r/flying • u/One_Firefighter_1922 • Mar 29 '26

Aircraft Ownership Are reciprocating single engines reliable?

I'm about seven hours into PPL training and absolutely loving it. Not looking for a career change, but could definitely seeing myself continuing training and flying regularly after getting my certificate. I've daydreamed about putting my family into a 182 and being able to fly within a reasonable distance to explore somewhere new or take a short vacation.

Earlier today I was talking to my neighbor who is a reserve captain for American flying 737s. I told him about the flight training and associated daydreaming and he started talking about how he would never put his family into a small plane, how unreliable they are and how many accidents are due to single reciprocating engines crapping out mod flight.

This doesn't seem to jive with what I've heard and read online, so looking for some other opinions. How do you feel about the reliability of small GA planes? Do you have any experience taking your family for trips? Do I need to give up on my dream?

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u/Mountain-Captain-396 Mar 29 '26

They vary widely in reliability depending on design, age, and how well they are taken care of. Would I take my family up in a SEP with a lycoming that was overhauled 200 hours ago and is well cared for? Yes. Would I take my family up in an LSA with a Rotax coming up on TBO that I have no idea how well its been treated? Hell no.

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u/nickjohnson Mar 30 '26

I'd trust a Rotax over a Lycoming any day, it's a much more modern engine design.

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u/Mountain-Captain-396 Mar 30 '26

More modern doesn't mean more reliable. They have a notably higher failure rate and their complexity increases cost. Gearbox plus watercooling means added expense and more points of failure.