WISE OF RICH CRASH

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1930, Page 7

WISE OF RICH CRASH

RUMOUR OF LIQUOR DENIED SHIP PROBABLY HEAD HEAVY COXWAIN’S DIFFICULT TASK RUSHED TRIALS ALLEGED By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Dec. 4. At the RlOl inquiry Sir John Simon referred ,to the rumours current, especially in France, that a woman was aboard, that some of those on duty were not sober when the airship started and that a large quantity of intoxicants were taken aboard. There was not the slightest foundation for these rumours. Indeed, the lady mentioned had arrived from Rome on a flight yesterday.

Herr Eckener, giving evidence, attributed the cause of the fire to a 'broken electrical wire giving off a spark. He expressed the opinion that the ship was probably head-heavy owing to the loss of gas in one of the forward gas'bags causing a steep downward movement. The commander would naturally have been reluctant to throw out oil ballast until he saw it was impossible to right the shipjiy putting up the elevators. He rightly decided to throw out fuel and slow down the engines, but the continuous escape of gas caused a second dive and then the crash. Herr Eckener expressed the opinion that the coxswain going on duty at the elevator at 2 a.m. would have to feel his way into a static condition, which was most difficult to get immediately. It might 7 have happened that a gust of wind forced the ship downwards and that the new coxswain had not immediately correctly counteracted the fall ‘because he was not dear about the ship’s condition. The greater air pressure thus brought against the nose accentuated the steepness and would give head-heaviness. Squadron-Leader Booth, in his evidence, agreed with Herr Eckener’s view. He always had the opinion that something definite must have happened to the airship, notablly the steep dive after the changing of the watch. He added lie did not attach much importance to Disley’s evidence yesterday, because the after end of a tapered gasbag was always higher than th© forward part of the bag. He declared that lie always felt that RlOl was rushed regarding her trials by the influence brought to bear. The airrehip was rushed out for the Hendon flight against Cardington recommendations. “I am sure that the R.lOl would never have sailed for India if the Imperial Conference had not been taking place.” ’ '' , '