Kotare Crash Inquiry Concludes

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1938, Page 5

Kotare Crash Inquiry Concludes

[Special To “Northern Advocate’’ I AUCKLAND, This Day.

Tin* hearing of evidence in the inquiry into the fatal crash of the Union Airways Lockheed Electra machine Kotare at Mangere on May IC. resulting in the deaths of Commander C. M. Duthie. chief pilot, and Second Officer W. J. Peel, co-pilot.

was not completed until last evening. The board, which comprises Mr F. W. Stilwell. S.M., Squadron-Leader H. B. Burrell. Royal N.Z. Air Force, and Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, chief instructor to the Auckland Aero Club, will convey its decision to the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. Over-Writing of Date. Continuing evidence yesterday afternoon, Leonard Mangham, chief engineer of Union Airways, stationed at Palmerston North, said he issued tho certificate* of safety for flight for the Kotare on May 10. He did not do the detailed work, but “ran up" the machine. Dr. N. A. Foden,-representing the Air Department: There has been an alteration here, or an over-writing, has there not, in the date, both on the certificate and on the daily inspection sheet? —I know they were issued on day the machine left Palmerston.

Witness, in reply to further questions, said ho did not know who filledin the dale, or how it appeared that ten was written over nine. Normal Procedure Followed.

“You agree it does not seem altogether satisfactory that on both there should be an overwriting on the date?” —"The normal procedure was followed.”

“It does not seem very satisfactory?’ —Witness did not answer.

“But you will agree that it is not satisfactory?”—“l think you will see if yoi#look back that there are other j mistakes in the date.” Witness said the motors were perfect. as far as he knew, when the machine left that morning. The port motor had recently been overhauled. To Mr Barrowclough. counsel for Union Airways, witness said he had not the slightest doubt that the certificate was signed on the day of the acj cident. Possible Misunderstanding. Commander Kenneth Brownjohn, a pilot employed by Union Airways, said he flew the Kotare from Palmerston North to Mangere on May 10. He was under the impression it was the starboard engine that was overhauled, but was not prepared to say that Mr Mangham had not possibly mentioned the port engine. Possibly he had misunderstood what the engineer said. Mr Barrowclough: When you handed over to Commander Duthie, did you think there was anything wrong with the machine?—l was quite sure in my own mind that there was not. Commander Gordon Rutherford White, a pilot employed by Union Airways, said that directly Commander Duthie noticed the failure of one engine. if he decided to continue the take-off. he would have to do something to clear the hangar. Conditions would make it necessary for the pilot to make his own decision as to what action he took, He assumed that the machine had little air speed; the wheel* would be down, and probably the pilot would observe that he had no chance of clearing the obstacle. The momentary lowering of the flaps would possibly give the machine a sufficient surge upward to clear the hangar. This would bo followed by loss of speed and height. Ho would bo faced with another difficulty when ho came to return the flaps to their normal position. Decision With Pilot Alone. “I think he put up a very fine show in getting over the hangar and wireloss masts at all,” witness continued. Witness said that only the pilot could have decided whether to have tried to land instead of clearing the hangar. In the circumstances of the pilot having turned downwind and into his bad motor, and having levs! speed, tho stall was likely to occur. Had Flown With One Motor. To Mr Barrowclough, witness said he knew the Lockheed Eleclras wore guaranteed to fly safely on one motor, and he had no doubt whatever of their ability to do so with a full load. With approximately a full load, ho had tried successfully taking-off with one motor. With passengers aboard, he had flown, when once in the air. on one mo'lor. Mr Barrowclough: These people you experimented with were not ordinary passengers?—No. not paying passengers. After hearing other evidence. Mr j Stilwell said he thought that the mati ter had been taken as far as i t could ! be on the evidence available, and it | only remained for the board to coni rider its finding, and convey it to the Minister, who no doubt would make il public.