A HENDON CRASH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1934, Page 9

A HENDON CRASH

THE PROBABLE CAUSE

BADLY PLACED PETROL COCK

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, July 26. A verdict of/Accidental death" was returned at the inquest on Squad-ron-Leader Stanley Beresford Collott, son of Sir Charles Collett, Lord Mayor of London, who was killed during the Royal Air Force display at Hendon He was acting as observer in a machine belonging to No. 600 (City of London Auxiliary) Squadron, which he commanded.

Asked why he loft the formation, the pilot, Robert Gordon Lea, said it was because the engine failed.

Major Cooper said that examination of the wreckage was carried out on the spot, and the engine was stripped and examined :,t the makers' works. There was no evidence of any defect, apart from the damage due to the crash, and the fire. He was satisfied that no part of the engine failed or developed any trouble during the flight. He had no hesitation in saying that there was no proof that the engine failed. Ho had formed the opinion that the forced descent was caused by the pilot accidentally or unwittingly shutting off the petrol cock with his knee. That stopped the .supply of petrol to. the engine.

"This petrol cock," he said, "was found almost completely turned off. My view is that if this had been caused by the crash' it would have been found completely turned off. Subsequent investigations have shown that the position in which it was found can be caused accidentally by the pilot's knee catching it. This is particularly so in the case of a tall pilot. Furthermore, there has been a previous case."

The Coroner: Is there any way of preventing this happening?— Yes. It is one of those things that after an unfortunate accident like this will bo taken in hand.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and said there was no suspicion of blame attaching to anyone. They were satisfied with. Mr. Lea's competency as a pilot.