AVIATOR’S FATAL CRASH

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 7

AVIATOR’S FATAL CRASH

FONDNESS FOR AEROBATICS FLYING UPSIDE DQWH COLLAPSE IN MID-AIR. Tho death of Mr Nigel Benjamin Cohen, the twenty-three-j'car-old son and heir of Sir Herbert Cohen, of Sandy Hatch, Hythe, England, who was killed on September 18, at Newingreeu, near Hythe, when the light aeroplane which he was Hying crashed from a height of 2,000 ft, was tho subject ol an inquest, which was opened on September 2], but which was adjourned to allow of tho completion of the Air Ministry investigations into tho cause of the accident. The theory was advanced by experts who gave evidence that Mr Cohen made an ascent to 4,000 ft to perform aerobatics, and that the dive preparatory to doing an outside loop was made too fast and put a strain on tho structure of the aeroplane, which it could not stand. Sir Herbert Cohen said that his son was a medical student, and lived with him at Hythe. They had tea together on September IS, and his son expressed the intention of Hying his machine, which was at Lympne. He had been Hying since the early summer of 1930, and was efficient. His son had told him that aerobatics were normally sale if performed at a height. The machine was bought in June last. James Frederick Beazer, ground engineer of the Cinque Ports Flying Chib, at Lympne, said that Mr Cohen, before taking off, asked him to inform tho instructor of the club, Mr Brown, that he intended climbing to a height of 4,000 ft to do an inverted spin, and he wished Mr Brown to watch him. COLLAPSE OF THE WING.

Mr Cohen climbed to perhaps a little over 4,000 ft, and after about two minutes straight flying tho machine went into a gradual dive. About 8001 t from the start he saw an object leave the plane, which appeared to be fabric. The dive continued in an “ over vertical position” for about another 200 ft, when more objects, apparently from a wing structure, left tho craft. After the collapse of the wing structure the piano crashed. Mr Boazer said there was no equivalent to the periodical inspection of Royal Air Force aircraft for civil planes. Because it was Mr Cohen’s private property it was no part of his duty to inspect the machine at any time.

The Coroner: Can you offer any suggestion as to what was tho cause of tho accident?

Witness; It appeared to me that Mr Cohen altered his original intention of an inverted spin and wanted to do an outside loop. In making the initial dive to attempt this with the engine full on it appeared to me the speed of the divo was too great, and put too much stress on the aircraft. Flying conditions were quite suitable. Keith Kendal Brown, pilot-instructor of the Cinque Ports Flying Club, said that ho considered Mr Cohen fairly efficient. He was surprised when Mr Cohen put the aircraft into a very steep dive. A TERRIFIC SPEED OBTAINED. “The aircraft got up a terrific speed, faster than 1 have ever seen a light aeroplane accomplish,” said Air Brown, “ and at a height of about 2,500 ft some part of the aircraft broke off. The plane then got into a spin and shed other portions. Undoubtedly the cause of the accident was the excessive strain put on the aircraft by the sliced of the dive.”

Major Cooper said that lie was engaged in piecing together the machine and trying to arrive at a technical conclusion. Unfortunately one important strut was missing, and he would like the coroner to appeal for its return as police had seen the portion in the field, but it had since disappeared. . The coroner said that he hoped the article would bo returned.

Ou being'informed by Major Cooper that his investigation into the accident would be completed in about two months, tho coroner adjourned the inquest until November 28. “1 should like to satisfy the public,” the Coroner said, “ that these gallant young fellows are sent up under the very best passible conditions. Air Cohen was not a service man, but the Air Ministry issue a certificate of airworthiness. Either there was a defect or there was no defect, and only by evidence to that effect could they sot at rest the minds of tho public.”