DEFECTS IN U.S. AEROPLANE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23316, 30 April 1941, Page 11

DEFECTS IN U.S. AEROPLANE

INQUIRY BY SENATE COMMITTEE • (Received April 29, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 28. A Senate committee investigating air crashes learned to-day that in 1937 the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics issued a confidential report criticising certain qualities of a type of transport aeroplane which has since been involved in several fatal air crashes. This was testified by Mr Hartley Soule, an expert employed by the committee, who conducted stability tests on an aeroplane referred to as DCS, and by Dr. George Lewis, the committee’s director of aeronautical research, who testified that a qonfidehtial report on the performance of the DCS was turned over to numerous aeroplane companies using these aeroplanes and to the Bureau of Air Commerce. Mr Soule read part of the record which included "with power on, the stall is dangerous, The aeroplane flies right to the stall With very little vibration,” ‘‘Why wasn’t this extremely valuable information included in a report to Congress?” Senator Clark asked Dr. Lewis. Dr. Lewis replied that the committee felt it had done its duty when it supplied it to the companies using the aeroplanes, ‘‘ThenThe law ought to be changed,” Senator Clark said.