AERIAL CRASHES

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 May 1937, Page 7

AERIAL CRASHES

GOVT. INSPECTOR’S REPORT

GREY PILOT CRITICISED

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, May 28

Reporting on the accident to the Otago Aero Club’s aeroplane which crashed near Taieri aerodrome on March 23, the pilot being killed, the inspector of accidents states that he has reached the conclusion that no structural failure of the aircraft, or defect in its control mechanism occurred during the flight. He considers that the cause of the accident cannot be definitely determined-, but that . the evidence suggests as the most likely /cause that, in spinning manoeuvres in which he engaged, the pilot, through an error of judgment or temporary dizziness, permitted the machine to dive and reach a speed at which it was impossible to regain control in the height available. In the case where the West Coast United Aero Club’s Moth aeroplane crashed into the sea near Greymouth aerodrome on April 11, the inspector arrived at the following conclusions: — (1) That the aircraft was in an airworthy condition before and during the flight; (2) that misuse of the rudder control during a steep turn resulted in the machine going into a dive at too low a height in which control could be. regained; (3) that the pilot, in executing steep turns at such a low height, was taking unnecessary risks; (4) that the accident must be attributed solely to poor technique on the part of the pilot in matters of airmanship.

RADIO AND SERVICES.

WELLINGTON, May 28

Arrangements for the installation of powerful radio telephone and telegraph services as aids to aviation were announced to-night by the Minister for Defence (Hon. F. Jones).The Minister said’ that quotations had already been called for suitable diiectional equipment to equip all the more important aerodromes, and three blind approach systems were under consideration for installation at Rongotai, Taieri, and Palmerston North. The Minister said that the Post and Telegraph Department was at present conducting, on behalf of Union Airways, Ltd., and Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., the following services, the cost of operation being met by the particular company concerned: —Milson Aerodrome (Palmerston North), low power radio telegraph service; Wellington, medium power radio telephone and telegraph service (Wellington Radio, Tinakori Hills); Blenheim aerodrome, low power radio telegraph service (Post and Telegraph radio station); Christchurch Jew power radio telegraph service (Post and Telegraph radio station); Dunedin, low power radio telegraph service.

“The above .services,” said Mr Jone's, “have been in operation since the inauguration. o£ Union Airways service in March, 1936, with the exception of the radio telephone service provided from Wellington Radio. This latter service is of an adequate power to meet ultimate requirements, and has given particularly satisfactory service since its installation some few months ago. “In the last few weeks radio telephone equipment has also been installed at Hokitika and Greymouth, and is being operated at these centres on behalf of Cook Strait Airways, which controls and operates its own private station at the Stoke aerodrome at Nelson, this special arrangement at Nelson being a temporary arrangement only until such time as a permanent Government installation can be made at the new aerodrome , at Tahunanui. While the services at present in existence have proved’ a most valuable aid to the conduct of commercial lines, they have in the main been recognised as temporary expedients, and the Government has now embarked on a major programme involving the provision of more powerful equipment which will in all cases be located close to the aerodromes themselves, and will be capable of providing telephone service as well as telegraph service. At Taieri aerodrome, Dunedin, the neces- . sary land has been and the equipment is available for an installation as soon as a building, for which the contract has already been let, has been completed. Matters are also in train for the establishment of permanent stations at Milson aerodrome, Palmerston North, the Bell Block aerodrome, New Plymouth, and the Mangere aerodrome, Auckland. “In view of the desirability of having these stations in operation in time for the opening of the AucklandWellington service, contracts have already been let for the erection of buildings, and it is hoped that the stations will be in operation by the end of June. Recent weather has drawn prominent attention to the necessity for the provision of radio aids to navigation, and the introduction of blind approach systems. The Government has directed .that as much work as possible on the final programmes set out by the Air Radio Committee should be undertaken during the present financial year, and an amount, of £35,000 has been set. aside to cover expenditure. Quotations have already been called for suitable directional receiving equipment, for all the more important aerodromes, and three blind approach systems are under consideration for installation at • Rongotai, Taieri, and Palmerston North. “It is being arranged,” said the Minister, “ that the Post and Telegraph Department, with its experience and resources in radio engineering and the handling of traffic, will undertake the various services involved, including aerodrome to aerodrome communication on short waves, which it is intended to arrange for at several of the more important aero-, dromes, as an item on the current year’s programme.”

FAST AEROPLANE

AUCKLAND, May 28. . The fastest aeroplanes yet seen in New Zealand, the two Lockheed Electras purchased by Union Airways for the Auckland-Wellington air service, arrived from the United States on the Limerick to-day. AUSTRALIAN SURVEY PARTY. SYDNEY, May 28. Advice has been received from Alice Springs (Central Australia) that the

motor-truck party which is going to the rescue of Sir Herbert Gepp and his geological survey party who were forced down on May 22, during a flight over the Central Australian desert, is not likely to reach its destination before Sunday. It is stated that the difficult nature of the country has made travelling slow and arduous, and it may yet be necessary to requisition a camel team.

Flight Lieutenant Hely, who located the stranded party, is daily dropping rations’. Sir Herbert Gepp and his party appear to be in good health. LLEWELLYN ARRIVES. CAPE TOWN. May 28. Llewellyn has arrived. He hopes to leave at dawn on Saturday. He is confident of breaking the Cape to London record. BRITISH TRAGEDY. (Received Mav 29. Noon). LONDON, May 28. Two service aeroplanes were wrecked in a collision in mid-air at Alton. The pilots escaped by means' of parachutes. Two aircraftsmen were killed.