The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 8, 2026

Lycoming O-540 series

5,244 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Lycoming O-540 series engine, rated at about 250 horsepower. The Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow is the model most often fitted with it (1,226 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1958 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-540 series (2 codes). FAA spellings: 0-540 SERIES · O-540 SERIES.

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table
aircraft
19404
1950428
19601,898
19701,491
1980521
1990132
2000123
20106
202011

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Lycoming O-540 series the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E-295, held by Lycoming Engines). The FAA has issued 28 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 304 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 20 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 28 airworthiness directives · newest first

2026-09-142026-17-10 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section · engine
2026-04-082026-04-11 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine
2024-12-052024-21-02 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine
2022-08-152022-16-03 · Engine (RECIPROCATING) · engine
2017-08-152017-16-11 · Reciprocating Engine Power Section · engine
2012-10-242012-19-01 · Crankshafts · engine

All orders naming the Lycoming O-540 series

Failure reports 304 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

01530466195000510152025126
Failure reports by year, as a table
reports
9514
9626
975
9811
992
0015
0120
0261
0318
0425
0513
0618
0712
083
094
1011
114
125
136
143
157
161
171
183
194
203
211
223
231
242
251
261

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Magneto11Light10Carburetor8Line8Clamp7Pin7Valve7Boot6Bulkhead6Hose6
Parts most reported, as a table
reports
Magneto11
Light10
Carburetor8
Line8
Clamp7
Pin7
Valve7
Boot6
Bulkhead6
Hose6

Latest reports

2026-05-09Thrust Button: faulty
2025-06-06Housing: failed
2024-09-25Magneto: making metal
2024-04-02Rod: scored
2023-06-27Solenoid: defective

Certificates and bulletins

E-295Type certificate held by Lycoming Engines · 47 models listed · revised April 30, 2013

Safety bulletins 10 · advice, not orders

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,...
2011-03-31NE-08-26R3 · Magneto/Distributor

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
Where they are
Biggest operators
Airworthiness

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/engine/lycoming-o-540-series.json.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 5,244

