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
N182RN Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Ohio
Standard 1978-06-13 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7494P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine M and P Aviation INC
Albia, Iowa
Standard 1978-04-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7161P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Montana
Standard 1978-01-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N9147W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard 1978-01-23 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4614P Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
California
Restricted 1977-11-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5366P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Co-owned owner
California
Standard 1977-09-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6150P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard 1977-07-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4629Y Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Barts Flying Service INC
Storm Lake, Iowa
Restricted 1977-03-01 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3561W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Wisconsin
Standard 1976-06-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6540P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard 1976-04-22 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8552L Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Restricted 1976-04-21 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8937W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New Mexico
Standard 1975-02-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7704P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kansas
Standard 1974-11-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N43664 Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 1974-08-29 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4832Y Piper
PA-25-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Iowa
Restricted 1974-05-24 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7248V Intermountain
CALLAIR A-9
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Restricted 1974-03-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6170P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Montana
Standard 1973-05-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7092P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard 1973-01-16 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6163P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Commache Avn INC
Flint, Michigan
Standard 1972-01-31 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N702SP Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Sportsmans Market INC
Batavia, Ohio
Standard 1972-01-07 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8082P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Skyriders INC
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Standard 1971-08-11 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N7818P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Michigan
Standard 1970-10-05 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N260C Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Carolina
Standard 1970-09-14 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3986W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Delaware Flyers INC
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Standard 1970-05-26 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N747VT Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Montana
Standard 1969-02-06 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N8769W Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Dublin Aviation CORP
Columbus, Ohio
Standard 1967-10-23 RevokedFAA registration status code 22: Revoked, canceled. All codes
N3738W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Newton Machine CO INC
Charlotte, North Carolina
Standard 1967-06-20 ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N111SL Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1246T Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N12RD Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Flying Colors Airparts INC
Leesburg, Florida
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N150B Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Withheld at owner's request
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N15126 Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Georgia
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N16556 Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
North Dakota
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 17: Sale reported, pending cancellation. All codes
N1716R Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N171WC Robinson Helicopter
R44 ASTRO
Helicopter Individual owner
Illinois
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N18010 Dehavilland
DHC-1B-2
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Experimental Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N182GZ Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Aircraft By Farkas LLC
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N182KC Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N1981H Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N200MA Piper
PA-32RT-300T
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N2024S Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kansas
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N20522 Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Standard CanceledFAA registration status code 18: Sale reported, canceled. All codes
N235CR Piper
PA-28-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N236AG Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Troposphere Ventures LLC
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N241DK Douglas Ripley
BEARHAWK
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Delaware
Experimental Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N260CS Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N27PC Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N3224W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Medic Choppers LLC
Springdale, Arkansas
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N32785 Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N3368W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N3457W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3460W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 17: Sale reported, pending cancellation. All codes
N3483W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N3571G Callair
A-9
Fixed-wing, single engine Mid Continent Aircraft CORP
Hayti, Missouri
Restricted ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3571P Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Carolina
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N3784W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3793W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N3801W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Iowa
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N3879W Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N395X Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Montana
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N4166C Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4345K Piper
PA-28-236
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N44EK Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4707S Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4731P Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N4811Y Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Delaware
Multiple Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N4831S Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Alaska
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N4836S Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Minnesota
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N4899P Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine C e S Corporation
Charleston, West Virginia
Standard RevokedFAA registration status code 22: Revoked, canceled. All codes
N515S Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard Pending cancellationFAA registration status code 19: Registration pending, pending cancellation. All codes
N5180P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Missouri
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N521TY Robert T Williams
BEARHAWK MODEL 5
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Washington
Experimental PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N5226Y Piper
PA-23-250
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N522W Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Indiana
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N5231T Cessna
R182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N5253P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 17: Sale reported, pending cancellation. All codes
N5446P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N5450P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N5453T Cessna
TR182
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N5532J Piper
PA-32-260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N559RK Robinson Helicopter
R44
Helicopter Individual owner
Wyoming
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N56328 Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N56335 Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Maule Air INC
Moultrie, Georgia
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5641L Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Colorado
Standard CanceledFAA registration status code 18: Sale reported, canceled. All codes
N56500 Maule
M-5-235C
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5670P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5866P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5879N Rockwell International
114
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N5907P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Kansas
Standard Sale reportedFAA registration status code 7. All codes
N601NT Piper
AEROSTAR 601P
Fixed-wing, multi-engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N6106P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Arizona
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N6289P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine No owner on file
Standard Assigned, not yet registeredFAA registration status code 2: N-number assigned but not yet registered. All codes
N6372P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Texas
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N666AE Siai-Marchetti
SF260
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
Florida
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N6792Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Mid Continent Aircraft CORP
Hayti, Missouri
Restricted ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6857Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
California
Restricted PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N6886P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Bas Part Sales LLC
Greeley, Colorado
Standard ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes
N6983P Piper
PA-24-250
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
New Jersey
Standard PendingFAA registration status code R: Registration pending. All codes
N7031Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Individual owner
South Dakota
Restricted Sale reportedFAA registration status code 17: Sale reported, pending cancellation. All codes
N7050Z Piper
PA-25-235
Fixed-wing, single engine Mid Continent Aircraft CORP
Hayti, Missouri
Restricted ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes

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.