AEROPLANE CRASH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21243, 26 January 1931, Page 8

AEROPLANE CRASH.

PILOT ESCAPES INJURY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MACHINE. (Special to Daily Times.) - AUCKLAND, January 25. A spectacular crash, fortunately without any Injury to the pilot, ; occurred during the Auckland Aero Club’s display at: the MangerC'aerodrome, when one of the club’s Moth machines, piloted by G. M. Eirtli, was extensively damaged after falling from a height of about 80 feet. The accident was witnessed by a large number of people, and the machine landed just clear ,of a crowd in a paddock south of . the hangars. By the time the first of the spectators had reached the machine Firth had climbed from the cockpit, being only slightly shaken. It is thought that the crash was caused through a defective petrol tap. ; The aeroplane, the Blue' Moth ZK-AAK, which had been in,use during the morning, was allotted to Firth to use in the bombing competition. Jle,j;ook off lntp ; .the wind, but the machine was-.-.only* about 50 feet from the ground when :the "engine began to splutter and mish-badly.' ■The ‘machine rapidly lost flyiihf -spe'ed, and as the. pilot saw he was directly over The crowd he . started forced landing and attempted to'turn back on to the aerodrome, apparently with the intention of trying to land down wind. With the engine delivering no power the machine suddenly stalled and First straightened out on his original course in an endeavour to clear the crowd and the parked cars. The Moth, which was moving so slowly as to.be almost out of .the pilot’s'control, made little' response to Firth’s efforts to keep it aloft until the crowd 'was passed, and fell suddenly. Firth pulled the joystick right back and the machine landed on its wheels. The impact of .the crash drove the landing gear up through the fuselage, which was broken in half at the passenger’s cockpit. Fortunately it was. unoccupied at the time. The undercarriage was badly buckled and one of the. propeller blades was snapped off short at the boss. The wings were not damaged, and' a cursory inspection of the engine .failed to reveal any defect, although an overhaul will be necessary. Immediately after the crash a squad of mechanics under the supervision of the ground engineer, Flyingofficer 11. J. Copley, removed the wings and cut the engine free from the broken fuselage. Various portions ■of the wrecked machine were then conveyed to the hangar, where the necessary repairs will be carried out. The machine will require a new fuselage, and the damage is estimated at about £350 or £4OO. ‘ Immediately 'after the crash; Firth took up another Moth and carried on with the bombing competition, which he eventually won. . 1