Which company produces the engine used in the DA-40?

• A. Lycoming
• B. Continental
• C. Pratt & Whitney
• D. General Electric

Answer: (A)

The DA-40’s standard powerplant is a Lycoming piston engine, so the question is really about which company built the typical engine for this airframe. Lycoming commonly supplies four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled engines for light airplanes, with the IO-360 family being a frequent choice for the DA-40. The “IO” indicates fuel injection, and these engines provide the kind of reliable, simplicity-focused power that fits the DA-40’s design and performance envelope. That’s why Lycoming is the best answer.

Contintental also makes piston engines for GA aircraft, but the DA-40’s standard configuration uses Lycoming, not Continental. Pratt & Whitney and General Electric specialize in jet and turboprop engines, not the piston engines used in this airplane. (Note: there are variants like the DA-40 TDI that use a different diesel engine, but for the common Lycoming-powered model, Lycoming is the manufacturer.)