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
N7435Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Restricted 2014-11-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9182T Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Restricted 2014-11-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9206W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-10-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9407W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Louisiana
Standard 2014-10-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N16299 Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Piper Niner Niner LLC
Evansville, Indiana
Standard 2014-10-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8542N Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-10-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9076C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Evv Pilots Club INC
Evansville, Indiana
Standard 2014-10-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5535J Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Standard 2014-10-21 Reports overdueFAA registration status code N: Non-citizen corporation that has not returned its flight-hour reports. All codes
N260 Bucker Jungmeister
BU 133
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Arizona
Experimental 2014-10-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6938P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Washington
Standard 2014-09-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N983VB Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 2014-09-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7480P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 2014-09-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7879P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2014-09-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N436AK Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard 2014-09-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4768S Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Wisconsin
Standard 2014-09-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9767P Piper
PA-25-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Restricted 2014-08-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7797P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 2014-08-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N284M Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 2014-08-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4335Y Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Texas Soaring Association INC
Midlothian, Texas
Restricted 2014-08-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4988Y Piper
PA-25-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Iowa
Restricted 2014-08-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N628RD Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2014-08-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7586X Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Dpair LLC
Rome, Georgia
Standard 2014-08-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N543JD Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard 2014-08-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9354W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Blue Horizon Aircraft LLC
Wilmington, Delaware
Standard 2014-08-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4895P Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Washington
Standard 2014-08-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4785Y Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Simmons Aviation Services LLC
Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Standard 2014-08-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8788W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New York
Standard 2014-08-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4287T Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Jonair LLC
Charleston, South Carolina
Standard 2014-07-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N422F Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Integrity Aircraft Title Holdings LLC
Portland, Oregon
Standard 2014-07-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N739CQ Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Wyoming
Standard 2014-07-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9088E Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2014-07-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3392W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-07-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N767CE Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2014-07-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9848C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2014-07-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9045W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Restricted 2014-07-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N60HC Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-07-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6120P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Pennsylvania
Standard 2014-07-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5316S Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Dk Air LLC
Brookings, Oregon
Standard 2014-07-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N91XJ Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Charlie Foxtrot LLC
Grand Island, Nebraska
Standard 2014-07-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N70583 Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Bult Equipment LLC
Monee, Illinois
Standard 2014-06-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N182HC Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Mississippi
Standard 2014-06-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N300SK Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-06-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4696T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Hess Aero CORP INC
Huntsville, Alabama
Standard 2014-06-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5488S Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard 2014-06-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N86AJ Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-06-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9827C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Kae Aviation LLC
Conover, Wisconsin
Standard 2014-06-19 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N711AZ Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Griffith Grading CO INC
Newnan, Georgia
Standard 2014-06-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N13BR Piper
PA-23-235
Fixed-wing, multi-engine C-140 CO LLC
Pensacola, Florida
Standard 2014-06-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6367P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard 2014-06-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6852P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Dakota
Standard 2014-06-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3349C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-06-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8549N Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Kansas
Standard 2014-06-04 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N616SR Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Idaho
Standard 2014-06-03 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N111FC Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Woody Air LLC
Vero Beach, Florida
Standard 2014-05-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3132C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-05-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N31FR Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine 31Fr LLC
Bigfork, Montana
Standard 2014-05-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6136P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Plane Fun INC Tr Trustee
Snellville, Georgia
Standard 2014-05-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6155P Piper
PA-24
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arkansas
Standard 2014-05-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2339V Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Oklahoma
Standard 2014-05-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2244T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine American Elevator
Ruidoso, New Mexico
Standard 2014-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6518P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Arizona
Standard 2014-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7440P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Sutton Aircraft Salvage LLC
Palmer, Alaska
Standard 2014-05-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2940Z Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Mi Casa Apratment CORP
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Standard 2014-05-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9118C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-05-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N32956 Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Illinois
Standard 2014-05-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6391T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Webco Aviation LLC
Clay, Kentucky
Standard 2014-05-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2308P Piper
PA-22-150
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Dakota
Standard 2014-05-12 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1936P Maule
M-7-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Sand Dollar Seaplanes LLC
Valentines, Virginia
Standard 2014-05-02 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3678W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Diamond B Farm INC
Gamaliel, Kentucky
Standard 2014-04-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N500P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Tennessee
Standard 2014-04-30 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6276T Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-04-28 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N829AK Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Old City Helicopter Sales LLC
Saint Augustine, Florida
Standard 2014-04-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6687Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Crop Doctor Aviation INC
Hill City, Kansas
Restricted 2014-04-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9353R Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Florida
Standard 2014-04-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N736TS Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
Oklahoma
Standard 2014-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7692P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 2014-04-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N96FD Agusta Spa
F.260D
Fixed-wing, single engine Pb Marchetti LLC
West Palm Beach, Florida
Standard 2014-04-15 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8153Z Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New Jersey
Standard 2014-04-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N21PL Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Yankee Flying Club INC
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Standard 2014-04-09 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4863T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine M & M Light Transportation CO INC
Duluth, Minnesota
Standard 2014-04-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3085Y Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Marsh Aviation of Marana INC
Marana, Arizona
Restricted 2014-03-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5240P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-03-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7433Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Das Air INC
Wilmington, Delaware
Restricted 2014-03-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4758S Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Mcdonald Sales & Leasing INC
Marshville, North Carolina
Standard 2014-03-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4856T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Hub City Aviation LLC
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Standard 2014-03-27 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3415W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Sutton Aircraft Salvage LLC
Palmer, Alaska
Standard 2014-03-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4728S Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Sam Aviation CORP
Millstadt, Illinois
Standard 2014-03-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4800S Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard 2014-03-25 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8179A Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Felker Lonnie A
Burbank, California
Standard 2014-03-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8759W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Big Sky Air LLC
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Standard 2014-03-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N756NP Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine American Financial Services INC
Las Vegas, Nevada
Standard 2014-03-18 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N16396 Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Nobrainer Holdings LLC
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Standard 2014-03-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5675P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-03-17 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N16279 Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard 2014-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N453WM Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Aerostar Companies INC
Dover, Delaware
Standard 2014-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6288P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 2014-03-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N228HP Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Lance Reid Enterprises LLC
Turlock, California
Standard 2014-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N28543 Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 2014-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5915P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Iowa
Standard 2014-03-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5637W Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard 2014-03-03 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.