Tail no.Maker and modelGroupOwner and baseCertificateRegisteredStatus
N1676R Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Blue Side Up LLC
Elbert, Colorado
Standard 2024-05-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N270W Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Msc Services INC
Hugo, Oklahoma
Standard 2024-05-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8124S Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2024-05-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N55AF Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2024-05-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7188D Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter US Aviation Training Solutions INC
Titusville, Florida
Standard 2024-05-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8361X Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Busy Bee Helicopter LLC
Paulding, Ohio
Standard 2024-05-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N721KC Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2024-05-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8095H Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Simmer Aviation LLC
Missoula, Montana
Standard 2024-05-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4934S Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2024-05-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5565J Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 2024-05-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5566P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Twig and Giggleberries LLC
Wichita Falls, Texas
Standard 2024-05-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N484AL Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Mississippi
Standard 2024-05-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N599JD Davis James A
BARRACUDA
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Experimental 2024-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7368N Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Aka Fun LLC
Jupiter, Florida
Standard 2024-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N550JS Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Bawk Aviation LLC
Xenia, Ohio
Standard 2024-05-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9108W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2024-05-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3687W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Bluewater Marine Group INC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2024-05-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N502JC Fish/Cooper/Mitchell
BUSH MASTER JJC
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Washington
Experimental 2024-05-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9947C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Loftin Aviation Group LLC
Suwanee, Georgia
Standard 2024-05-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8560W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2024-05-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7001P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard 2024-05-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N32CX Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Skowbo Rock
Jacksonville, Florida
Standard 2024-05-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3499W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Aviator Solutions LLC
Oregonia, Ohio
Standard 2024-05-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3478W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Double D Air LLC
Killeen, Texas
Standard 2024-05-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N235PC Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Barefoot Aviation Management INC
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Standard 2024-05-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6245S Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Fillmore Aviation LLC
South Saint Paul, Minnesota
Standard 2024-05-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N72K Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 2024-05-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9393W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2024-05-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9463W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Iowa
Standard 2024-05-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2147D Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2024-05-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8099Q Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2024-05-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3803W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Connecticut
Standard 2024-05-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5637R Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Olsem Aerial Application Services LLC
Westbrook, Minnesota
Standard 2024-05-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N56836 Piper
PA-32-300
Fixed-wing, single engine Spj Aviation Holdings LLC
Bentonville, Arkansas
Standard 2024-05-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2072S Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oregon
Standard 2024-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2690C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9222R Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-05-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5348P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Pari Aviation LLC
Marion, Texas
Standard 2024-05-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N21567 Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-05-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8128P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Scotts Aviation Services LLC
Kalispell, Montana
Standard 2024-05-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3453W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Utah
Standard 2024-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N775DH Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Wheels Down Aviation LLC
Goshen, New York
Standard 2024-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8318P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Plane Old Memes LLC
Seminole, Florida
Standard 2024-05-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6259P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kansas
Standard 2024-04-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9158W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Pennsylvania
Standard 2024-04-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7834P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2024-04-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8442A Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2024-04-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N182SH Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5128P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Alabama
Standard 2024-04-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N130GH Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Arizona
Standard 2024-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N423DK Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2024-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6317T Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6838P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New Jersey
Standard 2024-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N889JD Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard 2024-04-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N235WS Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-04-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4736Y Piper
PA-25-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2024-04-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N583SV Daniel Shannon
DANIEL HRMN ROCKETII
Fixed-wing, single engine South County Aviation LLC
San Martin, California
Experimental 2024-04-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N523CD Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2024-04-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6911Q Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
New Mexico
Standard 2024-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5530J Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard 2024-04-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8563W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Pennsylvania
Standard 2024-04-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5045Y Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Wingsolutions CORP
Miami Lakes, Florida
Standard 2024-04-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8763W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Arizona
Standard 2024-04-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9165W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Multiple 2024-04-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3322W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Idaho
Standard 2024-04-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N150BJ Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Dakota Air LLC
Delray Beach, Florida
Standard 2024-04-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N207VR Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine B&C Properties LLC
Bristol, Wisconsin
Standard 2024-04-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9011W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2024-04-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N737FR Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 2024-04-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8303Q Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Ducota 6 LLC
Jasper, Indiana
Standard 2024-04-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5289P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Massachusetts
Standard 2024-04-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5630D Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2024-04-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3420W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 2024-04-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9785P Piper
PA-25-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Restricted 2024-04-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3142R Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Sharp Media Group LLC
Kansas City, Missouri
Standard 2024-04-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N456BH Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Castleton Real Estate & Developlment INC
El Monte, California
Standard 2024-04-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N244MK Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter
Standard 2024-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2625S Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Sierra Aviation LLC
Plaza, North Dakota
Standard 2024-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N343GA Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine N343Ga Leasing LLC
Anchorage, Alaska
Standard 2024-03-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3629W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Fly Code Repeat LLC
Lewes, Delaware
Standard 2024-03-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N15901 Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Harbor Aviation LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2024-03-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4691Y Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Simmons Aviation Services LLC
Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Multiple 2024-03-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6399T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine 2F Trade LLC
Collinsville, Texas
Standard 2024-03-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3620W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2024-03-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4355D Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2024-03-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1161X Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2024-03-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N756RW Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Air America Trading LLC
Phoenix, Arizona
Standard 2024-03-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N228FP Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Withheld at owner's request
Standard 2024-03-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7684P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Texas
Standard 2024-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N55390 Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2024-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7392P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Virginia
Standard 2024-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8576W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2024-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N25LL Smith
AEROSTAR 601P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Co-owned owner
Tennessee
Standard 2024-03-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8597L Piper
PA-25-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Cb Aerial Application LLC
Kirksville, Missouri
Restricted 2024-03-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3612W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Kard Aviation LLC
Greenville, South Carolina
Standard 2024-03-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7122J Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arkansas
Standard 2024-03-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N97LH Hurst Lynn E
BARRACUDA
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Idaho
Experimental 2024-03-10 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7478P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Handerson Ronald J SR
Sitka, Alaska
Standard 2024-03-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N106JL Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Music City Air LLC
Rogersville, Alabama
Standard 2024-03-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N71KK Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2024-03-08 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
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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.