U.S. Probes Pratt Engines on Chinese Helo

The U.S. State Department is investigating how Pratt & Whitney Canada engines wound up in prototypes of China's first domestically developed military attack helicopter, according to Reuters. Pratt Canada won a contract in 2000 to supply PT6C-67Cs for the civilian version being developed simultaneously for the Z-10. It shipped 10 engines to China with the Canadian government’s approval, the company said. When problems developed with the Z-10's Chinese engine, Pratt Canada said, China put the -67Cs on its prototypes. Subsequent changes to the aircraft program have led Canada to re-evaluate its approval. Because Pratt Canada is owned by U.S.-based United Technologies Corp., U.S. export restrictions could apply. For related news