TASMAN PLANE TURNS BACK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 145, 1 April 1948, Page 2

TASMAN PLANE TURNS BACK

Fault in Automatic Warning Device SOUTHBOUND DAKOTA DELAYED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 31. The departure of the southbound Dakota on the internal service of National Airways was delayed at Whenuapai to-day because of the late arrival of a Skymaster with mails from Australia for the south. The Skymaster had returned to Sydnew this morning on three engines because of the appearance of an automatically controlled fire warning light. The aircraft is one of those operating under charter to Tasman Empire Airways and was carrying 42 passengers. The plane was examined at Sydney and made an uneventful crossing later in the morning. The aircraft was flying at 7000 ft an hour after leaving Sydney when the thermostatically controlled alarm indicated the risk of fire in one of the four engines. Although the crew considered it was probable that, the light had been brought into action by a minor fault in the warning circuit and that the motor was functioning normally, it was decided to take full safety precautions. The suspected motor was feathered and the Skymaster turned for Sydney where a landing was made at 1.40 a.m. (Australian time). Engineers confirmed that the engine was in perfect condition, and the aircraft took off again for New Zealand at 3.40 a.m. The aircraft reached Whenuapai at 12.15 p.m. and left on its return flight to Sydney shortly before 2 o*clock.