(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-15 13:36

WELLINGTON -- More than 300 small planes and helicopters were grounded on Friday due to fears they may have a faulty part that can cause loss of power and engine failure, Radio New Zealand reported on Saturday.

The problem was discovered in the United States, where 18 incidents were recorded of gasket failure inside the fuel injection system of some aircraft engines.

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued an emergency directive to 225 operators and owners of single and twin-engined, piston-engined aircraft about a possible fuel injector fault. The authority says 326 aircraft could be affected.

The CAA Spokesperson Bill Sommer said aircraft affected by the directive cannot be flown until a plug in the fuel injector is checked and, if necessary, replaced.

The authority said there have been no reports of such a fault in New Zealand. It said the fault seems to be affecting modern engines. No recorded incidents have proved fatal, but the fault has forced planes to make precautionary landings.