N196 is taken. It's currently assigned to a 2017 Kervaski Bill RV-14A registered in Melbourne, FL.
See the full aircraft record →A tail number only frees up if the owner deregisters the aircraft or moves it to a different N-number — and even then the FAA holds it before releasing it to the public.
N196 has been worn before. Past registrations from FAA deregistration records:
Tails one nudge away from N196 that aren't assigned or reserved: