Canberra: Thousands of small planes in Australia and New Zealand were grounded today because of fears a tiny US-built part could be faulty and cause a loss of power.

The flight bans issued by aviation regulators in the two countries did not significantly affect major airlines because the bans apply only to piston, not jet, engines, meaning mostly small planes used for crop dusting, cattle mustering and private travel.

Australia's Civil Aviation Authority grounded up to 3,000 planes after receiving advice from US authorities that a gasket fitted to the fuel injection system of engines by three US manufacturers - Lycoming, Teledyne Continental and Superior Airports - may not be safe. New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said about 326 planes there were affected, including some tourist flights.

Both regulators cited a US Federal Aviation Administration notice to pilots that there had been 18 reports of a plug working loose because an accompanying gasket had shrunk from engine heat. "At the worst case scenario your engine could lose power in air," Australian Civil Aviation authority spokesman Peter Gibson told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.

The orders in Australia and New Zealand apply to planes that have had engines rebuilt, serviced, overhauled, repaired or bought since Aug 22, 2006. The checkup is simple and takes a qualified engineer about one hour, Gibson said.

Source : PTI