The 1997 relaunch of the Skylane that dropped the carbureted Continental O-470 for a fuel-injected 230-hp Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 — ending decades of carb-ice worries and matching the newer engine's 2,000-hour TBO.
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 230 hp @ 2,400 RPM |
| Seats | 4 |
| Max speed (sea level) | 145 kt |
| Cruise speed (80% power, 6,000 ft) | 140 kt |
| Max range (10,000 ft, 55% power) | 968 nm (88 gal usable, 45-min reserve) |
| Useful load | 1,185 lb |
| Max takeoff weight | 3,100 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 92 gal total / 88 gal usable |
| Service ceiling | 18,100 ft |
| Rate of climb | 924 fpm |
| Typical price | Used ~$110k–$170k depending on year, engine time, and avionics |
Figures above are 1997 factory numbers; later 182S model years through 2001 share the same airframe and powerplant with minor equipment changes. For the carbureted 1970s Skylanes, see our Cessna 182Q Skylane page and Cessna 182P Skylane page; for the current-production 182T, see our Cessna 182 Skylane hub.
When Cessna resumed 182 production in 1996 after a decade-long gap, the following year's 182S arrived with the biggest change in the Skylane's history — dropping the reliable, carbureted Continental O-470 for a fuel-injected 230-hp Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, as AVweb's Skylane history and buyer's guide details. The swap solved the carb-icing susceptibility that had dogged every O-470-powered Skylane since 1956 — no surprise, AVweb notes, since Cessna and Lycoming share the same parent company, Textron. The tradeoff: the Lycoming has a reputation for occasionally needing a cam replaced at mid-TBO, something the smoother-running Continental rarely does.
Cessna has kept building the Skylane in a straight line from the 182S. At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2026, Textron Aviation's booth #78 lineup included the current Skylane (182) and Turbo Skylane (T182T) alongside the Skyhawk, Grand Caravan EX, and Turbo Stationair — the same fuel-injected Lycoming architecture the 182S introduced nearly 30 years earlier, per Textron Aviation's July 2026 AirVenture exhibitor announcement.
AVweb pegs a 1997 182S at $135,000 or less on today's used market, with later, lower-time airframes commanding more — a premium over carbureted 182P and 182Q classics that reflects the fuel-injected engine's lower risk profile and a full 2,000-hour TBO from day one. Financing works the same way it does for any certified single: expect terms up to 20 years, 15%-20% down for most buyers, and rate and term driven by engine time, damage history, and your own financial profile more than the model year itself.
| 182S (1997) | 182Q (1977–80) | 182P (1972–76) | 182T (current) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, fuel injected | Continental O-470-U, carbureted | Continental O-470-R/S, carbureted | Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, fuel injected |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 2,000 hrs | 1,500 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Fuel capacity | 92 gal (88 usable) | 61–88 gal | 61–84 gal | 92 gal (87 usable) |
| Best for | Fuel-injected reliability at a used-market discount | Classic carbureted Skylane value | Budget entry-level classic | Garmin G1000 NXi and factory warranty |
The 182S sits between the carbureted classics and the current 182T in both era and price. If you want the fuel-injected engine and 2,000-hour TBO without paying current-production prices, the restart-era 182S is the sweet spot; our 182Q and 182P pages cover the carbureted classics, and our 182 Skylane hub covers the G1000 NXi-equipped current model.
Used 182S Skylanes typically trade from about $110,000 to $170,000, with 1997 examples reaching AVweb-cited lows near $135,000 and later, lower-time airframes commanding more. Estimate a payment.
Factory numbers show 145 knots max speed at sea level and 140 knots cruising at 80% power at 6,000 feet, with a maximum range near 968 nm at 55% power.
All three carry 230 hp, but the 182S swapped the carbureted Continental O-470 for a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, eliminating carb-ice risk and matching the 182Q's 2,000-hour TBO while beating the 182P's 1,500-hour TBO.
Cessna and Lycoming share the same parent company, Textron, and the fuel-injected IO-540-AB1A5 solved the carb-icing problem that had affected every carbureted O-470 Skylane since 1956, according to AVweb's Skylane history.
Yes, as a certified single with terms up to 20 years and 15%-20% down typical for classic pistons.
Sources: AVweb, Cessna 182 Skylane history and buyer's guide; Cessna 1997 Model 182S Pilot's Operating Handbook, factory performance specifications; Textron Aviation, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 exhibitor announcement (July 2026).
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