KILLED BY PROPELLER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 12

KILLED BY PROPELLER

AEROPLANE MECHANIC THE FAITH IN AUSTRALIA ACCIDENT STARTING ENGINE [by telegraph—PHES3 association] WANGANUI, Friday Fatal injuries were suffered by a member of the ground stalf of the monoplano Faith in Australia, Mr. Ronald Smith, of Sydney, when starting the centre engine of tlio machine shortly after its arrival from Hawera this morning. He was struck by the propeller which he was swinging and was taken to the Wanganui Hospital, where he died about two hours later. The propeller blade was split from top to bottom.

The monoplano arrived at Wanganui from Hawera at 10 o'clock, and was being prepared to take off for the first passenger flight. The two outer encines wero started and Mr. Smith climbed on to a small ground platform to swing the central propeller. It is believed ho swung this in the usual way to ensure a sufficient intake of petrol, and then signalled to the pilot, Mr. G. U. Allan, to rnako contact. The pilot responded. It is thought Mr. Smith then found the propeller was not in a suitable position for swinging, and, in moving it gently to obtain a bettor crip, he started the engine. Before he could jump clear it was revolving and ho was struck. Deceased received a compound frnctrue of the right arm and injuries to the shoulder and chest, and suffered 'severe shock. After receiving attention from two doctors on the ground he was removed to hospital, but ho died at one o'clock. Mr. Smith was single, aged 26. His parents reside in England. He camo to Australia nine years ago and was trained as an engineer at Mascot aerodrome, Sydney. Ho was one of those who participated in the search for the missing monoplano Southern Oloud in 1929. Passenger flights by the Faith in Australia wero cancelled for the day.

The method of starting the three engines of the Faith in Australia is one requiring particular care, owing to the short space that separates the mechanic from the revolving propeller. The mechanic stands on the top of a high, portable table, so that his .head and shoulders are level with the centre of the engine and ho can obtain a strong grip of tho propeller to swing it. The compression of the engine makes it rather a difficult matter to swine the propeller by hand, which is the means of starting up the engine.. The pilot sits at the controls, and by signals informs tho mechanic when tho ignition switcli?s have been turned 011 ready. Once? the switches are 011 "contact" the mechanic givos a final twist to the propeller and this is in most cases sufficient to start the engine.