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
N9792V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Havu Aviation LLC Irvine, California	Standard	2023-01-25	Valid
N9852U	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arizona	Standard	2023-01-25	Valid
N104BL	Oneil Willian Jerome ONEIL PITTS	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Experimental	2023-01-24	Valid
N20958	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Ras Aviation LLC Elyria, Ohio	Standard	2023-01-24	Valid
N416SS	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2023-01-24	Valid
N5441H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-01-24	Valid
N642RV	Ayers Steven D RV-6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2023-01-24	Valid
N73321	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Learn To Fly Nola LLC New Orleans, Louisiana	Standard	2023-01-24	Valid
N91250	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Noguess Levi B Belton, Texas	Standard	2023-01-24	Valid
N917PF	Magargle Todd RV6	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2023-01-24	Valid
N9688D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2023-01-24	Valid
N1219U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	South Bay Flight Training Center Carolina, Puerto Rico	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N150AA	Grumman American Avn. Corp AA-1A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Reed Aviation INC Iota, Louisiana	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N176AZ	Arctic Aircraft Co Inc S-1B2	Fixed-wing, single engine	Vincent T Remcho Phd LLC Corvallis, Oregon	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N19850	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Harbour Aviation LLC Weatherford, Texas	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N24P	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N3279P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	South Bay Flight Training Center Carolina, Puerto Rico	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N4313R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N5044R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	South Bay Flight Training Center Carolina, Puerto Rico	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N5322R	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Freetown Partners LLC Newark, Delaware	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N5960W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N6478W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N739VP	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Colorado	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N7750G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N8306C	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N9660W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N9XF	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2023-01-23	Valid
N118BZ	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	L-Bird LLC Hood River, Oregon	Standard	2023-01-22	Valid
N16341	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2023-01-22	Valid
N20589	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2023-01-22	Valid
N5869D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Idaho	Standard	2023-01-22	Valid
N15272	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Indiana	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N29379	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N357KK	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dkk LLC Indian Rocks Beach, Florida	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N4308Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	N4038Q LLC Merritt Island, Florida	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N4345Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Neptune Aviation Services INC DBA Missoula, Montana	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N5730F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Minnesota	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N7112K	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Multiple	2023-01-21	Valid
N9088D	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Metro Aircraft CO Bloomington, Minnesota	Standard	2023-01-21	Valid
N2521S	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-01-20	Valid
N4262A	Cessna 170B	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-01-20	Valid
N4614V	Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Swan Christopher L Stillwater, Oklahoma	Standard	2023-01-20	Valid
N5981W	Piper PA-28-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2023-01-20	Valid
N734UR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2023-01-20	Valid
N100DP	Bellanca 8KCAB	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N1011Z	Starduster Too SA300	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2023-01-19	Valid
N3144P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N32161	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Missouri	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N4151F	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N4296Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Airjohn LLC Cheyenne, Wyoming	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N43316	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Double M Aviation LLC Lakeland, Florida	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N5820U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N5988U	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N6800B	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N6838B	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N7107L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Yellowjet Flying Club LLC Mukilteo, Washington	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N739DR	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Centerline Holdings LLC Belgrade, Montana	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N7426G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N799P	Corrigan Peter H RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Experimental	2023-01-19	Valid
N812AT	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N82977	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2023-01-19	Valid
N26104	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2023-01-18	Valid
N28K	Kulp-Pitts Special 1966	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Oklahoma	Experimental	2023-01-18	Valid
N41803	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Minot Aero Center Minot, North Dakota	Restricted	2023-01-18	Valid
N41LS	Piper PA-20	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Experimental	2023-01-18	Valid
N5231W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-18	Valid
N5546J	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Multiple	2023-01-18	Valid
N7050G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Aircraft Management Group INC Honolulu, Hawaii	Standard	2023-01-18	Valid
N7083Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sevensixzerozero LLC Boerne, Texas	Standard	2023-01-18	Valid
N72JN	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Troy I Mounts MD INC San Juis Obispo, California	Standard	2023-01-18	Valid
N8091X	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Utah	Standard	2023-01-18	Valid
N160MR	Rogers Mike GLASAIR II RG	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2023-01-17	Valid
N22132	Mckissick Maynard Jr MCM-1	Fixed-wing, single engine	Mile High Aviation LLC Pahrump, Nevada	Experimental	2023-01-17	Valid
N3073P	Piper PA-23	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Individual owner Arkansas	Standard	2023-01-17	Valid
N4229H	Piper PA-14	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2023-01-17	Valid
N9176H	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky Walker Flight School LLC Adrian, Michigan	Standard	2023-01-17	Valid
N999TT	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner Alabama	Standard	2023-01-17	Valid
N100SV	Nord Stampe SV4C	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Experimental	2023-01-16	Valid
N13662	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Kentucky	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N1726P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N20954	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N322AT	Socata TB 9 TAMPICO	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N33338	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Arkansas	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N3958Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N4999C	Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER	Helicopter	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N507DT	Wielt GREAT LAKES 2T-1A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Experimental	2023-01-16	Valid
N53134	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sundog Logistics LLC Lenexa, Kansas	Experimental	2023-01-16	Valid
N555AZ	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	N555Az LLC Herndon, Virginia	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N7029R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N9524L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2023-01-16	Valid
N410SF	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2023-01-15	Valid
N425FL	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Frogtown Investments LLC Owensboro, Kentucky	Standard	2023-01-15	Valid
N46407	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Washington	Standard	2023-01-15	Valid
N737DA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sky II LLC Lees Summit, Missouri	Standard	2023-01-15	Valid
N7578G	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Three Little Birds Inv LLC Nashville, Tennessee	Standard	2023-01-15	Valid
N940SM	Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA	Helicopter	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2023-01-15	Valid
N12360	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC Denton, Texas	Standard	2023-01-14	Valid
N13169	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	1521 LLC Antigo, Wisconsin	Standard	2023-01-14	Valid
N26758	Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2023-01-14	Valid
N4386J	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2023-01-14	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