Emergency In Smoke-Filled N.A.C. Plane

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 14

Emergency In Smoke-Filled N.A.C. Plane

tNew Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 8. While a Fokker Friendship with its cockpit full of smoke and fumes and all its lights out was in an emergency dive on Wednesday, a young Auckland air hostess was reassuring 32 frightened passengers. Asked tonight if she was scared, the hostess. Miss Dawn S. Hounslow of Devonport, said: “I would be a pretty funny person if I was not.” The plane was making a night flight from Paraparaumu to Whenuapai. Smoke filled the cockpit when it was off New Plymouth at a height of 17,000 feet. In the cockpit Captain W. T. Rainbow, at the controls, and Captain G. W. Miles, donned oxygen masks in case they succumbed to the fumes. Lights Pat Out

Emergency action was taken. All cabin lights were switched out in case the trouble was an electrical short circuit and the two-year-old plane was put into a dive to near sea-level so that it would be depressurised to release the smoke thrnneh the

The undercarriage was lowered as part of the emergency precautions. “It was the suddenness of the emergency that made it so frightening.” said Miss Hounslow. “I was in the galley and had my back to the cockpit, washing cups after serving a buffet supper, when I heard a coughing.

“I turned round and saw smoke. The pilot and co-pilot were putting on oxygen masks. Captain Miles called out: ‘There’s a fire in the electrical system.’ “As soon as I was told this, they switched out the lights. I could not see and I could not stay in the 'ockpit because the fumes were so strong.

“The public address system was switched off. The pilots could not speak because of their masks. I went into the cabin and set about my emergency procedure. The passengers were very frightened. "I told them there was smoke in the cockpit. They could see it anyway through the door. Some businessmen were standing in the aisle. I told them all to go to their seats and fasten

“The passengers were absolutely wonderful. They did everything . they were told. Very little smoke got into the cabin. The steep dive combined with the lights being off disturbed them. Went to Window “There was no screaming or shouting. One man misunderstood me and svent to open the emergency window. 1 managed to stop him.” said Miss Hounslow. “As soon as we got down near the sea I felt confident." The plane landed safely at Whenuapai at 10.30 pm. Miso Hounslow, who has been with the National Airways Corporation for two years, was dying as usual this morning She reported to Whenuapai at 9.30 am. for her first flight to Kaitaia. Tonight she was in Gisborne Mr D A Patterson, general manager of N.AC. said that the smoke was caused by a piece of fabric which became lodged inside a heating duct and smouldered when it passed over the heat unit Mr Patterson said the fabric was fire-proofed and could not possibly have burst into flames “Although there was smoke, at no time was there danger of fire in the aircraft ” N.A.C. had instituted an inquiry to determine how the fabric entered the duct and more especially to preclude a . similar occurrence in