Australia grounds new helicopters

CANBERRA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Australian Defense Force (ADF) on Tuesday grounded its 11 new transport helicopters while experts determine the reason for an engine failure on one helicopter last month.

ADF said one of the MRH-90 helicopters experienced failure of one of its two main engines while flying north of Adelaide on April 20.

It returned to base Edinburgh without further incident or injuries to personnel.

"Specialist personnel from the European engine manufacturers Turbomeca and Rolls Royce have been brought to Australia to assist with the ongoing investigation into a technical incident with an Australian Defense Force Multi Role Helicopter (MRH-90) last month," ADF said in a statement.

"The Defense Science and Technology Organization is also assisting with the forensic analysis of engine components with flying operations suspended while the cause of the engine failure remains under investigation."

ADF has brought 46 of the European-designed Australian- assembled MRH-90 helicopters for the army and navy with 11 so far accepted. They were being used for training and trials.

Defense said the full impact of the engine failure on the project schedule was yet to be determine

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