AEROPLANE WRECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 10

AEROPLANE WRECK

VISIT BY EXPERTS RECENT CRASH IN RANGES ARDUOUS JOURNEYS MADE £by TELEGRAPH —I'ItESS association] NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday The possibility that the forced landing of the Western Federated Flying Club's aeroplane in the Kaimanawa Ranges on January 8 was caused by the accidental turning off of the ignition switches was advanced by FlyingOfficer ian Keith, the club's instructor, who returned to New Plymouth last night after an arduous journey or inspection to the wrecked aeroplane. Tho machine was piloted by Mr. Wilson Potaka, of Wanganui, who had with him as a passenger Mr. Pino Potaka, of Utiku. Both men had an arduous tramp through rough country, being forced to spend a night in the open, after their machine had come down.

Flying-Officer Keith said experts could not otherwise account for the failure of tho engine, as when the machine was reached by tho expedition tho engine functioned perfectly in three experimental trials. Experts were inclined to the theory that the ignition switches might have accidentally been turned off in mid-air by the pilot's arm or a piece of loose clothing. Weight was lent to this theory by the position of tho switches on the wrecked machine and. tho pilot's explanation of his actions after the engines stopped. Beyond this indication of opinion he was not prepared to go pending the official inquiry. i

The expedition which went to tho scene of the crash comprised Messrs. B. Havbittle, Government representative, W. Potaka, the pilot of tho aeroplane, K. Martin, of the Now Plymouth Aero Club, A. Salter, tho Western Federated Club ground engineer, C. Arthur and Flying-Officer Keith. They entered the bush from the desert road with pack horses, being led by Messrs. Arthur and Potaka, who know tho country well. The journey to and from tho aeroplane was most arduous, progress being at the rate of only two miles an hour.

Tho party camped on the first night several miles upstream, after crossing the Waipakihi River 70 times. The machine was reached after three and ahalf hours' journey on tho second day, the river being crossed another 40 times. After a careful inspection of the machine and three trials of the engine, the movable parts of value were removed and carried out, some on horses and some by hand. The outward journey also was a gruelling one, being accomplished in drenching rain. A party of expert bushmen will endeavour to bring out the remaining parts of tho machine, including the engine, in the near future.