tml Aircraft INC Narrowsburg, New York	Standard	2012-07-23	Valid
N31BD	Dial Robert M THORP T-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2012-07-23	Valid
N3298P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2012-07-23	Valid
N5588U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2012-07-23	Valid
N7610G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2012-07-23	Valid
N211NP	Cline Glenn E OSPREY 2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Experimental	2012-07-20	Valid
N658LM	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lge Flying Club INC Marietta, Georgia	Standard	2012-07-20	Valid
N3YR	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2012-07-19	Valid
N5100H	Piper PA-14	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2012-07-19	Valid
N8992V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2012-07-19	Valid
N5762A	Piper PA-18A 150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-07-18	Valid
N7169R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Carolina	Standard	2012-07-18	Valid
N80483	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2012-07-18	Valid
N9243D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Piper Aviation Museum Foundation Lock Haven, Pennsylvania	Standard	2012-07-18	Valid
N9776U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2012-07-18	Valid
N1014Z	101 Flying Assoc Inc THORP T-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2012-07-17	Valid
N12840	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lanier Aviation LLC Cleveland, Georgia	Standard	2012-07-17	Valid
N4283Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Wyoming	Standard	2012-07-17	Valid
N53905	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2012-07-17	Valid
N1068M	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2012-07-16	Valid
N9882D	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Usda Aphis Ws Atoc Cedar City, Utah	Standard	2012-07-16	Valid
N2344P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2012-07-13	Valid
N5575F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Missouri	Standard	2012-07-13	Valid
N27CM	Machus MUSTANG II	Fixed-wing, single engine	M & J Enterprises Union, South Carolina	Experimental	2012-07-12	Valid
N3615M	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Experimental	2012-07-12	Valid
N54910	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2012-07-12	Valid
N5962W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2012-07-12	Valid
N7113L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2012-07-12	Valid
N9545D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2012-07-12	Valid
N9961U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aam Leasing LLC Zeeland, Michigan	Standard	2012-07-12	Valid
N12335	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2012-07-11	Valid
N111TK	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Multiple	2012-07-10	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