SOUTHERN CROSS MISHAP.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20773, 6 February 1933, Page 8

SOUTHERN CROSS MISHAP.

SOFT GROUND CAUSES DAMAGE. TOUR DELAYED FOR REPAIRS TO WING. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Feb. 4. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith landed at Milson Aerodrome, Palmerston North, at 4.15 p.m. from Hamilton. He made a perfect landing, but when taxi-ing back ho struck a filled-in portion on tho aerodrome extension, and tho left wheel sank axle-deep, causing the undercarriage to drop and the loft wing-tip and port propeller to strike the ground. the mishap was not serious was emphasised by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. The wing was broken for six feet on the leading edge, and eight feet on tho trailing edge, while the port propeller was smashed. The sevei'O strain had caused the iorward leg of tho undercarriage to break, throwing tbf wing down. At the place where the mishap occurred four chains of fencing were recently removed to allow for an extra runway when taking off. It was not considered that this area would be needed for landing purposes. On landing, guided by the Wellington Waco machine, the Southern Cross at sixty miles an hour went safely over the filling, although leaving a deep rut in tho mud. Coming back at five miles an hour the five-ton weight of the machine was too much and, with the reduced speed left the wheel sinking axledeep. He emphasises the fact that tho occurrence was not a crash but was an inconvenient mishap. "Damage to the wing is the worst thing that could have happened," ho said, "because other parts can be forwarded from Sydney. Tho whole seventy-two foot wing will have to come off for tho tip to he rebuilt, and this will take not less than two weeks, and probably three. In future we shall go ahead before making our trips keeping an eyo on tho ground, because of the weight of the machine.' Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's own men will attend to the repair work, while he will probably visit Sydney for a week, or will have his wife and infant son visit the Dominion. He will continue his itinerary as soon as the machine is finished. Plight from Hamilton. The Southern Cross left. Hamilton at middav, with tlio intention of flying over Te Kuiti, To Awamutu, and Taumarumii. Sir Charles KingsfordSmith circled tho last of those, aiid because of bad weather returned 80 miles ro New Plymouth to refuel, as he* had not taken a largo reserve of petrol at tho outset, because of the heavy lift on the wet ground. Bad conditions when he left caused his late arrival, and ho had experienced, bad weather most of the way. He picked up tho Manawatu escort aeroplane outside Wanganui, Welhnfjton Waco machine, piloted by Mr G. B Bolt, over Palmerston North, iollo'wing tho latter in to tho aerodrome. The Mayor and others gave Sir Charles Kingsford-Smitli a civic, welcome -about an hour after the mishap, in the rain, which was continuous throughout_the afternoon.

LOCAL PILOTS' VIEWS.

POSTPONEMENT OF AERO CLUB COMPETITIONS. Christchurch pilots do not think that much trouble will be experienced repairing the damage done to tho Southern Cross, but they agree that it will take some time. Might Lieutenant M. W. Buckley, N.Z.P.A.J!'., stated that he thought that Mr'-W. Affleck, aircraftsman with the party, would probably be able to do the work. The wing. of the Jb'okker had a very thin three-play wooden covering, instead of the fabric used in most wings, and this would entail more work vo. repairing it'. • ~ , Flight .Lieutenant Buckley said that in all probability the spars on the wing would not have been broken in the accident, but that the whole ot the wing would havo to 1» stripped for an inspection of the spai's. It was probable, no said, that spare propellors would bo carried with the Southern Cross. . - .. As a result of the mishap to the Southern Cross, the competitions which the Canterbury Aoro Club intended to run on the day of Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's arrival, have been postponed.