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
N6666W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2023-02-16	Valid
N7235G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2023-02-16	Valid
N733AH	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Altus Aircraft LLC Taylor, Texas	Standard	2023-02-16	Valid
N8023N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2023-02-16	Valid
N8158D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2023-02-16	Valid
N929LS	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flying Tigers Flight School LTD Houston, Texas	Standard	2023-02-16	Valid
N13VS	Sawyer David E RV-3	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hunton Hugh R II Midlothian, Texas	Experimental	2023-02-15	Valid
N444AW	American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hangar 22 LLC Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2023-02-15	Valid
N5834L	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fount Valley Flying Club LLC Kidron, Ohio	Standard	2023-02-15	Valid
N6168V	Clement James L WITTMAN TAILWIND	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Experimental	2023-02-15	Valid
N737KZ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Neptune Aviation Services INC Missoula, Montana	Standard	2023-02-15	Valid
N808UF	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2023-02-15	Valid
N8486R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2023-02-15	Valid
N94KW	Maule MX-7-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Standard	2023-02-15	Valid
N2167W	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kentucky	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N2569M	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sp Airparts LLC Moscow, Idaho	Multiple	2023-02-14	Valid
N26450	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Km Aero INC Kalispell, Montana	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N3479Z	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Restricted	2023-02-14	Valid
N4409M	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Multiple	2023-02-14	Valid
N4478J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Fly 500 LLC Fort Pierce, Florida	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N46437	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Arizona Active Air LLC Yuma, Arizona	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N52217	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mustang Sally Aviation LLC Camden, South Carolina	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N524DR	Piper Aircraft Corp PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N723C	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N9014H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Flex Air Holdings INC Manhattan, Kansas	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N92793	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N9900Q	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2023-02-14	Valid
N1927W	Beech B19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Altitude Aviation Services LLC Mountain Home, Idaho	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N395MT	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N5792W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Tennessee	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N6058D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N739MS	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Costa Flying Service INC Painted Post, New York	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N79908	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N84599	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Nichols Investment and Rental LLC Ogden, Utah	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N8466R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2023-02-13	Valid
N8567D	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Multiple	2023-02-13	Valid
N43051	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Standard	2023-02-12	Valid
N4500R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2023-02-12	Valid
N46054	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2023-02-12	Valid
N29585	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Nebraska	Standard	2023-02-11	Valid
N6212G	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Lionheart Aviation Services LLC Fairfax, Virginia	Standard	2023-02-11	Valid
N7327F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airconrad LLC Duncansville, Pennsylvania	Standard	2023-02-11	Valid
N73719	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Purdue Aviation LLC West Lafayette, Indiana	Standard	2023-02-11	Valid
N79565	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vm Aero LLC Camden, Delaware	Standard	2023-02-11	Valid
N9285H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Orion Aviation Aircraft LLC Carlsbad, California	Standard	2023-02-11	Valid
N123TT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Midwest Athletic Supply LLC San Marcos, California	Standard	2023-02-10	Valid
N314AV	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	N1412V LLC Manassas, Virginia	Standard	2023-02-10	Valid
N5494L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2023-02-10	Valid
N780BG	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Maw Enterprises USA LLC Hudson, Florida	Standard	2023-02-10	Valid
N8006N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Clear Skies Aviation INC Montgomery, Texas	Standard	2023-02-10	Valid
N98GC	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-02-10	Valid
N35752	Cessna 172I	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N5068D	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N5129S	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Splendid Aviation INC Corpus Christi, Texas	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N53728	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N6281W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N6861H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Viking Systems INC Naples, Florida	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N7550R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Indiana	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N84DL	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airplanes and Helicopters of Oregon LLC Sisters, Oregon	Standard	2023-02-09	Valid
N131BZ	Bucker-Jungman 131	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oregon	Experimental	2023-02-08	Valid
N1470V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N15LW	Westbrook Larry RV-9A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Experimental	2023-02-08	Valid
N2223Y	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N26941	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N2887P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Goldberg Aviation Cody, Wyoming	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N4081E	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Orlando Aircraft Sales LLC Orlando, Florida	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N40838	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N516TG	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Natchez Flight Training LLC Natchez, Mississippi	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N62689	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Optic Air LLC Sioux Center, Iowa	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N6732W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N7196R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Crisler Capital LLC Sunnyvale, Texas	Standard	2023-02-08	Valid
N9122P	Simko Tom M AVID MAGNUM	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sharp Gary D Rigby, Idaho	Experimental	2023-02-08	Valid
N189B	American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Virginia	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N4919F	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N55310	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kentucky	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N5782W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Kansas	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N5954S	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N64325	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Varney Aviation LLC Bangor, Maine	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N7375J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Withheld at owner's request	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N73790	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N8987Y	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N98843	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	American Patrols INC Midland, Texas	Standard	2023-02-07	Valid
N1250T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2023-02-06	Valid
N1617V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2023-02-06	Valid
N3467Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	67 Zulu LLC Cherry Hill, New Jersey	Standard	2023-02-06	Valid
N3981Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wyoming	Multiple	2023-02-06	Valid
N4886A	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Multiple	2023-02-06	Valid
N4955D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2023-02-06	Valid
N6075V	Werner Cougar 1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alabama	Experimental	2023-02-06	Valid
N74ER	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Simplifly LLC Mesa, Arizona	Standard	2023-02-06	Valid
N1533J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2023-02-05	Valid
N7695G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Montana	Standard	2023-02-05	Valid
N9689D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Michigan	Standard	2023-02-05	Valid
N1942Z	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Third Step 5 LLC Gilbert, Arizona	Standard	2023-02-04	Valid
N2096L	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-02-04	Valid
N2345L	Beech 23	Fixed-wing, single engine	D&S Development LLC Spring, Texas	Standard	2023-02-04	Valid
N517DL	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Delta Leema Aviation LLC Moncks Corner, South Carolina	Standard	2023-02-04	Valid
N6891B	Piper PA-18S-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2023-02-04	Valid
N79130	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	M&M Shipshape LLC Kalispell, Montana	Standard	2023-02-04	Valid
N9821G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2023-02-04	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