AIR FATALITY SEQUEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19510, 14 December 1926, Page 13

AIR FATALITY SEQUEL.

KEMPSTON BALLOON CRASH. FLYING WITHOUT A PERMFT. FINES OF £l5O IMPOSED. : There was a sequel at Bedford recently to the balloon accident at Kemps ton on August 3, when fiv<s people were killed Messrs. C. G. Spencer and Sons, Ltd., aeronautical engineers, ol Highbury, N., the owners of the balloon, were summoned for allowing it to be flown without special permission in writing from the Secretary of State and -without it being certified as airworthy. The accident occurred at the sports and flower show at I too Park, Ktmpston, The balloon had reached its highest altitude, when the basket parted from the netting, and Captain E. T. Willows, the pilot, and the four passengers—Mr. and Mrs. E. Crowsley and Mr. and Mr?. W. Harbage, all of Kempston—were killed. Mr. Maurice Healy, for this Director of Public Prosecutions, said that on the day of the accident there was no certificate of airworthiness and no permit had been given. Major J. P. C. Cooper, inspector of accidents for the Air Ministry, said that the balloon had been registered as a spherical free balloon and not as a captive balloon. The distinction was of groat, importance, for the stresses and strains imposed on the nutting of a free balloon were very much less than upon a captive balloon. A Temporary Certificate. An informal or temporary certificate of airworthiness had bean issued on July 23, 1925, for the balloon as a spherical free balloon. It was valid for three months. Mr, J. D. Cassels, K G, M.P., for the defence, produced the original certificate of airworthiness, and Major Cooper said it was not specifically in respect of a free balloon. The certificate was current until October 25, 1925, and contained the words, "Pending the issue of a certificatA of airworthiness proper, this certificate will stand in lieu." Mr. F. W. Verrey, of the Air Ministry, said that only two formal certificates of airworthiness for balloons and two temporary ones, had been issued! since 1919. Only 18 or 20 balloons had been registered. • The Chairman: You don't seem To have had a very busy time. (Laughter.) Mr. Verrey stated that a cheque for five guineas was paid by Messrs. Spencer to the Air Ministry On Juno 17, 1925, in respect of an airworthiness certificate for the balloon. Only the temporary certificate had been issued!. Mr. Cassels: Was any step taken between July, 1925, and August, 1926, by the Air Ministry Department to issue the proper certificate ?—No further action was taken. But the cheque was cashed f —Yes. Imposition o! Fineit. The Air Ministry, said Mr. Verrey, granted a permit to Messrs. Spencer to fly another balloon at Catford in July, 1926. They knew at the time that the applicants had not a current certificate of airworthiness. ■ , - - The magistrates convicted ott both summonses. For failure to have a permit they imposed a fine of £IOO, Regarding the failure to have an- airworthy certificate they agreed that the phrasing of the temporary certificate was ambiguous, but imposed .a penalty of £SO. The costs were fixed! at .30 guineas. - r , .7;^